Why are multiple washes important?

[squarepush3r]

In other words, why doesn't the solvent completely remove the cannabinoids the first time, does the solvent reach a saturation or 'full' point, where it simply cannot hold more?
-> solution, wouldn't just using adequate solvent amount solve this problem?


Or is it an agitation issue, the cannabinoids are not in contact with all the solvent the first time, so a second time exposes the remaining ones?



just curious if anyone has any input on this, it seems like 'second washes' are usually less potent than the first ones.

 

[paperchaser825]

Also curious about this. I always figured when it came to using butane as the solvent my material was freezing and therefore, like you mentioned, the cannabinoids don't make contact with the solvent. I'm sure someone with knowledge will chime in here.

 

[Gray Wolf]

Probably several factors:

The solvent residency time isn't long enough to extract it all the first time.

Flow isn't even through a tube and everything doesn't get the same amount of solvent contact.

The extraction efficiency falls off as the solvent becomes more saturated passing through.

As the temperature plummets from butane injection, so does the extraction rate.

 

[paperchaser825]

And there you have it!

 

[SkyHighLer]

Here's jump117's multiple wash data (I finished speed reading his Absolute Amber thread a couple of days ago, my subconscious is still indexing the results...thanks man, you are a scholar and a gentleman!)

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=4853557#post4853557

The details are presented a few posts back...

So, you might desire different grades of product from your starting material, so you start with a quick nugg wash to start, and then go for the throat... ;-)

If you start with finely ground nugg to start with, and use plenty of butane, one quick wash gets nearly everything you'd want out, except for the solvent/oil stuck in the vessel, wad and filter paper. I do a second wash to recover those loses. Here's how https://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.php?p=5871751&postcount=3

I've done a single quick wash with this method and been blessed with a 20% return. Three and four washes increased the yield a couple or three percent, but the third and forth washes are of dubious quality, and contain electric green tint...

 

[SpaceshipNelson]

^^Agree^^ you have to compromise somewhere. (take your losses and keepit golden)