What to Consider when Buying Ethanol for Extraction?

Making an ethanol purchase is not as simple as it might seem. Although these products should be standardized, the fact that you’re buying them online can cause certain issues.

Some companies are prepared to sell pure ethyl alcohol with the wrong concentration or even denaturants. This is why, when purchasing ethanol, you need to focus on reputable stores such as Simple Solvents.

Ethanol solvents have become extremely popular with the growth of the cannabis industry. The substance is great for botanical extraction, and it can be utilized for removing oils from hemp plant matter. Perhaps the biggest advantage of this extraction method, compared to others, is in its price and safety. 

Always remember that there are several options at your disposal. Besides pure ethanol, you can purchase some other types of alcohol substances with similar traits. But, not all of them will provide good results for extraction.
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Here are some of the main things to keep in mind when buying pure ethanol for solvent extraction.

Main types of ethanol for on the market

Ethanol is a volatile liquid that can easily be set on fire. It is created by fermenting corn, potatoes, wheat, and other starch foods. Chemical stores have several different types of ethanol, each with its own set of properties and optimal usage.

• 100% USP grade ethanol (200 proof ethanol)

Pure ethanol is your best bet for extraction. This food-grade product is commonly used for the creation of various consumables. You can find it in numerous things such as cosmetic items and house cleaning chemicals.

This is the most expensive substance out of the bunch. The US government imposes extra taxes on food-grade ethanol as a way of preventing excessive alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, if you’re using it for plant extraction, it is more than worth it to pay for the difference as you will get better results during the process.

• 70% to 90% ethanol (140 to 180 proof ethanol)

Products with lower alcohol concentrations are not as ideal for extraction processes. However, you can still utilize them for other purposes such as cleaning. A good example of this is 70% alcohol.
Given that this chemical has a lot of water in it, alcohol will stick to the surface for a prolonged period of time. It won’t evaporate as quickly as pure ethanol. As a result, it has a better chance of disinfecting the floors and other areas.

• Denatured ethanol

As the name implies, denatured alcohol is changed from its natural state (de-natured). This change is made by adding various other chemicals to the mix. By doing so, not only will the chemical composition of a substance change, but its color, taste, and smell will also be altered. That way, you can easily tell that the product is changed and that it shouldn’t be used for consumption.

Companies denature alcohol as a way of avoiding high taxes on alcohol substances. However, this will also change its use. Denatured products are not as versatile, and they are mainly utilized as cleaning agents.

How do you extract plant matter with ethanol?

For the purpose of this article, we will focus on cannabis ethanol extraction as the most common reason why we utilize this process.

Most companies try to remove cannabinoids such as CBD and THC when performing the procedure. Ethanol is great for dissolving fats, and all these chemical compounds are fat-soluble. So, ethanol extraction should be especially great for cannabinoids.

An important thing to note about this method is that it works much better in cold temperatures. As the temperature of ethanol decreases, so will its affinity for fat-soluble chemicals increase.

That way, the extraction process will be much more efficient, resulting in more cannabinoids and terpenes. If the extraction is performed at room temperature, it will be hard for ethyl alcohol to remove all these compounds from the plant matter.

While ethanol solvent extraction is great for botanical extraction, it does have its limits. For example, it is much better for creating full-spectrum CBD oil. In other words, it will do a great job removing all hemp ingredients at the same time. Unfortunately, it isn’t as efficient if you wish to extract separate chemicals.

How is ethanol regulated?

Ethanol laws can be really different from one country to another. Here is how they look like in Canada and the US:

• Canada

While you don’t need a special license for ethanol, there is still regulation in place. You need to properly store the alcohol if you were to use it in bulk. If you wish to utilize the liquid for processing, you will need a User License.

Anyway, every company that wants to deal with the chemical will need to submit a special type of application. If they get the license, they will be able to use the substance for their business for at least 2 years. It also needs to be renewed 30 days before expiration.

Companies can still go without a license. However, they will need to pay an excise tax for all the substances in their possession. These rates are variable and are calculated for every next year. Obviously, most businesses will simply acquire the license as excise tax can be too high.
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• US

US businesses need to submit an application to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. This is mandatory for everyone, regardless of the alcohol they're using. If a business relies on denatured substances, it won't have to pay the same taxes as for other types of ethanol.

There is also a way to avoid taxes if you’re a scientific or medical organization. There is also a chance of avoiding it when using ethanol for mechanical purposes. Anyway, if you wish to enjoy these benefits, you will have to apply for an online permit.
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All ethanol products should be properly stored. The substance is very flammable so the facility will require proper ventilation. Your business needs to abide by other fire codes as well.