Winterization
Category: Extraction & Processing · Level: Expert
Winterization is a post-extraction purification process using cold temperatures and ethanol to remove fats, waxes, and lipids from cannabis extracts.
Winterization is a refinement technique used in cannabis extract production to remove undesirable plant compounds such as waxes, lipids, fats, and chlorophyll from crude extracts. The process involves dissolving a crude cannabis extract in ethanol at subzero temperatures (–20 to –80°C), causing fats and waxes to solidify and precipitate out of solution. The mixture is then filtered through filter papers or filter plates to separate the impurities. The resulting filtrate is then processed further — typically through rotary evaporation to remove the ethanol — to produce a refined extract suitable for distillation or direct use. Winterization is a standard step in pharmaceutical-grade cannabis extract production.
Also known as
Dewaxing, Cold-filtering
Usage
- Industrial
- Medical
Related terms
- Distillate — Cannabis distillate is a highly refined extract produced through molecular distillation, typically containing 90%+ cannabinoid purity.
- CO2 Extraction — CO2 extraction is a method of producing cannabis concentrates using supercritical or subcritical carbon dioxide as a solvent, resulting in clean, pharmaceutical-grade extracts.
- Extraction — Cannabis extraction is the process of isolating cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds from plant material using solvents or mechanical methods.
- GMP — Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a quality assurance framework mandated by regulatory agencies for the production of pharmaceutical, food, and cannabis products.