Why it matters
Cold ethanol (-40°C or colder) is selective for cannabinoids and avoids dissolving most chlorophyll and waxes; warm ethanol is faster but pulls more undesirable plant matter. After extraction the ethanol is removed by rotary evaporation. Residual solvent testing on the COA is the proof point.
In practice
Ethanol extraction is the cost-effective choice for large-volume hemp processors. With good cold-process control, the resulting extract is comparable in quality to CO2.
Common confusion
“Ethanol-extracted” is sometimes characterised as lower-tier than CO2. Done well it is not; done poorly the residual solvent and chlorophyll show up in the finished product.
This glossary entry is editorial content reviewed against primary sources. It is not medical advice. See our Editorial Policy.