Botanicals Breakdown - Must Have Products

The Right Tool for Every Step

At every step along the way of Cannabis Processing, the most serious tradesperson will be in tune to the tools required that simply either makes the job easier or provides the exact needed result to yield a better return of leaf crop or final consumable product. Not using the right tool is simply a mistake or inefficiency waiting to happen. Why take that chance?

The following information provides a list of commonly used products and their relation to botanical processing. For additional information and complete specifications, we recommend that you click into each featured product group below.

Cultivation & Harvesting

Cultivation begins with determining the correct environmental conditions for the desired plant variety. Light, temperature, air quality, soil, nutrients, and water are some examples of variables to consider. Harvesting requires each unique plant variety to be monitored by growers to produce maximum yield.

Products To Use In Cultivation

• Magnifiers - Leaf quality requires regular inspection to determine optimal harvest timing
• Trays - Harvested leaves may need to be stored for a period of time
• Scoops - Leaves are moved into vessels for a sample preparation and extraction

Sample Preparation

Sample preparation is the method used to treat products prior to analysis. Typically this step of the process is done in a laboratory setting after harvesting is complete. Preparation includes evaluating quality and purity, and making physical changes to the product so that it is suitable for the next processing steps.

Products To Use In Sample Preparation

• Centrifuge Tubes, Mortars & Pestles - Pulverize leaves for quality and potency testing and to place in edibles
• Pipettes - Transfer chemicals accurately for use in laboratory analysis protocols
• Reagent Bottles - Storage for a wide variety of chemicals and for finished product

Extraction

Extraction uses chemicals or physical conditions (e.g. temperature, pressure) to separate desired compounds from the plant material. CO2 or ethanol extraction are currently the two most common methods.

Products To Use In Sample Preparation

• Wide Mouth Bottles - Hold solutions in between various parts of the process. Screw caps allow products to off gas if needed.
• Beakers, Burettes, Volumetric Flasks - Add solvents or collect the extraction
• Stainless Steel Utility Tanks, Storage Bottles - Store finished product

Winterization

Winterization is the process of filtering out unwanted waxy plant particles after extraction. The extract and a solution are combined and placed in a freezer overnight. The waxy particles resulting from the freezing procedure are removed using vacuum filtration. This process works best when low temperatures are maintained.

Products To Use In Winterization

• Filtering Flasks & Bottles - Large capacity labware enables economical batch runs
• Buchner Funnels - Porcelain components can withstand temperature changes between a freezer and a laboratory setting
• Winterization Kits- Components are pre-selected for compatibility and offered as kits

Distillation

Distillation is the process of separating the compounds of a solution according to their boiling points. Short path distillation uses a very small condenser and low pressure to isolate desired compounds. The compounds are collected in recovery flasks.

Products To Use In Distillation

• Short Path Distillation Kits - Components are pre-selected for compatibility and offered as kits
• Heating Mantles - Heating and stirring equipment is available in a variety of capacities and configurations
• Condensers, Flasks, Distillation Head - All glass components are made from high-quality borosilicate 3.3 glass

Sources:

United Scientific Botanicals Catalog 2020