Temperature Control Minimizes Wax-Derived Alkane Carryover in Hydrocarbon Cannabis Extraction

Abstract Cannabis produces a diverse array of nonpolar metabolites, including cannabinoids and terpenes, making nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents well-suited for extracting inhalable concentrates. In practice, these extracts also contain a poorly characterized nonpolar fraction colloquially termed “fats and waxes,” which can be removed by winterization. To clarify the composition and process dependence of this fraction, we examined n-butane extractions of two cannabis varieties (GMO and Oreoz) across the industrially relevant temperature range of −46 °C to −9 °C. Using GC×GC–TOF–MS/FID, we