What makes CO2 Less Viscous?

Hello, first time poster here - but I've been lurking for a bit.

I'm curious - what makes CO2 oil as runny as it is - especially compared to BHO or an ethanol wash?

I've been trying to find the answer online, and have only gotten more confused. I always assumed waxes and lipids make concentrates thicker. However, doing an ethanol wash on a few grams of CO2 yielded a more stable / thicker product.

Any information would be much appreciated, and if this should be posted elsewhere, please advise.

Thanks!

I'm not sure, but wanted to say, "Thank you!" for using viscous correctly

It's a personal pet peeve of mine that too many people incorrectly use "highly viscous" to mean thin. Viscosity is the resistance to flow. So highly viscous materials are very thick, they resist flow quite a bit.

I am very interested in the answer though, so hope someone has some helpful info in that regard.

Well, not really a direct answer to your question, but my experience is that doing an ethanol wash will always result in a more stable product.

This might be due to many things, but I personally feel it is mostly due to the ethanol taking out certain terpenes, terpenes that might be less viscous?

For sure the difference is found in the different qualities of the solvents used. One will pull out more of substance A from the plant material and less of substance B, while the other might work the other way around.

Example: One of the more common terps found in our beloved plant is d-limonene, which in its pure form at room temp is a liquid, meaning if you have a higher concentration of it in your end product it will be less viscous.

Another more simple explanation might be CO2 pulls out more water?

Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge about this can chime in, these are the reasons I can think of with my limited knowledge....

Thanks, guys!

@Roth, yes, that's a pet peeve of mine as well.

@tepictoton, good point. I guess most other concentrates are winterized using some kind of alcohol, so maybe that's why they are more stable than CO2?

With the CO2 I get, it seems fully purged. No pops or sizzling when I dab it, no harshness, etc. I've spoken with the extractor for my local shop a little bit and we actually spoke about water in the oil, and he seems fairly confident that there isn't a bunch of water left in it. But who knows.

I was thinking the same thing about the terps, I know they are liquid at room temperature, but CO2 seems to have less flavor than a more stable BHO or something like that, so it would seem as if CO2 would have less liquid-y terps in it than other more flavorful concentrates.

Seems to make sense.

Also when thinking bit more about it, water definitely sizzles when put on the nail... So if the CO2 oil does not sizzle we might exclude that one from the puzzle.

something else is at play here. I think it has to do with cooling speed and plant fats/waxes.

i have found that mixing a small amount of fresh BHO to a gram of warm CO2 extract, and then slowly letting it cool, gives me the TootsieRoll texture i like.

i got the idea from tempering chocolate

StickyShisha said:

something else is at play here. I think it has to do with cooling speed and plant fats/waxes.

i have found that mixing a small amount of fresh BHO to a gram of warm CO2 extract, and then slowly letting it cool, gives me the TootsieRoll texture i like.

i got the idea from tempering chocolate

Click to expand...

Hmm, I'll have to look into that, never thought about the cooling speed or method coming into play. Thanks!

Roth said:

I'm not sure, but wanted to say, "Thank you!" for using viscous correctly

It's a personal pet peeve of mine that too many people incorrectly use "highly viscous" to mean thin. Viscosity is the resistance to flow. So highly viscous materials are very thick, they resist flow quite a bit

Click to expand...

and thank you for posting that thank you! lol i was going to post something similar. i always let it go, but feel that i should advise posters when i see this mistake. it happens so often that i dont.

so yes viscosity = thickness. the more viscosity something has the thicker it is. that is why they use terms like "viscosity breakdown" in motor oil commercials. the oil starts thick and as it gets used it slowly becomes less viscous.

ok i feel better. carry on!

I think it may have to do with the chemical bonding process... Normally personally I always use butane (C4H10) which is saturated with hydrogen bonds which is what the main actives readily bind to. Hence why they remain present in fat cells for such a long period of time. Any other alcohol or hydrocarbon solvent used also is saturated with hydrogen ( H , not to be confused with H20 ) which is what contributes to the main process of binding at the molecular level... I've never investigated into CO2 but I'm sure it would have to do with different substances being more readily bindable to that specific molecular structure.


In other words, I'm not sure either lol... But I would have to assume that dissolving it in ethanol allows for proper purging of whatever substance is present making it runny.

And I am guilty of this improper use of viscosity, good looking lol, will make a mental note thanks...