Difference between revisions of "Ice-water separation"

Latest revision as of 02:33, 17 February 2015

Trichomes isolated with ice-water extraction method.

Ice-water separation (also known as iceolator hash, water hash, or bubble hash) is an extraction technique for separating the tetrahydrocannabinol-laden trichomes from within cannabis in order to extract the resin. It is based on the principle that the resin glands of the cannabis plant are more dense than water. Iceolator tends to have a very high THC content compared to traditional methods of making hash.

Trichomes may break away from supporting stalks and leaves when plant material becomes brittle at low temperatures. After plant material has been agitated in an icy slush, separated trichomes are often dense enough to sink to the bottom of the ice-water mixture following agitation, while lighter pieces of leaves and stems tend to float.

The ice-water method requires ice, water, agitation, filtration bags with variously-sized screens and plant material. With the ice-water extraction method the resin becomes hard and brittle and can easily be separated. This allows large quantities of pure resins to be extracted in a very clean process without the use of solvents, making for a more purified hashish.