FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

N-Butane, also known as normal butane, is medical grade butane and does not have the sulfur smell commonly found in butane camping tanks. N-Butane is the preferred solvent for most BHO extraction systems because of it’s low pressure during operation. N-Butane has a significantly lower vapor pressure curve than propane. This means that if butane and propane are at the same temperature, butane will be at a much lower pressure. The higher the pressure of the vapor inside the closed-loop extraction unit– the more dangerous operation of that extraction system becomes.

Safety is a top priority here at BHO Busters and should be he main concern for anyone operating a closed-loop extractor. The workspace needed to operate an essential oil extractor should have free-moving air like you’re working outside. That means put in necessary ventilation to always have fresh air rolling through, this will ensure that you will not be inhaling any harmful gasses.

In order to produce large quantities efficiently, accidents cannot happen. A misstep or small accident can easily lead to a catastrophe if not dealt with properly when using extraction machines. It is imperative to maintain your extractor- especially the gaskets. Before running solvent through the column, be sure to double check the gaskets for leaks and extensive wear. It is advised to keep a few spare gaskets around to avoid having a leak and to stay as safe as possible. In addition to replacing gaskets, we strongly advise monitoring the butane content of the air outside of the extractor as well as inside.

We highly recommend professional training to operate the closed-loop extractor safely and efficiently. Accidents with this equipment can be very expensive and even more dangerous. Extracting oil is a relatively simple process, but must be done precisely. Don’t put yourself in danger by extracting without proper training and safety precautions.

When using BHO Buster’s extraction systems, you have the ability to use alternative solvents instead of traditional butane (propane, butane, blended mixtures). Different gasses bond to the material in different ways. Propane, for example grabs less of the plant’s matter compared to butane when extracting in a closed-loop extractor. Butane will pull more plant matter and produce a higher yield, but may produce a darker colored product. Since propane grabs less of plant matter, it typically produces a blonde, light end product.

Blended gas mixtures have become very popular to use in closed-loop BHO extraction systems in the recent years because of the product it can yield. By using a blended mixture of gas while extracting essential oils, you get the best of both worlds. The butane part of the mix will keep the pressure inside the extraction machine very low and pull out a large percentage of the plant’s oils, while the propane will increase the pressure slightly, but it will grab slightly less chloroplast from the material (which causes dark color). This will cause your end product to be significantly more blonde and clear.

The vapor pressure of propane and butane differ greatly. Propane at the 40°F has a vapor pressure of approximately 65psi, while butane’s vapor pressure is barely above 3psi. When dealing with a blended gas mixture, it is important to know the vapor pressure curve of that blend. For instance, in a 70-30 butane/propane mix, the vapor pressure at 40°F is 20psi. This curve is in between the vapor curves of propane and butane. Butane will remain at a relatively low vapor pressure regardless of it’s temperature. It is imperative that you monitor the vapor pressure inside BHO closed loop extraction systems to ensure a safe and efficient operation.