Distilling alcohol from tincture is a simple process that can be done by anyone with access to the right equipment. This guide will provide a practical overview of the process, from the materials needed to the steps involved in distilling alcohol from tincture. We’ll also discuss the various types of tinctures that can be used to distill alcohol, as well as safety considerations to keep in mind when working with alcohol. With this guide, you’ll be able to distill alcohol from tincture with confidence and ease.
What is the best temperature and time to evaporate alcohol from a tincture?
The best temperature to evaporate alcohol from a tincture is between 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of time needed to evaporate alcohol from a tincture will depend on the size and type of still used, but generally it takes between 20-30 minutes.
What type of equipment is required to evaporate alcohol from a tincture?
In order to evaporate alcohol from a tincture, you will need a distilling apparatus, such as a pot still. This type of equipment is designed to separate different components of a liquid mixture, such as the alcohol and other compounds in a tincture. You will also need a heat source, such as a stovetop, to provide the heat necessary to evaporate the alcohol.
Are there any special precautions needed when evaporating alcohol from a tincture?
When evaporating alcohol from a tincture, it is important to use proper safety precautions as alcohol is flammable. Always use a fan or hood to provide adequate ventilation in the area, and wear appropriate safety gear such as safety glasses and gloves. Also, it is important to use a low flame and a heat-resistant container to prevent the alcohol from boiling over. Lastly, it is important to keep the evaporating vessel away from any open flames or sparks.
Does evaporating alcohol from a tincture affect the potency of the CBD?
Yes, evaporating alcohol from a tincture can affect the potency of the CBD. As the alcohol evaporates, it can reduce the concentration of the CBD, resulting in a lower potency. This is why it’s important to store tinctures in an airtight container to minimize the amount of alcohol that evaporates over time.
Is there any potential danger associated with evaporating alcohol from a tincture?
Yes, there is potential danger associated with evaporating alcohol from a tincture. If the alcohol is not evaporated properly, it can lead to a fire or explosion, as alcohol is highly flammable. Additionally, inhaling or ingesting the residual alcohol vapors can cause health problems, ranging from headaches to alcohol poisoning. Therefore, it is important to take the proper safety precautions when evaporating alcohol from a tincture.
For example, clinical studies have shown that oregano is a good antimicrobial as an alcohol extract or as an essential oil but is very ineffective as a hot water extract. However, we do realise that some of our patients are sensitive to alcohol or chose not to use any alcohol. Where possible we will provide an alternative herbal capsules or herbal teas. On a bottle of tincture you will always find a note of the ratio. The first number always denotes how much herb has been used in comparison with the second part, which is the liquid. In this example, 1 part of herb was macerated in 3 parts of liquid before being filtered out. The liquid is a mixture of alcohol usually sugar beet ethanol and water. At a 5ml teaspoon dose this is under Adding hot water is fine as most herbal compounds are very resilient. Traditionally they would be simmered for 2 days! Flower tinctures are the most sensitive as they contain high amounts of volatile oils and root and bark tinctures with alkaloids and saponins tend to be the least sensitive. Most patients who want to reduce the alcohol content of their tinctures just put their dose into a cup and add a little boiling water. Evaporating the tinctures takes a little planning ahead. Some patients will put the doses for the next day into small saucers or eggcups and leave them out, uncovered, for 24 hours before taking them. It helps to put them in a warm place such as a sunny window-sill, by a radiator, or the heater cupboard. If you forgot to plan ahead and own an electric AromaStone usually used for essential oils then put you 5ml dose of tincture onto the AromaStone. Starting with a preheated AromaStone, after 25 minutes the 5ml dose reduces to 2ml. At 30 minutes to 1ml and starting to get sticky. The only tricky bit is pouring it off again without spilling it, as there is no spout – as on a jug. This requires an AromaStone and a little ml borosilicate lab jug that fits inside the dish. It makes the pouring off easier but takes longer to heat as the glass has to transfer the heat to the tincture. It takes about 1 hour to reduce 5ml to 1ml. You can then add a little warm water to jug and drink it straight from that. Evaporating the liquid off does make the herbs taste much stronger so some juice will help the taste. Pour your herbal tincture into a pyrex jug ensuring there is plenty of space at the top. For example, pour a ml bottle of tincture into a 1 litre jug. Check that you can see any printed graduations marked on the jug clearly. If not, insert a wooden lollipop stick or the handle of a clean wooden spoon into the tincture and mark with a pen just above the level that the tincture comes to. Remove the stick and measure halfway down. Now make a tiny notch with a knife or tie a white thread around it, so that you can clearly see where the halfway mark is. If you have an electric or induction hob Watch while the water simmers. Be very careful not to burn it. Simmer it until the tincture has reduced by half. For example, until ml has reached the ml mark. If you have a gas hob As soon as the water in the saucepan around the glass bowl containing your tincture starts to boil, turn the heat off. Do not be tempted to let it simmer for longer as evaporating alcohol fumes are flammable and can catch fire. Remove the saucepan containing the pyrex jug from the stove and put it down on a heatn protective mat by the side of the stove. Leave the lid off. Wait for 3 hours and check the level of evaporation against the markings or with your stick or spoon handle. It should have evaporated to the halfway mark. If it has not reached the mark and the water has gone cold, you may need to put the saucepan back onto the heat, bring to the boil, switch off the heat as soon as it boils, and repeat the process. For this you can use water, or warmed honey to make a syrup, depending on how you want it to taste. Decant it from the jug into the original bottle and keep it in the fridge. Use it at the original dose stated on the bottle. Mix well and rebottle. This will not need to be kept in the fridge, as glycerine is a good preservative at this strength. Account Search Cart. Essential Oils. How to reduce alcohol in tinctures. How much alcohol is there anyway? Newsletter Sign up for exclusive offers, original stories, events and more. Sign up. Powered by Shopify. ML of dose.
The removing of particulate is important because while the Plate Heat Exchangers within the Falling Film Evaporator FFE are great at transferring thermal energy primarily because of their large surface area , the downside is that they may clog quite easily. Severe clogging may also happen within the delicate volumetric flowmeter the FFE utilizes. Both being difficult to clean and costly to replace. And if there is particulate in your tincture during evaporation, this will significantly increase cleaning and maintenance labor on the evaporation column causing expensive downtime.