Butane, propane, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and more for all of your processing lab and extraction equipment needs. Flower extracts, butane extracts, and supercritical CO2 extracts account for the vast majority of types of extraction of processing labs for concentrates. Different types of solvents work for different applications. Butane is the most popular hydrocarbon solvent often used in extraction and is favored for its non-polarity, which allows the processing facility to capture the desired terpenes without co-extracting undesirables including chlorophyll and plant metabolites. Supercritical CO2 extraction has been praised for its relative safety in terms of toxicity as well as environmental impact. Ethanol is as effective as butane and efficient as supercritical CO2. The FDA classifies ethanol as “Generally Regarded as Safe,” or GRAS, meaning that it is safe for human consumption. As a result, it is commonly used as a food preservative and additive, found in everything from the cream filling in your donut to the glass of wine you enjoy after work.