For herbs, such as medicinal or aromatic plants, alcohol extraction is commonly employed to isolate essential oils and other bioactive compounds. The process of Alcohol extraction herbs begins by soaking the herbs in alcohol to break down the plant cell walls and dissolve the desired components. After a period of maceration, the alcohol-herb mixture is filtered to remove solid plant material, and the remaining liquid is evaporated to leave behind a concentrated extract.
In the case of cannabis, alcohol extraction is a fundamental step in creating Full Extraction Cannabis Oil (FECO) or Rick Simpson Oil (RSO). The dried cannabis buds are soaked in ethanol, which dissolves cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds. After thorough mixing and filtration to remove plant material, the alcohol is evaporated, leaving behind highly potent oil. This oil can be further refined for purity.