What is Solventless Extraction? Why is the market moving towards it?

Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

Alisha Holloway is the Chief Scientific Officer at Phylos where she leads the R&D group that focuses on foundational genomic research, development of high-throughput genetic and chemical testing capabilities, discovery of genetic markers, and the development of new cannabis varieties via classical and marker-assisted breeding.

At CannMed 26, she will present “Enhancing Cannabis Quality via Marker-Assisted Selection for Improved Solventless Extraction Yield”

During our conversation, we discuss:
* What solventless extraction is and why it's gaining popularity
* The traits that make a cannabis plant a "good washer"
* How Alisha’s team designed and conducted a washability study across hundreds of plant samples
* How they identified genetic markers for good washers that hold up across diverse genetic backgrounds
* How marker-assisted selection accelerates the breeding process

Thanks to This Episode's Sponsor: The Cannabis Research Center & Coalition.

The Cannabis Research Center & Coalition (CRC), founded by Dr. Allison Justice, is a professional group dedicated to advancing cannabis cultivation and post harvest processing. CRC partners with Universities and The Hemp Mine LLC, an industry leader in cannabis genetics and production, to tackle the cultivation and post harvest challenges facing today’s cannabis industry.

Their cooperative research model, inspired by successful horticulture and greenhouse research collaborations, allows members to benefit from pooled resources, gaining access to cutting-edge, science-based research at a fraction of the cost.

Learn more at cannabisrc.org

Additional Resources
* Phylos - https://phylos.bio/
* instagram.com/shwale
* Register for CannMed 26 - cannmedevents.com/package-options
* Meet the CannMed 26 Speakers - cannmedevents.com/speakers
* Review the Podcast - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cannmed-coffee-talk/id1504218804
* CannMed Archive - cannmedevents.com/cannmed-video-archives

$What is Solventless Extraction? Why is the market moving towards it? - Alisha Holloway Alisha Holloway is the Chief Scientific Officer at Phylos where she leads the R&D group that focuses on foundational genomic research, development of high-throughput genetic and chemical testing capabilities, discovery of genetic markers, and the development of new cannabis varieties via classical and marker-assisted breeding. At CannMed 26, she will present “Enhancing Cannabis Quality via Marker-Assisted Selection for Improved Solventless Extraction Yield” During our conversation, we discuss: * What solventless extraction is and why its gaining popularity * The traits that make a cannabis plant a good washer * How Alisha’s team designed and conducted a washability study across hundreds of plant samples * How they identified genetic markers for good washers that hold up across diverse genetic backgrounds * How marker-assisted selection accelerates the breeding process Thanks to This Episodes Sponsor: The Cannabis Research Center & Coalition. The Cannabis Research Center & Coalition (CRC), founded by Dr. Allison Justice, is a professional group dedicated to advancing cannabis cultivation and post harvest processing. CRC partners with Universities and The Hemp Mine LLC, an industry leader in cannabis genetics and production, to tackle the cultivation and post harvest challenges facing today’s cannabis industry. Their cooperative research model, inspired by successful horticulture and greenhouse research collaborations, allows members to benefit from pooled resources, gaining access to cutting-edge, science-based research at a fraction of the cost. Learn more at cannabisrc.org Additional Resources * Phylos - https://phylos.bio/ * https://www.instagram.com/shwale/ * Register for CannMed 26 - https://cannmedevents.com/package-options/ * Meet the CannMed 26 Speakers - https://cannmedevents.com/speakers/ * Review the Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cannmed-coffee-talk/id1504218804 * CannMed Archive - https://cannmedevents.com/cannmed-video-archives/$

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$Temperature-Controlled n-Butane Extraction Minimizes Waxes While Preserving Cannabinoids and VOCs Manuel Sosa presents Temperature-Controlled n-Butane Extraction Minimizes Waxes While Preserving Cannabinoids and VOCs at CannMed 2026, covering n-butane extraction, cannabis waxes, and cannabinoid preservation. Cannabis produces a broad range of desirable nonpolar constituents, including cannabinoids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making nonpolar solvents such as n-butane well suited for extracting and formulating cannabis oils. However, a poorly characterized nonpolar fraction commonly referred to as fats and waxes is often co-extracted, leading to cloudiness and the need for downstream winterization. The objective of this study was to determine how extraction temperature affects the co-extraction of waxes and their transfer to the aerosol phase, while maintaining recovery of cannabinoids and VOCs. Two commercial cannabis varieties were extracted with n-butane at multiple jacket temperatures spanning sub-zero to near-ambient conditions. Crude extracts were characterized for cannabinoids and VOCs by chromatographic methods, and the nonpolar background was profiled with a focus on long-chain alkanes associated with epicuticular wax. Viscosity was measured to assess potential effects on vape-device performance, and vaping experiments with cartridge-style hardware were used to quantify transfer of these waxes into the inhalable aerosol. We found that saturated n-alkanes characteristic of plant waxes were major components of the co-extracted nonpolar fraction and increased systematically with extraction temperature, whereas concentrations of target cannabinoids and VOCs remained comparatively stable over the same range. Bulk viscosity changed only modestly with composition, but the waxes readily transferred into the aerosol, with lower transfer observed when extraction temperature was reduced. We conclude that temperature control during n-butane extraction is a practical process lever to limit co-extraction and aerosolization of waxes while preserving key cannabinoids and VOCs, thereby improving concentrate purity and inhalation safety. Learning Objectives: ⦿ How n-butane extraction temperature changes co-extraction of epicuticular waxes in cannabis oils ⦿ Why cannabinoid and VOC yields stay relatively stable across temperatures ⦿ How lowering temperature reduces wax in the aerosol phase Manuel Sosa is an R&D Chemist II and Lab Supervisor at Abstrax Tech, where his team leads analytical testing and research through advanced techniques such as 2D GCxGC and HPLC. His role involves conducting rigorous tests as well as developing and refining standard operating procedures to improve the labs precision and efficiency, alongside publishing scientific research and developing new intellectual property for the company. This presentation was given at the CannMed 2026 Innovation & Collaboration Summit, held June 15-18 at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort. Visit cannmedevents.com to learn more.$

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