Fact Checked by Doctor NamePropane hash oil, commonly known as PHO, is a type of cannabis extract and concentrate.
It is produced through the extraction of marijuana plant material using propane as the solvent.
What is Propane Hash Oil (PHO)?
To make PHO, dried cannabis plant matter like trim or bud is placed into a closed loop extractor system along with liquid propane under high pressure and low temperature.
The propane acts as a solvent to selectively dissolve and pull out the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant matrix.
The resulting mixture flows into a separation chamber where the propane evaporates, leaving behind a viscous hash oil containing high levels of THC, CBD, and other compounds found naturally in cannabis.
PHO is purged to remove residual solvents and undesirables, producing a thick, sticky extract ranging from transparent amber to opaque brown.
Compared to other solvent-based extraction methods like butane or CO2, propane-extracted cannabis oil can retain more terpenes and a broad spectrum of cannabinoids due to its non-polar nature. It also provides high extraction efficiency in terms of yields.
On the downside, propane extraction tends to pull more chlorophyll, plant waxes, and lipids, which can negatively impact flavor.
Post-processing, like winterization, is commonly used on PHO to remove these impurities. When refined, PHO can be used to make various infused cannabis products.
