Extraction Temperature Ranges

Extraction temperature ranges describe the thermal conditions under which cannabis terpenes volatilize and can be isolated from plant material. Different terpenes have distinct boiling points—limonene around 176°C, myrcene around 168°C, and pinene around 155°C—meaning extraction efficiency and terpene profile composition vary significantly with temperature control. Solvent-based and solventless extraction methods (butane, CO₂, rosin pressing) each operate within specific temperature windows to maximize yield while minimizing terpene degradation. Understanding these ranges is central to breeding programs seeking to preserve aromatic complexity in refined products. Temperature management also affects which minor terpenes are captured versus lost to evaporation.

Breeders and extraction specialists collaborate to identify cultivars with terpene profiles stable across processing conditions. Strains selected for robust terpene expression under standard extraction temperatures become preferred parents for crosses targeting consistent aromatic outcomes in downstream applications.