Butane hash oil (BHO) extraction: Difference between revisions

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==Risks and Hazards==

There have been many documented explosive events that have resulted in great bodily harm and loss of life<ref> "Butane hash oil: A single spark can lead to an explosion during production" http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2014/05/butane_hash_oil_the_danger.html</ref>. Due to the inherent risks this procedure entails, it is imperative that one remain vigilant at identifying any possible ignition hazards throughout the entirety of the process.

===Flammability of Butane===

[[File:Firetriangle.gif|400px|thumb|right|There needs to be a fuel source (in this case butane), an oxygen source, and an ignition source for an explosion to occur.]]

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Additionally, it should be noted that performing this extraction indoors significantly increases the risk of fires, explosions, and physical harm. Outside of a fully functioning fume hood, the production of '''B.H.O''' indoors carries with it a significant inherent risk for explosions and bodily harm. '''Therefore, while one may personally know of successful experiences of producing B.H.O. in an indoor environment, this should not be taken as evidence of its safety, especially given the large element of chance involved.'''

While butane is a flammable gas, there needs to be an ignition source or spark in order for an explosive event to occur. This spark can come from common sense items such as a pocket lighter or pilot light on a stove, but sparks can also occur in less obvious ways such as ~~through the~~ generation of static electricity~~, certain~~ materials grinding against each other~~, and the~~ kinds of electric components found on stoves or car components<ref>"Fire Protection and Prevention", OSHA https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy09/sh-18796-09/fireprotection.pdf</ref>. Electric sparks can be created simply by wearing clothes - the common "shock" one experiences after shuffling around with socks on and touching a metal object, along with the sparks created by the compressors in most common kitchen freezers, is sufficient to cause an explosive event.

===Spark sources===

While butane is a flammable gas, there needs to be an ignition source or spark in order for an explosive event to occur. This spark can come from common sense items such as a pocket lighter or pilot light on a stove, but sparks can also occur in less obvious ways such as:

* The generation of static electricity

* Certain materials grinding against each other

* The kinds of electric components found on stoves or car components<ref>"Fire Protection and Prevention", OSHA https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy09/sh-18796-09/fireprotection.pdf</ref>.

~~The flammability of a gas depends on its concentration in the atmosphere. The butane concentration must fall between an upper and lower limit to~~ be ~~able to ignite. The lower limit of butane concentration in~~ the ~~atmosphere is 1.89%~~ and the ~~higher limit is 8.5%<ref> Flammability of Gasses http://people.clarkson.edu/~wwilcox/Design/flamlim2.pdf</ref>. If~~ the ~~concentration of butane falls~~ in ~~this range and there~~ is ~~a spark present, there '''will''' be an ignition and~~ an explosive event.

Electric sparks can be created simply by wearing clothes - the common "shock" one experiences after shuffling around with socks on and touching a metal object, along with the sparks created by the compressors in most common kitchen freezers, is sufficient to cause an explosive event.

~~There have been many documented explosive events that have resulted~~ in ~~great bodily harm~~ and ~~loss of life~~<ref> ~~"Butane hash oil: A single spark can lead to an explosion during production"~~ http://~~www~~.~~oregonlive.com/marijuana/index~~.~~ssf~~/~~2014~~/05/~~butane_hash_oil_the_danger~~.~~html~~</ref>. ~~Due to~~ the ~~inherent risks~~ this ~~procedure entails~~, ~~it is imperative that one remain vigilant at identifying any possible~~ ignition ~~hazards throughout the entirety of the process~~.

===Flammability mechanics===

The flammability of a gas depends on its concentration in the atmosphere. The butane concentration must fall between an upper and lower limit to be able to ignite<ref> Flammability of Gasses http://people.clarkson.edu/~wwilcox/Design/flamlim2.pdf</ref>. If the concentration of butane falls in this range and there is a spark present, there '''will''' be an ignition and an explosive event.

===The "Well-Ventilated Area"===

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Risks and Hazards==
+There have been many documented explosive events that have resulted in great bodily harm and loss of life<ref> "Butane hash oil: A single spark can lead to an explosion during production" http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2014/05/butane_hash_oil_the_danger.html</ref>. Due to the inherent risks this procedure entails, it is imperative that one remain vigilant at identifying any possible ignition hazards throughout the entirety of the process.
 ===Flammability of Butane===
 [[File:Firetriangle.gif|400px|thumb|right|There needs to be a fuel source (in this case butane), an oxygen source, and an ignition source for an explosion to occur.]]
@@ Line 18: / Line 21: @@
 Additionally, it should be noted that performing this extraction indoors significantly increases the risk of fires, explosions, and physical harm. Outside of a fully functioning fume hood, the production of '''B.H.O''' indoors carries with it a significant inherent risk for explosions and bodily harm. '''Therefore, while one may personally know of successful experiences of producing B.H.O. in an indoor environment, this should not be taken as evidence of its safety, especially given the large element of chance involved.'''
-While butane is a flammable gas, there needs to be an ignition source or spark in order for an explosive event to occur. This spark can come from common sense items such as a pocket lighter or pilot light on a stove, but sparks can also occur in less obvious ways such as through the generation of static electricity, certain materials grinding against each other, and the kinds of electric components found on stoves or car components<ref>"Fire Protection and Prevention", OSHA https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy09/sh-18796-09/fireprotection.pdf</ref>. Electric sparks can be created simply by wearing clothes - the common "shock" one experiences after shuffling around with socks on and touching a metal object, along with the sparks created by the compressors in most common kitchen freezers, is sufficient to cause an explosive event.
+===Spark sources===
+While butane is a flammable gas, there needs to be an ignition source or spark in order for an explosive event to occur. This spark can come from common sense items such as a pocket lighter or pilot light on a stove, but sparks can also occur in less obvious ways such as:
+* The generation of static electricity
+* Certain materials grinding against each other
+* The kinds of electric components found on stoves or car components<ref>"Fire Protection and Prevention", OSHA https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy09/sh-18796-09/fireprotection.pdf</ref>.
-The flammability of a gas depends on its concentration in the atmosphere. The butane concentration must fall between an upper and lower limit to be able to ignite. The lower limit of butane concentration in the atmosphere is 1.89% and the higher limit is 8.5%<ref> Flammability of Gasses http://people.clarkson.edu/~wwilcox/Design/flamlim2.pdf</ref>. If the concentration of butane falls in this range and there is a spark present, there '''will''' be an ignition and an explosive event.
+Electric sparks can be created simply by wearing clothes - the common "shock" one experiences after shuffling around with socks on and touching a metal object, along with the sparks created by the compressors in most common kitchen freezers, is sufficient to cause an explosive event.
-There have been many documented explosive events that have resulted in great bodily harm and loss of life<ref> "Butane hash oil: A single spark can lead to an explosion during production" http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2014/05/butane_hash_oil_the_danger.html</ref>. Due to the inherent risks this procedure entails, it is imperative that one remain vigilant at identifying any possible ignition hazards throughout the entirety of the process.
+===Flammability mechanics===
+The flammability of a gas depends on its concentration in the atmosphere. The butane concentration must fall between an upper and lower limit to be able to ignite<ref> Flammability of Gasses http://people.clarkson.edu/~wwilcox/Design/flamlim2.pdf</ref>. If the concentration of butane falls in this range and there is a spark present, there '''will''' be an ignition and an explosive event.
 ===The "Well-Ventilated Area"===