Emulsifying Vegetable Glycerin and BHO for E-juice
For those of you who’ve tried to mix vegetable glycerin and BHO for an e-juice or tincture know they don’t easily blend and separate quite rapidly.
Whether you’re a large possessor or small, we at CAT Scientific have a method where the process can be completed in about two hours or less without using a surfactant, like lecithin.
We were fortunate to have a company donate 25 grams of winterized and decarboxylated BHO absolute for this process.
A CAT X1000D Homogenizer drive with a G-20 (N) Normal Generator Shaft Assembly is used to emulsify the BHO and Vegetable Glycerin. The X1000D Homogenizer Drive is needed to provide the torque to process the high viscosity of the glycerin and BHO.
G-20 (N) Normal Generator shafts are sealed to prevent materials from being processed through the shaft tube, and the operator doesn’t have to be concerned about cross contamination or laborious cleaning.
For the experiment, we placed 500ml of kosher vegetable glycerin in a one liter beaker, heated it to 80°C on the CAT MCS78 Magnetic Hotplate Stirrer. We also heated the 25 grams of BHO absolute in a separate vessel.
After the vegetable glycerin has reached 80°C, the beaker is moved over to the CAT X1000D Homogenizer. The X1000D is clamped on its drive stand so the G-20 (N) Generator is immersed in the vegetable glycerin about a 1/16th of an inch from the bottom of the vessel. The device is powered on to the lowest setting; 4,000 rpm’s and increased to 8,000 rpm’s. The BHO is then poured into the vegetable glycerin and the vessel is moved around the shaft for about 45 seconds to one minute. The device is then powered off.
The beaker is removed from the X1000D Homogenizer, placed back on the MCS78 Hotplate Stirrer. The VG-BHO emulsion is heated to 80°C for ½ an hour. During that time, whatever BHO falls out of solution will appear in the center of the vessel.
The vessel is then moved over to the X1000D Homogenizer and emulsified again, as described above. The beaker is again placed on the MCS78 Hotplate Stirrer and the solution heated to 80°C for ½ an hour. If any BHO falls out of solution, emulsify again with the X1000D. This completes the process and you’ll have a stable VG-BHO Emulsion for about 90 days.
If you’re processing the solution to be taken orally, do not use a dropper because rubber causes polarization, the vegetable glycerin BHO emulsion will separate.
X1000D Homogenizer Setup
Preheat VG to 80C
After 1st emulsion run, reheat VG-BHO to 80°C for ½ hour. If any BHO falls out of solution it will appear in the center of the vessel, homogenize again.
G20 Sealed Shaft
G20 (N) Generator
Hello Bob,
Is there a saturation point? How much BHO can i maximal dissolve in the 500 ml VG with this device?
Good afternoon,
I first would like to say thank you for the amazing photos and explanations. I would like to use PG (USP GRADE) and on a very small scale pilot level. I would like to try a 1ML to 2ML ratio to a 1 gram BHO. My understanding is that the BHO doesn’t need to be decarboxylated since it is going to be used for a vape pen. Do you think using PG is better then VG and what do you think about this small quantity? Please any recommendations are truly appreciated! Thank you in advance!
The max BHO you can emulsify is 30% by weight. For a total volume of 500ml, 150 grams of BHO, 350ml of Vegetable Glycerin. Some folks think 30% won’t be potent enough. I can assure you, 30% is more than enough. Some processors tell us they have to dilute their BHO-VG emulsion when they went to 30% BHO because it was too strong.
Hello Bob,
Thank you for your very helpfull answer.
Is it also possible to use this device for infusing THC into honey without the use of ethanol or a carrier oil?
Do you sell them in 220v with european plug?
Given the viscosity of honey, an overhead stirrer is a better choice for infusing an extracted oil into honey.
Is there any pictures of what the end product looks like?
Would this also work for mixing in cbd isolates? I heat them up into a liquid but I’m having trouble getting it to stay mixed in an all vegetable glycerin blend. It sounds like this would work perfectly.
Hi Mark,
Yes, a homogenizer will work . Heat up the VG to 80C on a hotplate stirrer, Drop in the CBD isolate and let it dissolve in the VG. Then emulsify the constituents with a homogenize, and you’re good to go.
I have been having trouble emulsifying BHO/D-Limonene mixture into water for drinks. Would this homogonizer work for that?
150g = 5.3 oz, are you sure that is the correct amount of concentrate for 350 mL of VG???