Supply Specifications
- Purity
- 99.5%+
- Cylinder sizes
- 20 lb, 100 lb, 420 lb
- Certification
- DOT-compliant cylinders
- Delivery
- Direct to your facility
Technical Properties
- Boiling point
- ≈ -42°C (-44°F)
- Structure
- Three-carbon alkane
- Relative vapor pressure
- Highest of the three hydrocarbons
- Explosive limits (LEL/UEL)
- 2.1% / 9.5%
Why Propane for Terpene Preservation
Propane's boiling point sits roughly 40°C below n-butane's. That single property drives everything else about how it behaves in a closed-loop system. Because it vaporizes at a much lower temperature, recovery can occur at cooler collection-vessel temperatures, and heat is the primary driver of terpene loss and degradation during solvent removal.
For extracts where preserving volatile monoterpenes is the priority, that matters more than any other variable. Propane and propane-forward blends are correspondingly popular for live resin and sauce-style products made from fresh-frozen material.
Propane is also widely described as the more aggressive, faster-penetrating solvent because of its low viscosity and high vapor pressure, and it is commonly associated with lighter-colored extracts and strong terpene expression.
Pressure Is the Constraint
Switching from n-butane to propane is not simply a change in extract character. Propane's higher vapor pressure at a given temperature means a closed-loop system must be rated and validated for the pressures that solvent will generate.
This is the single most important operational consideration when adding propane to a facility that has run straight butane. Equipment ratings, relief device sizing, and engineering documentation all need review before a solvent change reaches production. Talk to your equipment manufacturer and your facility engineer, not just your supplier.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is propane better than butane for extraction?
- Neither is universally better. Propane's lower boiling point supports colder recovery and is commonly favored for terpene-forward products like live resin, while n-butane's higher boiling point favors the slower evaporation associated with stable, glassy textures like shatter.
- Can I run propane in a system built for butane?
- Only if that system is rated and validated for propane's higher working pressures. Propane generates substantially more vapor pressure than butane at the same temperature, so confirm your equipment rating and engineering documentation before switching.
Butane vs Propane vs Isobutane for BHO Extraction →
Technical comparison of n-butane, isobutane, propane, and 70/30 blends for hydrocarbon extraction: physical properties, selectivity, and purity grades.