Volcano Vaporizer
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[edit] Volcano Vaporizer
The Volcano Vaporizer is a hot air generator that releases flavors and active compounds from herbs through vaporization by hot air. The generated aromas of the plants are collected in a balloon or bag made of food safe and heat resistant oven bags normally used in the kitchen. Apart from its core application, aromatherapy, the Volcano Vaporizer is used in hypermodern cooking to flavor food in a very gentle way.
The major benefit of the Volcano vaporizer is its ability to heat up organic material without any carbonization or combustion. This optimum treatment of plant material does not produce any harmful or even toxic byproducts usually involved when smoking or incensing herbs. A study confirming that the Volcano is suitable for pulmonal administration without the presence of degradation products or other harmful byproducts was conducted by Arno Hazekamp at Leiden University, Netherlands.
[edit] Set-up
The set-up of a Volcano vaporizer consists of two parts, the hot air generator (base unit) and the filling chamber plus valve balloon to put on top of it. The valve balloon actually serves as a container for the generated vapor. The produced aromas can subsequently be inhaled from the valve balloon, making consumption as free and easy as possible. Since 2007 there are two models, the more expensive one having a digital readout of the temperature to allow for greater precision during the vaporization process.
[edit] Operation
To start the device has to be switched on by pressing the "Heat" button. By doing so, the heating block in the hot air generator is heating up. This process can take up to 6 minutes depending upon the chosen temperature. Meanwhile the filling chamber has to be filled with ground herbs. Once the heating up process of the appliance is completed, the filling chamber has to be put on the hot air generator. The pump has to be switched on and air starts streaming through the filling chamber filled with herbs. After a warm-up period of a few seconds (to let the filling chamber gain temperature), the valve balloon has to be attached to the filling chamber. The balloon starts inflating immediately and all the generated vapor is collected in the bag. Once the balloon is filled, the filling chamber plus valve balloon has to be taken off the hot air generator. After detaching the valve balloon from the filling chamber a mouthpiece is attached to the valve balloon and the administration of vapor can be started
[edit] Origin
The Volcano is manufactured by Storz & Bickel, a company specialized in vaporization technology.
The Company is based in Tuttlingen, Germany, known for its leading position in medical engineering.
[edit] Aromatherapy
The administration of active compounds and flavors via vaporization is relatively new;
the known vaporization temperatures for specific plants are listed below:
| Vaporization temperatures of suitable plants |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant name | Botanical name | Part of plant | Temperature setting |
| Eucalyptus | Eucalyptus globulus | leaves | 130°C (266°F) |
| Hops | Humulus lupulus | cones | 154°C (309°F) |
| Chamomille | Matriarca chamomilla | blossoms | 190°C (374°F) |
| Lavender | Lavandula angustifolia | blossoms | 130°C (266°F) |
| Lemon balm | Melissa officinalis | leaves | 142°C (288°F) |
| Sage | Salvia officinalis | leaves | 190°C (374°F) |
| Thyme | Thymus vulgaris | herb | 190°C (374°F) |
The Volcano vaporizer produced by Storz & Bickel was one of the vaporizers studied in a Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics report.[1] It was also the subject of several Gizmodo reviews.[2][3][4]
