High Throughput Analysis of Cannabinoids by LC-UV

• Increase sample throughput with this fast, 9-minute analysis.
• Baseline separation of 16 cannabinoids provides more accurate and comprehensive potency and profile data.
• Simple, isocratic method is more easily transferable between instruments and labs than gradient methods.

As the cannabis market grows, interest in more detailed analysis of cannabinoid profiles is expanding because more comprehensive data can be used for strain identification as well as to ensure more accurate potency testing. More than 100 cannabinoids have been isolated from cannabis to date, and these compounds can interfere with the five most commonly analyzed cannabinoids: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and cannabinol (CBN). The LC-UV method shown here uses a Raptor ARC-18 column to fully resolve 16 major and most frequently observed minor cannabinoids for which commercial standards are available. Baseline separation ensures positive identification and accurate quantitation. As shown, all compounds were resolved in a fast 9-minute analysis, making this method suitable for high-throughput cannabis testing labs. In addition, this analysis uses a simple isocratic mobile phase so it is more easily transferable between instruments, compared to more complex methods that incorporate atypical mobile phase gradients or additives.

LC_GN0578

Peaks

	Peaks	tR (min)
1.	Cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA)	1.877
2.	Cannabidivarin (CBDV)	2.086
3.	Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA)	2.592
4.	Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA)	2.750
5.	Cannabigerol (CBG)	2.912
6.	Cannabidiol (CBD)	3.084
7.	Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)	3.391
8.	Tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA)	4.279

	Peaks	tR (min)
9.	Cannabinol (CBN)	4.609
10.	Cannabinolic acid (CBNA)	5.437
11.	Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC)	5.815
12.	Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC)	6.002
13.	Cannabicyclol (CBL)	6.916
14.	Cannabichromene (CBC)	7.263
15.	Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA-A)	7.612
16.	Cannabichromenic acid (CBCA)	8.510

Conditions

Column	Raptor ARC-18 (cat.# 9314A65)
Dimensions:	150 mm x 4.6 mm ID
Particle Size:	2.7 µm
Pore Size:	90 Å
Guard Column:	Raptor ARC-18 EXP guard column cartridge 2.7 µm (cat.# 9314A0250)
Temp.:	30 °C
Standard/Sample
	Tetrahydrocannabivarin (cat.# 34100)
	Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) (cat.# 34094)
	Cannabichromene (CBC) (cat.# 34092)
	Cannabigerol (CBG) (cat.# 34091)
	delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA-A)
	delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) (cat.# 34090)
	delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) (cat.# 34067)
	Cannabinol (CBN) (cat.# 34010)
	Cannabidiol (CBD) (cat.# 34011)
	Compounds not present in these mixes were obtained separately.
Diluent:	25:75 Water:methanol
Conc.:	50 µg/mL
Inj. Vol.:	5 µL
Mobile Phase
A:	Water, 5 mM ammonium formate, 0.1% formic acid
B:	Acetonitrile, 0.1% formic acid
	Time (min) Flow (mL/min) %A %B 0.00 1.5 25 75 9.00 1.5 25 75

Detector	UV/Vis @ 228 nm
Instrument	HPLC
Notes	Standard cat.# 34093 was used to produce this chromatogram, but has since been discontinued. For assistance choosing a replacement for this application, contact Restek Technical Service or your local Restek representative.

Download PDF