Cannabis Potency Testing—Which Column Dimension is Right for You?

When starting method development for potency testing, it’s important to choose the right column dimension for the target analysis. In this work, different column dimensions of the Raptor ARC-18 phase were utilized to develop methods to meet various labs’ needs using HPLC-UV. To demonstrate the powerful resolving capabilities of Raptor ARC-18, a 50 x 3 mm, 2.7 µm column was used to analyze 7 cannabinoids, including CBD; CBDA; delta-9-THC; delta-8-THC; (6aR, 9S)-delta-10-THC; (6aR, 9R)-delta-10-THC; and THCA. This method utilizes gradient conditions, methanol as the organic modifier, and an overall cycle time of 8 minutes. This methodology is ideal for labs that are only interested in the required testing needed to be compliant with specific state testing regulations. Next, additional cannabinoids including CBDV, THCV, CBG, CBN, CBGA, and CBC were added to the previous analytes for a total of 13 cannabinoids. Using the same column dimension and mobile phases, a method was developed to resolve all analytes in 10 minutes. Finally, to include exo-THC and CBNA, a 150 x 3 mm, 2.7 µm column dimension was used to demonstrate the utility of a longer column dimension. The organic modifier used was 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile, where a total of 15 cannabinoids were able to be resolved in 10 minutes. Each of these methods was applied to hemp matrix to demonstrate the applicability of these methods in real-world samples.