The recent rise in popularity of personal battery-operated vaporizers has coincided with an increase in reported health issues. Vaping entails using a heating element to heat the compounds of interest to temperatures ranging from 170 to 270 °C to induce volatilization, allowing one to inhale the gaseous species. In the case of cannabis related vaping, the mixture of compounds can include THC and/or CBD, terpenes (to impart flavor and aroma), and in some cases diluting agents such as MTC oil or vitamin E acetate – the latter of which is suspected to be the cause of health issues across the United States. To date, few detailed studies on diluents exist, begging for a study to determine the chemical composition of volatile gaseous species generated during the vaporization process. We have conducted a series of experiments on the diluents vitamin E acetate, fractionated coconut oil (MCT oil), and triethyl citrate (TEC) using comprehensive 2-dimensional gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry to monitor the volatile components under vaping conditions. We then conducted a series of experiments on mixtures of terpenes with diluents to measure the volatiles evolved. We observe changes in the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) evolved from control (non-vaporized) samples and vaporized samples indicating these compounds can undergo chemical changes due to the high heat used during vaping. These results will shed light on the safety of vaping and how different chemicals behave under vaping conditions.

Investigation of volatile compounds evolved during vaping in common cannabis diluents and additives using 2-dimensional gas chromatography

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.