A robust extraction method for quantification of cannabinoids in cannabis, which is based on pressurized liquid extraction, was developed and compared to an accepted method published by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC). The UNODC and PLE methods were compared for reproducibility and extraction efficiency for Cannabichromene (CBC), Cannabichromenic acid (CBC-A), Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabidiolic Acid (CBD-A), Cannabigerolic Acid (CBG-A), Cannabinol (CBN), Tetrahydrocannabivarinic Acid (THCV-A), Tertahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidivarin (CBDV), Tertahydrocannabinolic Acid (THC-A) and Cannabidivarinic Acid (CBDV-A). Advantages of the PLE method compared to the UNODC method include extraction automation and use of nonhalogenated organic solvents. Our previous research demonstrated the potential utility of PLE to carry out chemical modification of acidic cannabinoids by decarboxylation without significant loss of the neutral cannabinoid counterparts. Pressurized Liquid Extraction allows for extraction temperatures from room temperature up to 200 C. Elevated extraction temperatures when coupled with water as the extraction solvent can be used promote efficient decarboxylation of acid cannabinoids to their neutral counterparts, which can then be extracted with an organic solvent. Extraction conditions, namely extraction temperature, required to efficiently recover native cannabinoids and to decarboxylate acid cannabinoids was investigated as part of this study.

Pressurized liquid extraction: A robust extraction method for cannabinoid analysis and in-extraction chemical modification of acidic cannabinoids

2019 Spring National Meeting

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