Cannabinoids are the most widely used illicit drugs estimated to a $22 billion/year global market volume by 2022. Approximately 4% of world’s population use cannabinoids. The public discourse in recent years has been advocating for legalization of marijuana in the United States. The movement of public opinion in favor is now complemented with Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the first cannabinoid-based epilepsy drug Epidiolex (cannabidiol), approved in June 28, 2018, which will further facilitate an increase in the medical cannabinoid use, possibly by 1100% through 2022. Within the cannabinoid compound class, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is one of the primary molecules that renders psychotropic activity. Carboxylated THC (THC-COOH), its main urinary metabolite, has already been detected in untreated, treated, surface, and tap waters up to 2500, 750, 500, and 1 ng/L, respectively. Although, cannabinoids are being produced and used in large quantities and even being detected in natural waters, very little is known about their impacts on our aquatic environment. It is concerning to note that these molecules have a strong tendency to undergo chemical transformation when released into our treatment systems. It is particularly significant because of the presence of a phenolic group in these molecules, which undergoes electrophilic substitution with halogen atoms during disinfection, forming halogenated cannabinoid byproducts. This talk will discuss cannabinoid transformation pathways in engineered treatment systems and present preliminary results on removal efficacy of THC-COOH with activated carbon. The adsorption mechanism presented in study will initiate an all too important discussion on cannabinoids’ fate in our water systems and will facilitate understanding of the design and synthesis of commercial activated carbons for removal of these compounds from drinking water intake.

Transformation and removal efficacy of common cannabinoids in engineered aquatic systems

2019 Fall National Meeting

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