Over a short period of time, the United States has seen a rapid increase in interest and availability of cannabidiol (CBD) products and other products derived from hemp. Sampling and testing of marketed hemp-derived products is an important component of FDA’s work because little is known about the amounts of CBD and other cannabinoids in these products. However, due to the diversity of products, range of matrix interferences, and widely varying cannabinoid concentrations, accurate quantification of cannabinoid content is challenging. To address this challenge, a method was developed pairing QuEChERS with UHPLC-UV/FLD and optional MS/MS analysis. The reported method provides accurate, sensitive, and rapid quantification of 17 cannabinoids, including Δ8-THC, Δ9-THC, Δ10-THC, and CBD, in a wide array of matrices. Recovery of analytes from gummy products, a significant consumer product category, was seen to be substantially improved compared to traditional dissolution-based extraction techniques. The use of fluorescence detection at pH 6.5 provided enhanced sensitivity and selectivity for both neutral and acidic cannabinoids compared to UV absorption. For quantification of extremely low levels of cannabinoids and confirmation of UV/FLD quantifications, a paired MS/MS analysis was developed. This method provides a valuable tool for researchers and testing laboratories analyzing hemp-derived products.

Improved LC-UV/FLD and LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of cannabinoids in hemp-derived ingestible products

ACS Spring 2022

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