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A Systematic Study of Liquid Chromatography to Separate Eighteen Natural Cannabinoids for Potency Testing of Hemp-Based Products Using Diode Array Detector and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

NCJ Number
311082
Date Published
2025
Author(s)
Length
69 pages
Abstract

A search for the best separation of eighteen cannabinoids, the maximum number of cannabinoids that have been quantified so far, for potency testing of hemp-based products by liquid chromatography diode array detector (LC-DAD) was carried out using two types of columns with the same inner diameter, i.e., 2.1 mm, same size of core-shell particles, i.e., 2.7 µm, but varied stationary phases, i.e., dimethyl-octadecyl (Poroshell 120 EC-C18) and RP (reverse phase)-amide (Ascentis Express RP-Amide). The resolution of adjacent cannabinoids was kept close to 1.5 or higher. In contrast, the separation time was kept as short as possible, achieving 18.5 and 24.5 min using Poroshell 120 EC-C18 and Ascentis Express RP-Amide, respectively. The polarity differences of the stationary phases significantly affected the retention factor and selectivity of CBG/CBD/THCV, Δ9 -/Δ8 -THC, CBC/CBT, and most acidic cannabinoids.

(Publisher abstract provided.)

Date Published: January 1, 2025