Cannabis flower and cannabis extracts contain a significant amount of volatile compounds which are typically classed into two groups, residual solvents that are monitored for patient health, and terpenes which are thought to exhibit synergistic effects with cannabinoids via a mechanism called the ‘entourage effect’. To characterize these compounds, and their concentration, GC/MS-Head Space is used. The major benefit of this approach is that headspace is a fast, simple, accurate and precise technique that allows the components of interest to be introduced into the analytical system. The non-volatile matrix components remain in the sample vial and do not enter the GC, which results in a mostly maintenance free system, and faster analysis time. This presentation summarizes the latest methodology for classifying this diverse cannabis chemistry.
Dr Toby Astill, Sr. Business Manager for Cannabis & Hemp Markets, Perkin Elmer was speaking at The Science of Cannabis Online Symposium 2018.
More Information
