GC Analysis of Terpenes in Cannabis on Equity™-1 after Headspace SPME using 50/30 μm DVB/CAR/PDMS Fiber
Materials
analytical column
SPME fiber
SPME fiber assembly Divinylbenzene/Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS)
needle size 23 ga, StableFlex, for use with autosampleraccessory
Headspace vial, screw top, rounded bottom (vial only)
volume 10 mL, clear glass vial, thread for 18, O.D. × H 22.5 mm × 46 mm, pkg of 100 eaMagnetic Screw Cap for Headspace Vials, 18 mm thread
PTFE/silicone septum (white PTFE/blue silicone), septum thickness 1.5 mm, pkg of 100 eastandard
C7 - C40 Saturated Alkanes Standard
certified reference material, 1000 μg/mL each component in hexaneTerpene Mix B
certified reference material, 2000 μg/mL each component in methanol, ampule of 1 mLCONDITIONS
sample/matrix
0.5 g dried cannabis in 10 mL headspace vial
SPME fiber
Divinylbenzene/Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS), 50/30 μm (57298-U)
extraction
20 min, headspace, 40 °C
desorption process
3 min, 270 °C
sample preparation
30 min equilibration at 40 °C prior to extraction
sample preparation
fiber postbake after extraction, 3 min at 270 °C
column
Equity-1, 60 m x 0.25 mm I.D., 0.25 μm (28047-U)
oven
60 °C (2 min), 5 °C/min to 275 °C (5 min)
inj. temp.
270 °C
detector
MSD
MSD interface
300 °C
carrier gas
helium, 1 mL/min constant flow
liner
0.75 mm ID, SPME
Description
Analysis Note
Terpenes are contained in the essential oils derived from plants, and often impart characteristic aromas to the plant and/or oil. Cannabis sativa (cannabis) contains more than 100 different terpenes and terpenoids, including mono, sesqui, di and tri, as well as other misc. compounds of terpenoid orgin. Terpene profile does not necessarily indicate geographic orgin of a cannabis sample, however it can be used in forensic applications to determine the common source of different samples. In addition, different cannabis strains have been developed which have distinct aromas and flavors, a result of the differing amounts of specific terpenes present. In this application, headspace-SPME combined with GC/MS was used to analyze some of the terpenes present in dried cannabis. Sample was obtained courtesy of Dr. Hari H. Singh, Program Director at the Chemistry & Physiological Systems Research Branch of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institute of Health. The exact strain of the sample was not known. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Equity™-1 capillary GC column, and identification was done using retention indices and spectral library match.
Legal Information
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