Quantification of THC and CBD in Beverages Containing Nano‑Emulsions

Significance of the Topic

The accurate quantification of Δ9-THC and CBD in cannabis-infused beverages is crucial for regulatory compliance, consumer safety, and truthful product labeling. Nano-emulsified formulations present analytical challenges due to low cannabinoid levels and the presence of carrier oils and emulsifiers that can compromise extraction, chromatographic performance, and detector response.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note aims to develop and validate a simple, robust, and reproducible method for extracting and quantifying THC and CBD in various beverages, including iced tea, beer, soda water, and carbonated fruit drinks. Key goals include removal of problematic matrix components, improvement of accuracy and precision, and demonstration of method applicability across sample types.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The sample preparation workflow combines QuEChERS extraction with Agilent Capture EMR—Lipid cleanup to efficiently remove emulsifiers and lipids. Extracts are analyzed by liquid chromatography with UV detection (LC/UV) on an Agilent 1260 Infinity II system equipped with a Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column and diode array detector at 230 nm. Qualitative assessment of sample cleanliness is performed by high-resolution LC/Q-TOF mass spectrometry (Agilent 6545). Key instrumental parameters include a 13 min gradient, 0.8 mL/min flow rate, and 30 °C column temperature.

Main Results and Discussion

Comparative trials show that QuEChERS extraction followed by Captiva EMR—Lipid filtration yields the cleanest extracts, highest UV signal for THC/CBD, and lowest chromatographic baseline versus dispersive QuEChERS or membrane filtration alone. Calibration curves (0.5–100 µg/mL) demonstrate excellent linearity (R2 > 0.9999). Intraday and interday accuracy for a 0.5 µg/mL standard averaged 102% with %RSD < 1.5. Recovery studies in a carbonated fruit beverage exceeded 110%, and calibrator stability was maintained over six days in the autosampler.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Selective removal of lipids and emulsifiers reduces column fouling and instrument maintenance.
• Optimized extraction improves accuracy, precision, and throughput.
• Method is adaptable to diverse beverage matrices for routine potency testing.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advancements may include integration of tandem mass spectrometry for enhanced sensitivity and selectivity, automation of sample cleanup, expansion to profile a broader panel of minor cannabinoids, miniaturized and green extraction techniques, and in-line monitoring for quality control in beverage production.

Conclusion

The described QuEChERS/EMR cleanup coupled with LC/UV analysis provides a reliable, accurate, and robust workflow for quantifying THC and CBD in nano-emulsified beverages. The protocol reduces matrix interferences, ensures regulatory compliance, and enhances laboratory productivity.

Reference

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