CANNABIS TESTING LC/GC/SFC/SPE/QuEChERS

Significance of the topic

Cannabis testing is essential to ensure consumer safety, product quality and regulatory compliance. The complex chemical profile of cannabis—including cannabinoids, terpenes, pesticides, mycotoxins and residual solvents—requires robust, reliable analytical workflows. Effective sample preparation and tailored chromatographic methods minimize matrix interferences and extend instrument lifetime.

Study aims and overview

This application guide from Phenomenex presents a comprehensive set of analytical solutions for cannabis laboratories. It covers potency determination, mycotoxin and pesticide screening, terpene profiling, residual solvent analysis and purification techniques. The guide demonstrates how to leverage QuEChERS, SPE, LC, GC, SFC and MS approaches to meet diverse testing requirements.

Methodology and instrumentation used

Sample preparation

• QuEChERS extraction kits and dispersive SPE for general pesticide and mycotoxin cleanup
• Polymeric SPE (Strata-X) tubes for targeted clean-up of acidic, basic and neutral analytes

Chromatographic techniques and detectors

• HPLC/UHPLC: Core–shell and fully porous phases (Kinetex, Luna Omega) for separation of up to 12 cannabinoids in under 12 minutes
• LC–MS/MS: Biphenyl and Polar C18 columns coupled to SCIEX QTRAP® 6500+ or Triple Quad™ 6500+ for sensitive quantitation of cannabinoids, aflatoxins and pesticide residues
• GC–MS: Zebron ZB-MultiResidue™ columns for screening >100 pesticides in a single run
• GC–FID: Zebron ZB-5PLUS™ and ZB-624PLUS™ columns for resolution of 33 terpenes or a full residual solvent panel in one analysis
• SFC: Lux chiral columns for enantiomeric separation of cannabinoids

Column protection and accessories

• SecurityGuard™ and Guardian™ systems to trap particulates and extend column life
• Easy Seals™, Zebron PLUS liners and Z-Guard™ inlet filters to prevent leaks and contamination

Main results and discussion

Potency methods achieved baseline separation of 10–12 cannabinoids with rapid run times (<15 min) and high resolution using both methanol and acetonitrile gradients. LC–MS/MS workflows provided low-ppb detection of cannabinoids and mycotoxins. GC–MS pesticide screening resolved 112 compounds in <35 min. GC–FID protocols separated 33 terpenes or 20 residual solvents in a single temperature program. QuEChERS and SPE protocols delivered clean extracts suitable for all downstream analyses.

Benefits and practical applications

These workflows offer high throughput, reproducibility and flexibility for compliance testing. Pre-packed kits and guard cartridges simplify sample prep and protect costly columns. A range of column chemistries enables laboratories to tailor methods to specific analyte classes and regulatory lists.

Future trends and possibilities

Anticipated developments include automation of sample preparation, integrated multi-residue LC–MS/MS and GC–MS methods, expanded use of supercritical fluid techniques for green separations, and advanced chiral analyses of novel cannabinoids. These trends will support faster turnaround and deeper chemical profiling.

Conclusion

Phenomenex provides a full suite of sample prep tools, chromatographic columns and detection platforms to address every aspect of cannabis testing. By combining targeted clean-up, optimized columns and robust detectors, laboratories can achieve regulatory compliance with efficient, high-quality results.

Reference

Phenomenex Inc. Cannabis Testing: LC/GC/SFC/SPE/QuEChERS Application Guide (2018).