34
November/December 2009
UHPLC/MS Identifies Cannabinoids in Baked Goods with Minimal Sample Preparation
Thermo Fisher Scientific announce a new method for identifying marijuana cannabinoids in baked goods that is faster, easier-to-use and requires less sample preparation. Using
ultra high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (UHPLC/MS), the application tests baked goods samples obtained from a local state police forensic laboratory and is detailed in the application note “Identification of Cannabinoids in Baked Goods by UHPLC/MS” which is available to download via the “Learn more about Accela” link at
www.thermo.com/accela.
Marijuana is the most common illegal drug in the U.S. and Europe and U.S. law enforcement agencies seize two million pounds of cannabis in various forms each year. The evidence is first screened for marijuana using simple chemical tests, such as the Duqenois- Levine test and then gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is used to positively identify cannabinoids. This conventional technique works well for leaf marijuana, hashish and residue collected from smoking paraphernalia. UHPLC/MS however
is an alternate method for identifying marijuana cannabinoids in complex food matrices such as baked goods.
Incorporating the Thermo Scientific Accela UHPLC system, the Thermo Scientific MSQ Plus Mass Detector, a single quadrupole mass spectrometer and Thermo Scientific Xcalibur software, the system detected marijuana cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol and cannabidiol in the baked goods, a complex food matrix. The team delivered results with simpler sample preparation, no derivatization and less instrument clean-up time.
The team extracted and separated cannabinoids on a Thermo Scientific Hypersil GOLD PFP column, and it showed that the cannabinoid standards eluted with good resolution at 4.1 minutes (cannabidiol), 5.1 minutes (THC) and 5.4 minutes (cannabinol). The extracts from a brownie and a cookie eluted at 5.1 minutes, testing positive for THC, demonstrating how little sample preparation is required for this method. It is simpler, faster and requires less sample material than traditional GC/MS techniques. Preparation time of ten minutes and a total run time of eight minutes shows the efficiency of UHPLC/MS detection.
The Accela™ is a high speed chromatographic system that provides fast and efficient chromatographic separations over a range of flow rates and pressures. It features optimized system delay volumes for fast separations and flexible sample format. The innovative quaternary pump is capable of conventional and ultra- high pressures while the Thermo Scientific LightPipe technology provides maximum sensitivity and resolution.
Send for information on Reprosil Chiral family of columns with Reprosil Pur C18-AQ nanocolumns with exceptional performance for peptide analysis
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
