Analysis of Cannabinoids Using HPLC with Post-Column Derivatization

Cannabinoids are a class of terpenophenolic compounds that are associated with the pharmacological activity of cannabis. Cannabinoids exist in the plant mainly as carboxylic acids and are converted to neutral analogs by light and heat while in storage or during the preparation of edible products.

A new HPLC method with post-column derivatization was developed to analyze cannabinoids in cannabis plants as well as in cannabis-containing edible products. This post-column method is based on the reaction with Fast Blue Salt reagent under basic conditions and implements a simple sample extraction with acidified water–acetonitrile followed by QuEChERS sample clean-up. The method is suitable for analysis of the major neutral cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, CBN, and CBG as well cannabinoid acids THCA-A and CBDA with high sensitivity and selectivity of detection.

Method

The following cannabinoids were analyzed: delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA-A), and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

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