Potency Analysis of Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids in Vaping Oils Using Liquid Chromatography Diode Array Detector with Electrospray Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for Confirmation of Analyte Identity
Since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, semi-synthetic cannabinoids, typically derived from hemp-extracted CBD, have been marketed as offering a “legal high”, raising concerns about consumer safety, labeling, and regulation. Consequently, the potency analysis of these compounds has become increasin...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2597 |
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| Summary: | Since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, semi-synthetic cannabinoids, typically derived from hemp-extracted CBD, have been marketed as offering a “legal high”, raising concerns about consumer safety, labeling, and regulation. Consequently, the potency analysis of these compounds has become increasingly important. To address this need, an LC-DAD method was developed for the quantification of seventeen cannabinoids, selected based on the synthetic pathways of semi-synthetic cannabinoids. These included naturally occurring compounds, semi-synthetic derivatives, and byproducts (CBC, CBD, CBDV, CBG, CBN, CBN-O-acetate, CBT, 9(R)-HHC, 9(S)-HHC, 9(R)-HHC-O-acetate, 9(S)-HHC-O-acetate, Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC, Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC, Δ<sup>9,11</sup>-THC, Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC-O-acetate, Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC-O-acetate, and Δ<sup>9</sup>-THCV), using abnormal CBD as an internal standard. The method was validated according to ISO 17025 guidelines, demonstrating a linear calibration range from 0.1 to 50 µg/mL. The method was further applied to the potency analysis of one Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC, two THC-O-acetate, two HHC, and one HHC-O-acetate vaping oil sample. Using an innovative method to recover the contents of vaping cartridges, cannabinoids were extracted using methanol, diluted to a concentration of 50 µg/mL, and analyzed using the validated LC-DAD method, which provided a quantifiable range of 0.1 to 100% (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>). Method specificity was evaluated using ESI/TOFMS and showed minimal interference, despite the presence of other isomers of the semi-synthetic cannabinoids in the samples. |
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| ISSN: | 1420-3049 |