Systems and methodologies for rapid and robust Cannabis Terpene Analysis - 5 minute analysis time = more productivity

Significance of the Topic

Terpene analysis in cannabis and cannabinoid products is essential for product quality control, safety assessment, and regulatory compliance. The complex and growing list of target compounds demands methods that are both fast and robust to support high-throughput laboratories.

Objectives and Study Overview

The study aimed to develop a rapid headspace gas chromatography method integrating flame ionization detection and mass spectrometry to quantify a 22-compound terpene mixture in cannabis samples within a five-minute run time. The workflow sought to improve laboratory productivity while maintaining accuracy and reproducibility.

Methodology and Workflow

Samples and standards were prepared using an evaporation headspace technique to accommodate plant and extract matrices without solvent extraction. Calibration curves covered a concentration range from 10 to 1250 ppm. The analytical platform combined an Agilent 7697A headspace sampler with either a 7890B or Intuvo 9000 GC system. A VF-35ms capillary column was used with dual detectors: an FID and a 5977B mass selective detector. Key GC parameters included a rapid oven temperature ramp from 60 to 350 °C, a 10-minute cycle time, and split injection. Mass spectrometry was operated in scan mode across 40 to 400 amu.

Results and Discussion

The optimized configuration achieved baseline separation of all 22 terpenes within five minutes. Linearity was excellent for both detectors (R2 > 0.997). Limits of quantitation ranged from approximately 0.6 to 7.5 ppm, and method reproducibility yielded relative standard deviations below 3% for all compounds. Chromatographic and mass spectral data demonstrated clear resolution and reliable identification supported by NIST library matching. Productivity increased to six runs per hour compared to two to three runs using conventional methods.

Practical Benefits and Applications

• High throughput supports quality assurance and research workflows
• Direct headspace analysis avoids complex extraction steps
• Dual detection provides cross-validation of quantitation
• Seamless integration with existing Agilent headspace-GC platforms

Future Trends and Potential Uses

Future developments may focus on automating sample preparation, expanding the scope to additional cannabinoids and residual solvents, and integrating advanced data analytics for real-time quality control. Emerging column chemistries and detector technologies could further reduce analysis time while maintaining separation performance.

Conclusion

This rapid headspace GC-FID/MS method delivers robust five-minute terpene profiling in cannabis samples, offering reliable quantitation and significant productivity gains for analytical laboratories. The approach is adaptable to current instrumentation and addresses the evolving needs of regulatory and quality control environments.

References

1. Agilent application report 5991-8032EN
2. Agilent application report 5990-7625EN