Analysis of 20 Terpenes in Cannabis by GC-FID using Zebron™ ZB-624PLUS™ GC Column

Significance of the Topic

Terpenes are responsible for the distinctive aroma and flavor of cannabis products, making their qualitative and quantitative profiling crucial for product quality control, branding, and consumer safety.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note presents a gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID) method for the simultaneous analysis of twenty key cannabis terpenes using a Zebron ZB-624PLUS capillary column.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Column: Zebron ZB-624PLUS, 30 m × 0.25 mm ID × 1.40 µm film thickness with Z-Guard.
Injection: Split 20:1 at 250 °C, 1 µL.
Carrier gas: Helium at 1.0 mL/min (constant flow).
Liner: Zebron PLUS straight Z-Liner.
Detector: FID at 300 °C.
Oven program: 50 °C hold 1 min, ramp to 160 °C at 10 °C/min (4 min hold), ramp to 280 °C at 12 °C/min.
Sample: Standard mixture of twenty terpenes including α-pinene, camphene, β-myrcene, (–)-β-pinene, d-3-carene, α-terpinene, d-limonene, p-cymene, ocimene, γ-terpinene, terpinolene, linalool, isopulegol, geraniol, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, two isomers of nerolidol, guaiol, and α-bisabolol.

Main Results and Discussion

The optimized method achieved baseline separation of all twenty terpenes within approximately 24 minutes. The high upper temperature limit of the ZB-624PLUS column (300/320 °C) ensured elution of heavier sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene alcohols. Peak shapes were sharp and reproducible, facilitating reliable quantification. Retention times and resolution met criteria for routine quality control.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Routine quality control and regulatory compliance for cannabis products
• Accurate aroma and flavor profiling to support product development and branding
• Efficient workflow with high throughput and reproducibility in a cost-effective GC-FID setup

Future Trends and Opportunities

Integration with mass spectrometry for structural confirmation, rapid temperature ramping methods, miniaturized and automated GC platforms, expanded volatile compound screening, and adoption of greener analytical practices are expected to advance the field of terpene analysis.

Conclusion

The GC-FID method using the Zebron ZB-624PLUS column offers a robust, efficient, and reproducible approach for comprehensive analysis of twenty cannabis terpenes, supporting quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and product differentiation in research and industrial laboratories.

References

No external references were provided in the source document.