Development of a method for the identification and quantification of terpenes and cannabinoids in hemp using multidimensional gas chromatography and quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry

Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-containing food products, including those marketed as dietary supplements, have proliferated in the U.S. marketplace, necessitating the development of analytical methods for the identification and quantification of cannabinoids in hemp. Reports suggesting a possible contribution of terpenes on the effects of cannabinoids further expands the demand for analytical methods that can accurately determine the terpenes profile for these products. Due to the complex composition of hemp, one-dimensional chromatographic methods may be proven to be insufficient for unmasking trace level terpenes which may play an important role in the chemical properties of hemp-materials. To address this challenge, a method combining multidimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and high-resolution quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry has been developed. The reported method provides accurate analysis of fifty-six terpenes and nine cannabinoids, including but not limited to, CBD and D-9-THC, in various varieties of hemp plant material.