Cannabis and Hemp Testing HPLC Solutions 

Liquid chromatography is central to a broad cross-section of cannabis testing applications. It has been used to help characterize the 100+ cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis plant, demonstrating radically different pharmacological mechanisms of action from one to the next. 

Liquid Chromatography for Cannabinoid purification

Whenever highly pure cannabinoids should be produced from Cannabis plants or raw extracts, preparative chromatography is the method of choice. If a batch process is implemented or a continuous process using simulated moving bed chromatography is more effectful always depends on the specific customer´s needs. KNAUER has extensive experiences in customized solutions for both types of applications for the cannabis industry. 

Liquid Chromatography for the Quality Control of Cannabis Products

Analytical HPLC is implemented in numerous ways to help professionals on either side of the cannabis market’s gulf in legitimacy. To ensure a safe product of highest quality, several tests should be carried out. They include cannabinoid profiling, potency testing via quantification of THC (presence/absence of THC), determination of naturally occurring contaminants like mycotoxins and determination of artificial contaminants like pesticides.

HPLC solutions for Cannabis potency testing and cannabinoid profiling

With more and more countries legalizing medical cannabis every year, also a growing number of analytical methods and instruments is available. 
The main biologically active components of cannabis and hemp plants are naturally occurring cannabinoids. 70 of these closely related compounds are already known and well described. The primary focus has been on Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) due to its pharmacological and toxicological characteristics, upon which strict legal limits have been enforced.
Also of growing interest is Cannabidiol (CBD), the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis. CBD was labelled as having no public health risk or abuse potential by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017. CBD is commonly used to address anxiety, insomnia and different types of chronic pain.

Potency testing: Simplified analysis of THC content
Beside Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cultivators and processing labs often focus on Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A), as it is the naturally occurring precursor to THC and is readily decarboxylated to THC via the drying and/or heating of cannabis. Therefore, an easy and quick method for the determination of the THC and THC-A content of a cannabis sample is of great interest.

Cannabinoid profile: Detailed analysis of all main cannabinoids 
Whenever the focus lies on the whole profile of cannabinoids and not only on potency testing, more sophisticated HPLC systems and methods have to be applied. KNAUER established a method and a dedicsted HPLC system for the determination and quantification of the 16 well known cannabinoids.

Whether your lab is well established or just starting up, GMI & KNAUER can offer turnkey solutions that help you meet regional regulations that are essential to a successful business. .

GMI & KNAUER can also assist you finding the perfect preparative method for purification of cannabinoids like CBD. Contact us if you want to learn more!