A PRELIMINARY-STUDY OF THE ANALYSIS OF CANNABIS BY SUPERCRITICAL-FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH ATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE CHEMICAL-IONIZATION MASS SPECTROSCOPIC DETECTION

A rapid method is described for the analysis of Cannabis products by s upercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) coupled to atmospheric pressur e chemical ionization-mass spectroscopic (APCI-MS) detection. The meth od had a shorter analysis time than CC-MS methods, without the need fo r derivatization prior to analysis. It was also faster than HPLC metho ds, with better resolution and definitive identification. Linearity of detector response to cannabidiol, Delta(8)-tetrahydrocannabinol, Delt a(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol was established, the detectio n limits for mass on column being 0.55ng, 1.20ng, 0.69ng and 2.10ng re spectively. The technique offers a means by which Cannabis products ca n be definitively identified in a single chromatographic run. Applicat ion to casework samples is described.