Gas Chromatography (GC)

Patricia Atkins is a Senior Applications Scientist with SPEX CertiPrep and a member of both the AOAC and ASTM committees for cannabis.

Articles

In this column, we attempt to explore in depth the theory and methodology of our common laboratory techniques and show how an understanding of interworking of those techniques allow for more flexibility in analysis.


Energy and Elements, Part I: Understanding Atomic Spectroscopy

In the work presented here, the authors pursue a more detailed understanding of the naturally rare occurring cannabinoid analogue, hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), by exploring the safety profile using a third-party lab to produce preclinical in vitro safety profile data. The purpose of these studies is to demonstrate HHC as a safe cannabinoid for potential human consumption.

Nonclinical In Vitro Safety Assessment Summary of Hemp Derived (R/S)-Hexahydrocannabinol ((R/S)-HHC)

Let’s investigate the differences between the commercially available detector in terms of sample type, size, and selectivity to understand which detectors fit into the most common types of cannabis GC analyses.

Looking with Light: Understanding Gas Chromatography, Part IV: Detectors

Let’s try to understand the functioning and chemistry of GC columns and how to change and manipulate the resolution equation and column chemistry to maximize our own analyses.

Looking with Light: Understanding Gas Chromatography, Part III: Columns and Resolution

Brian C. Smith, PhD, is Founder, CEO, and Chief Technical Officer of Big Sur Scientific. He is the inventor of the BSS series of patented mid-infrared based cannabis analyzers. Dr. Smith has done pioneering research and published numerous peer-reviewed papers on the application of mid-infrared spectroscopy to cannabis analysis, and sits on the editorial board of Cannabis Science and Technology. He has worked as a laboratory director for a cannabis extractor, as an analytical chemist for Waters Associates and PerkinElmer, and as an analytical instrument salesperson. He has more than 30 years of experience in chemical analysis and has written three books on the subject. Dr. Smith earned his PhD on physical chemistry from Dartmouth College. Direct correspondence to: 

In this introduction to Beer’s Law, we review its use, history, and begin to cover the theory behind the equation.

The Most Important Equation in Potency Analysis is Beer’s Law: An Introduction

It is demonstrated in this paper that cell viability can be used to determine dose and response effects that are important in understanding toxicities and to detect differences in similar hemp products.

Human Cells Can Be Used to Study Cannabinoid Dosage and Inflammatory Cytokine Responses

A discussion on the selection of a “golden” potency method including what this method should look like, how we should go about choosing it, and more.

In Search of the Golden Potency Method

Understand the function and chemistry of GC systems and how to adapt that function and methodology to our own analyses.

Looking with Light: Understanding Gas Chromatography, Part II: Sample Introduction and Inlets

Let’s take a deeper look into GC instrumentation.

Looking with Light: Understanding Gas Chromatography, Part I: Gases

is a Senior Scientist at Agilent Technologies and a Visiting Professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

This article focuses on the use of GC–MS for the analysis of derivatized cannabinoids in hempseed oil matrix.