Today's Messages

The Chemistry Department will host a graduate student Master's Project seminar on Thursday, April 30, during Bengal Pause (12:15 to 1:30 p.m.) in SAMC 151. Our speaker will be Hannah Bergner, a graduate student in the forensic science master's program. 

Talk Title: Analysis of Terpenes in Cannabis Flowers Using Gas Chromatography via Headspace-Solid Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME)

As cannabis legalization expands, accurate testing for cannabinoids and terpenes is essential for quality control and consumer safety. With the rise of cultivators and dispensaries, standardized testing for major components—including terpene profiling and contaminant detection—is vital. Terpenes are volatile organic compounds that contribute to cannabis's aroma and therapeutic effects through cannabinoid receptor interactions.

This research focused on Headspace-Solid Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) paired with GC-FID and GC-MS to identify and quantify terpenes in four commercial flower strains [1,2]. This technique utilized solid samples and the vaporization of volatiles within specialized vials. Previous studies using liquid extraction found that terpene concentrations were heavily influenced by solvent choice and decreased over time due to chemical degradation. In comparison, HS-SPME revealed different relative concentrations of similar terpenes, generally yielding lower overall amounts. The distribution of volatile compounds in the headspace is a critical factor in these results, and distribution constants (KD) must be considered for the proper quantification of components [3].

References

1. Cajigas, J. C., Gokool, V. A., Holness, H. K., Furton, K. G., DeGreeff, L. E. (2024, February 24). Method development for an untargeted HS-SPME-GC–MS analysis of terpenes and cannabinoids for the geographical sourcing of Marijuana.

2. Fausett, A. (2020, May 26). Analysis of Terpene and Terpenoid Content in Cannabis Sativa Using Headspace with GC/MSD.

3. Kim, J., Yu, J. (2024, April 6). Measurement of Distribution Constants Between Air and Solid Substrates Using Gas Chromatography for Quantification of Hydrocarbons in Solid Substrates via Headspace-Solid Phase Microextraction.