Rapid separation of cannabinoid isomer sets using differential mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry

• DOI: 10.1039/d1an02327f
• Publication Date: 2022-04-19T17:41:16Z
• Authors: Nour Mashmoushi; J. Larry Campbell; Robert di Lorenzo; W. Scott Hopkins
• Keywords: Ion-mobility spectrometry; Structural isomer

With legalization and decriminalization of cannabis in many parts the world comes need for rapid separation quantitation psychoactive ingredients. Here, we demonstrate use differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) mass analysis five cannabinoid molecules: isomer set Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromine (CBC), (-)-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) cannabidiolic (CBDA) pair. Analytes were investigated under a variety gas-phase environments to identify optimal conditions based on ion mobilities. Separation isomers was complicated by formation ion-solvent adducts during electrospray ionization (ESI). The observation correlated with calculated intermolecular binding energies. Introducing 1.5% (v/v) isopropyl alcohol into N2 carrier gas resulted strong clustering isomers, displacing ESI solvent from enabling sets within seconds. Quantification carboxylated marijuana flower performed samples.