A New Focus On An Ancient Remedy
Outlawed more than 80 years ago, cannabis has surfaced from its relegated position as an alternative holistic remedy and popular psychotropic, to what may now become the next economic juggernaut, inspiring investment from big pharma and independent research organizations around the world. Once on the fringes of the financial world, cannabis stocks are gaining traction, and fortune 500 companies are leaving the sidelines as the stigma surrounding cannabis washes away and popular acceptance is reflected across the political spectrum. As of this writing, 33 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana, with 11 legalizing it for recreational use.
The industry is now broadly divided into two markets: the market for medical marijuana and the market for recreational marijuana. Both markets will continue to drive demand for extensive laboratory testing and new analytical tools that can enhance research and ensure safety for millions of end users. Legislation for consumer protection is still relatively young and evolving frequently, however, early State leaders such as Oregon, Vermont and California may help to shape the standards that are ultimately adopted nationwide. At this stage, laboratories must be prepared to handle any type of sample that finds its way into the marketplace and no matter what form it takes; smokeable, vapable, edible, drinkable or a lotion infused with CBD applied dermally, the cannabis plant will certainly throw down a testing gauntlet. For the analytical Introducing A Solvent-Free Toolbox For The Analytical Canna-Chemist chemist, the phrase ‘a can of worms,’ may well be replaced with ‘a vial of gummy sativa,’ as the plants from the family Cannabaceae have developed a reputation for posing a significant sample preparation challenge. Samples generally come in three forms: dried flower, extracts, and edibles. The variability makes sample preparation more difficult as extraction and cleanup methods must be adapted to each. Additionally, extraction efficiencies, matrix effects, and interferences can be totally unpredictable.
Introducing A Solvent-Free Toolbox For The Analytical Canna-Chemist
Understanding Current Testing Needs & Common Approaches
Cannabis contains around 500 endogenous compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes and terpenoids (a modified class of terpenes with different functional groups), flavonoids, and omega fatty acids.Unfortunately, final cannabis products may also contain unwanted chemicals such as pesticides and extraction solvents. For the modern cannabis lab, many technologies are needed to satisfy all the testing requirements.

A novel extraction technology developed by Entech, called the Sorbent Pen™
coupled with thermal desorption GC-MS (TD-GCMS) offers labs an affordable, versatile and high-sensitivity alternative to many solvent extraction methods. The table on the following page highlights the common analytical approaches for the various testing requirements. Sample preparation and extraction techniques vary considerably and are generally the most time consuming part of any cannabis analysis.
CANNABIS: POPULAR TOOLS OF TRADE
SORBENT PENS OFFER A SINGLE SOLUTION TO EXCEL AT FOUR TESTING REQUIREMENTS
Why Sorbent Pens & GC-MS?
Many terpenes vaporize around the same temperature as THC (about 157°C), and some are even more volatile. Sorbent Pens™ and the VASE (Vacuum Assisted Sorbent Extraction) method can provide for reproducible extractions of mono-sesquiterpenes to cannabinoids in a single extraction and analysis.
Why Sorbent Pens & GC-MS?
Sorbent Pens provide incredible sensitivity and allow for exhaustive extraction of heavier molecular weight analytes at equilibrium, ensuring quantitative recovery while remaining solvent-free
Why Sorbent Pens & GC-MS?
Many pesticides do not have sufficient vapor pressure to be extracted by traditional headspace techniques, such as SPME. Immersion methods run the risk of undesirable compounds sticking to the fiber coating causing fouling and has limited the use of SPME in pesticide residues from heavy matrices. Sorbent Pens , combined with VASE (Vacuum Assisted Extraction) overcomes many of these limitations.
Why Sorbent Pens & GC-MS?
With the ability to perform exhaustive vacuum extraction of VOCs through SVOCs, Sorbent Pens allow for ulta-trace recovery of solvents, easily meeting testing requirements in a simple workflow.
Improvements over SPME and Dynamic Headspace Trapping
Highly Reproducible
Minimal carryover without the need for a secondary bakeout/cleanup step.
Durable - hundreds of injections
Operates at or near equilibrium to improve sensitivity and quantitative accuracy.
Perform exhaustive vacuum extraction of VOCs through SVOCs
Unlike SPME, outer sheath minimizes exposure to aerosols formed during agitation
Entech's Extraction Technology
5800 SPDU

Easily transfers volatile and semi-volatile
compounds to a GCMS for extremely
sensitive and accurate analysis.
SPR
Sample Preparation Rail

VASE™ & SORBENT PEN™ AUTOMATION
Sorbent Pen Applications

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