Determination of Residual Solvents in Hemp-Based Matrices Using Headspace GC-MS
Overview
The advent and subsequent proliferation of novel hemp-based consumer products in the last 5-10 years has introduced an abundance of new products to the market. The manufacturers of these products want to use the best extraction method to isolate the desired components from the hemp stalk, seeds, leaves or other parts of the plant. Typical extraction methods use solvents or gases. Residual solvents and gases should be monitored in the raw materials generated or final products produced, in order to evaluate potential contamination of the product. A list of approximately 30 gases and solvents including propane, isobutane and n-butane, as well as isomers of heptane and the common components of petroleum ether were compiled and evaluated for their performance using a headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS) assay based on USP <467> methodology. Carbon dioxide was not evaluated, as it is generally regarded as a safe extraction gas, using a supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) methodology. The accuracy and precision of the method were evaluated based on analysis of blank samples spiked with target analytes. The matrices included in the validation were ground hemp plant, ground hemp seeds, hemp oil and CBD isolate. The method and validation data statistics generated from various matrices are presented in this scientific poster presented at the North American Chemical Residue Workshop (NACRW) 2019.
Authors
John Schmitz, Matthew Eckert, and Katerina Mastovska of Eurofins Food Integrity & Innovation in Madison, WI USA and Lukas Vaclavik of Eurofins Food Integrity & Innovation in North Yorkshire, UK