Chemical identification of cannabinoids in street marijuana samples using electrospray ionization FT-ICR mass spectrometry?

Analytical Methods Pub Date: 2015-01-02 DOI: 10.1039/C4AY02355B

Abstract

The Cannabis sativa L. plant is a species rich in a variety of cannabinoid compounds and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) has been reported as a main psychotropic substance. In this study, electrospray ionization (ESI), coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), was used in order to perform a direct and fast analysis of street marijuana samples. ESI(?)-FT-ICR MS detected 21 cannabinoid species in the deprotonated form, [M ? H]?. Other species were detected in regions of m/z 600–800 and 800–1000, corresponding to dimers and trimers of cannabinoids. In addition, ESI(?) was better able to analyze the chemical profile of terpenophenolic species (CcHhOo) than ESI(+). ESI(+)-FT-ICR MS detected the presence of adulterants such as cocaine, lidocaine, and nicotine. Finally, the sensitivity of fast blue B colorimetric testing was also evaluated and the results were compared to the ESI(?)FT-ICR MS data.

Graphical abstract: Chemical identification of cannabinoids in street marijuana samples using electrospray ionization FT-ICR mass spectrometry
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