In this application note we examine the potency levels in Cannabis using a Scion Instruments 436-GC with FID. Hemp and marijuana are becoming more popular because of legalization in multiple countries. The increase of this market also increases the offer of products that contain very different levels of cannabinoids than the content described on the label. Therefore, as quality control it is important to monitor the level of cannabinoids.

In this application note we examine the potency levels in Cannabis using a Scion Instruments 436-GC with FID. Hemp and marijuana are becoming more popular because of legalization in multiple countries. The increase of this market also increases the offer of products that contain very different levels of cannabinoids than the content described on the label.

DEHP, bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, is one of the most prominent phthalate contaminants in drinking water. DEHP is also used as a plasticiser during plastic manufacturing. When ingested, it is a cancer-causing hazard and presents a high risk of liver function disorders.

Due to the corona crisis hand sanitizer became part of our daily routine.  Alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60 to 95% alcohol is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the main components being ethanol, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and/or n-propanol. To determine the effectiveness and impurities of the hand sanitizer a GC analysis can be performed. This analysis faces many challenges since hand sanitizer is made in a water matrix, which is a difficult matrix for Gas Chromatography.

Physical distillation is still considered the reference method for distillation. Simulated distillation (simdist) by gas chromatography offers some significant advantages over the physical procedure, making this technique quite useful. Analysis by GC typically has the better precision, higher throughput, less hands-on time, and lower cost per sample. Also, Simdist requires considerably less sample to be run and can generally be considered the safer of the two techniques. Simdist is very suitable to characterize crude oils.

A new Application Note has been released describing a method for the determination of the presence of Phthalates in Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) in compliance with IEC 62321-8:2017 and ASTM D7823-20. This rapid screening method uses Pyrolysis/TD-GC-MS, effectively combining a simplified sample preparation with high precision. For a fast & simple method to analyzing Plasticizers in printed circuit boards, read our application note here...

The number of regular cannabis users in the world is estimated at 183 million people[1]. It is illegal to drive a vehicle whilst under the influence of cannabis. The active ingredient in cannabis is delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). Common side effects includes the feeling of euphoria, hallucinations, relaxation and even sedation...

Typically, natural gas is bought and sold on an energy basis; therefore, composition analysis is required to determine its heating value or BTU content, in addition to other properties such as specific gravity, compressibility, etc. The Gas Processors Association (GPA) has published methods for the analysis of natural gas and demethanized hydrocarbon liquid mixtures (Standards GPA 2261 and GPA 2177).

Natural gas analysis commonly involves the quantification of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and C1 through C5 hydrocarbons as individual components, while C6 and heavier hydrocarbons are combined and measured as a single peak (C6+). Extending the analysis to obtain the compositional breakdown of the C6+ group can provide valuable information, particularly for rich gas samples (those higher in heavier end components). The system described here is designed for the extended analysis of natural gas and natural gas liquids (gases liquefied under pressure) up to C16 or higher. It provides the requirements of GPA methods 2286 (gas) and 2186 (liquids)...

This configuration will provide results according to ASTM D8098. This test method covers the determination of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide in the parts per billion mole (nmol/mol) to parts per million mole (μmol/mol) range in C2 and C3 hydrocarbons.