AGILENT CARY 630 FTIR FOR QUICK AND REAL TIME DETERMINATION OF CANNABINOID POTENCIES

Significance of the topic

Accurate determination of cannabinoid potency is essential for ensuring correct dosage and regulatory compliance in both medicinal and recreational cannabis products. Real-time, non-destructive analysis methods can enhance production efficiency, quality control, and consumer safety.

Objectives and overview of the study

The primary goal was to evaluate the Agilent Cary 630 FTIR spectrometer as a rapid alternative to chromatographic methods for quantifying THC potency in various cannabis matrices, including concentrates and distillates. This study compares FTIR-based predictions with an established HPLC reference technique.

Methodology and instrumentation

A chemometric calibration model was constructed using a representative set of cannabis samples with varying THC levels.

• The samples were first analyzed by HPLC to obtain reference potency values.
• FTIR spectra were acquired using the Agilent Cary 630 equipped with a 1-Bounce Diamond ATR accessory.
• Agilent MicroLab software facilitated model development and prediction workflows.

Main results and discussion

The FTIR-predicted THC values showed excellent agreement with HPLC results, yielding a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.99 across distillates with potency up to 93%. This demonstrates that, with appropriate chemometric models, FTIR can match the accuracy of standard chromatographic assays.

Benefits and practical applications

• Real-time potency measurements in seconds without sample preparation.
• Non-destructive analysis requiring no consumables.
• Portable instrument with a small laboratory footprint.
• Guided workflows in software reduce user variability.
• Potential for in-line monitoring to optimize extraction and manufacturing processes.

Future trends and potential applications

Expanding chemometric libraries to include additional cannabinoids and matrix types can broaden the application scope. Integration with process analytical technology PAT and advanced data analytics may enable fully automated, in-process monitoring in both industrial and field settings.

Conclusion

The Agilent Cary 630 FTIR, combined with chemometric modeling, offers a fast, accurate, and cost-effective alternative to chromatography for cannabis potency testing. Its ease of use and real-time capabilities can significantly enhance QA/QC and production efficiency.

Reference

Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2017. Agilent Cary 630 FTIR for Quick and Real Time Determination of Cannabinoid Potencies: Application Overview. Publication number: 5991-8677EN.