Instrumentation for Metals Analysis In Cannabis
AA, ICP, and ICP-MS
Andrew Fornadel, Daniel Davis, Robert Clifford, Scott Kuzdzal, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (Columbia, MD, USA)
Introduction to Metals in Cannabis Sample Preparation
• Due to their potentially harmful health effects, many states and jurisdictions are • For all techniques, metals analysis requires sample digestion using a microwave
requiring the testing of cannabis products for metals. digester or more traditional hot-plate or hot-block digestions.
• Metals originate from minerals within soils, in water, and may also be contained • Immerse sample in strong acids (i.e., HNO3, HCl) apply heat and pressure.
within pesticides and herbicides. Some digestions also require another oxidizer such as H2O2.
• Cannabis plants fix metals from their environment within proteins and fluid within • Sample is completely dissolved into acid, diluted to an appropriate
the plant. These metals can then be absorbed by users of cannabis and related concentration, and analyzed.
products during consumption.
Atomic Absorption (AA) ICP Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
• Most common analytical technique for metals analysis. AA operates under the • ICP-OES excites sample solutions in an ICP (plasma). Excited elements will
principle of the Beer-Lambert Law, with gaseous free atoms absorbing light of a emit photons of characteristic wavelength. The wavelength corresponds to the
characteristic wavelength. element, and the brightness of the light corresponds to the concentration.
• Low cost compared to other elemental techniques. Using a graphite furnace, • True simultaneous technique, measures multiple elements at the same time.
detection limits can be in the low parts per billion to high parts per trillion range. • Detection limits into the low parts per billion range.
• Slow sample throughput – depends on number of analytes and configuration of • More expensive than AA, cheaper than ICP-MS.
instrument • Tolerant to “dirty” samples and matrices.
• Laboratories on a tight budget, testing only a few elements, and/or those which • Depending on sample preparation, may not provide enough low-end sensitivity
are not as concerned with sample throughput may benefit from the use of AA and may require alternate sample introduction components (i.e. USN).
with HVG as their metals analytical technique.
ICP Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) Flame AA
• ICP-MS ionizes elements in an ICP (plasma). Ions are pulled into the mass Furnace AA
spectrometer and filtered based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z).
• Nearly simultaneous data acquisition provides for quick run times. ICP-OES
• Best sensitivity of all techniques, most analytes in the low parts per trillion range.
• Most expensive and requires most advanced users. ICP-MS
• Most labs are turning to ICP-MS because of sample throughput and sensitivity.
PPT PPB PPM
Generalized detection limits for common elemental analysis techniques
Shimadzu AA-7000 with graphite Shimadzu ICP-OES Shimadzu ICPMS-2030
furnace
