Table 1 An overview to the key properties of common GC-MS method for analysing cannabinoids with a capillary column in six different studies

Silica capillary column coated with DB1

16 major cannabinoids

Initial 10 °C, 108 °C /min, up to 280 °C Hold for 30 min

Helium

N/A

N/A

N/A

(Hazekamp et al. 2005)

VA5MS capillary column coated with DB1

Δ⁹-THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, THCA, CBGA, CBDA

Initial 100 °C, 108 °C /min, up to 280 °C Hold for 30 min

Helium

N/A

N/A

N/A

(Hazekamp et al. 2009)

5% Cross-linked phenylmethyl siloxane capillary column

CBG, CBD, CBDA, CBN, CBGA, THC, CBC, THCA

Initial 50 °C, 6 °C /min, up to 300 °C, hold for 4 min. (3 min solvent delay was applied)

Helium

m/z^a 40–500

N/A

N/A

(Namdar et al. 2018)

5% Diphenyl/95% dimethyl polysiloxane capillary column

THC-THCA

Initial 70 °C, 40 °C /min up to 180 °C, then 10 °C/min up to 300 °C

Hold for 6.25 min

Helium

0.10–4.00% (w/w)

0.03% (w/w)

10% (w/w)

(Casiraghi et al. 2018)

Cross-linked poly-5% diphenyl-95% dimethyl polysiloxane capillary column

CBDA-CBD

Initial 45 °C, 2 °C /min, up tp100°C, then 5 °C /min up to 250 °C

Hold for 5 min

Helium

m/z 40–500

N/A

N/A

(Pellati et al. 2018)

5% Cross-linked phenylmethyl siloxane capillary column

CBG, CBD, THC, CBC, CBN

Initial 50 °C, 6 °C/min, up to 300 °C

Hold for 4 min, (3 min solvent delay was applied)

Helium

m/z 40–400

N/A

N/A

(Namdar et al. 2019)