Heat assisted sample introduction and determination of cannabinoids by dielectric barrier discharge ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

DBDI-MS equipped with an appropriate sample heater was employed to analyze directly 8 seized synthetic cannabinoids in botanical matrices. The heater allowed for a pronounced increase of the quality of acquired spectra, allowing for much easier identification of cannabinoids, as compared to standard DBDI source without heating device. A few hundred micrograms of herbal material was sufficient for easy detection of cannabinoids content in the samples. These designer drugs are difficult to identify in a conventional way due to their association with complex plant matrices during manufacturing (to mask active and illicit ingredients) and so requires time consuming extraction and sample preparation before analysis. The ability for fast and direct analysis of the so-called “legal highs” can be a useful supporting tool for an initial and rapid identification of compounds present in this type of species, and can partially replace GC/MS technique for fast screening.