What are Terpenes?
There are thousands of terpenes found in the plant kingdom, and more than one hundred compounds found in cannabis alone. Terpenes that are present in cannabis plants, and their concentrations, vary greatly with growing, harvesting, and drying conditions. Terpenes have a high tendency to degradation and evaporation during storage, additionally large degree of terpene can be lost if cannabis is stored at room temperature in poorly sealed containers. Terpenes account for the vast array of smells and flavors in cannabis flowers and extracts and provide the notable aromas of different types of cannabis. Some of the medical and physiological benefits found in cannabis have been attributed to terpenes. Genetic and environmental factors, as well as drying and curing processes, determine the types and levels of terpenes present in usable cannabis.
How Do We Analyze Cannabis for Terpene?
Terpenes have a low toxicity and are commonly used in the production of various essential oils, perfumes, and vitamins and as food additives, due to their distinct aromas. As terpenes produce the distinctive smells of various cannabis strains, producers and processors may want to identify terpene profiles that appeal to consumers. Cannabis terpenes are typically divided into two chemical classifications, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, the former being more volatile. The words terpene and terpenoid are becoming more and more interchangeable in the industry, although the two represent different chemical classifications. Terpenes are various sized, aromatic hydrocarbons that can be found in plant resins, whereas terpenoids are terpenes with the addition of a functional group such as alcohols, ketones, and esters.
How Do We Analyze Terpenes?
We perform our Terpenes analysis utilizing Agilent Technologies GC/MS following a solvent extraction of the samples. The analyses are performed on Agilent 7890A GC/5975C MSD system. In addition to above list of terpenes compounds AccuScience is also able to identify and measure qualitatively other Terpenes using GC/MS-LS-TIC ( Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer Library Search to Tentatively Identifying Compounds) , please call us to get more information. Sample requirement: less than 1.0 gram of samples
What Sets Us Apart?
Having the right equipment is critical, but it is only part of the equation, and the human element remains relevant and important. The AccuScience management team has more than 100 years of collective analytical testing experience, and we work in a testing facility set to the standards of ISO17025 for pharmaceutical and environmental laboratories. By strictly following these guidelines, we deliver the most accurate and legally defensible results in the industry.
