Date of Award
8-2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Biology; Chemistry
Program
Integrated Biosciences (MS)
First Advisor/Chairperson
Dr. Philip Yangyuoru
Abstract
The rapid expansion of unregulated hemp-derived products has created a need for analytical methods that characterize both cannabinoid composition and contaminant occurrence. This thesis used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to quantify cannabidiol (CBD), Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in commercial hemp-derived products, laboratory-prepared hemp oils, cultivated hemp tissues, extracted material, and post-harvest soil. Commercial products showed wide cannabinoid variability, with several samples containing more than one target cannabinoid, while laboratory-prepared plant oils showed a more consistent profile dominated by CBD with lower Δ9-THC and no detected Δ8-THC. ICP-MS results showed that metal distribution depended on matrix and metal identity; roots, stems, leaves, buds, oils, extracted material, and soils showed different patterns. In 10-metal treatment groups, untreated controls often contained concentrations equal to or higher than treated samples, indicating that unmeasured initial material composition and experimental variability affected interpretation of the final concentrations. Commercial-product ICP-MS results also showed that selected metals were detectable in subsets of vapes, edibles, oils, and the treated flower sample, indicating that metal occurrence was product- and matrix-dependent. Overall, LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS provided complementary information for evaluating hemp-derived materials and supported comprehensive chemical characterization of unregulated products and cultivated hemp systems.
Recommended Citation
Melle, Simone K., "ANALYSIS OF THE CANNABINOID COMPOSITIONS, BYPRODUCTS AND HEAVY METALS IN UNREGULATED CANNABINOID PRODUCTS BY HPLC-MS/ICP-MS" (2026). All NMU Master's Theses. 927.
https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/927
Access Type
Open Access
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