Residual Solvents Testing

Residual Solvents Testing

Optimize your headspace GC-MS/MS workflow, reach the lowest levels of detection, and support product safety with Waters Xevo TQ-GC or Xevo APGC-MS/MS systems. Waters solutions accurately analyze solvent residues from a variety of sample matrices to ensure consistent and compliant cannabis products.

Optimize your headspace GC-MS/MS workflow, reach the lowest levels of detection, and support product safety with Waters Xevo TQ-GC or Xevo APGC-MS/MS systems. Waters solutions accurately analyze solvent residues from a variety of sample matrices to ensure consistent and compliant cannabis products.
Biotechnology scientist chemist working in lab
Biotechnology scientist chemist working in lab

Overview

Solvents are typically introduced into cannabis products during extraction and purification processes. Although the number of solvents used in cannabis processing are few, impurities in those solvents or cross contamination can introduce other unexpected contaminants. Drying and purging of gases removes most of these from cannabis extracts, but certain sample types can be more challenging to address, leading to out-of-compliance products. Each state’s residual solvent list and limits vary, adding regulatory complexity to the challenges faced by product manufacturers.

Optimize your headspace GC-MS/MS workflow, reach the lowest levels of detection, and support product safety with Waters Xevo TQ-GC or Xevo APGC-MS/MS systems. Waters sample preparation best practices ensure accurate analysis of residual solvents from a variety of sample matrices.

Applications

Residual solvent analysis is conducted through headspace GC-MS/MS analysis. Headspace sampling minimizes the matrix loading into the GC while effectively extracting the target residual solvents with minimal sample preparation. Learn more about the advantages that Waters GC-MS/MS technologies deliver with these application notes.

Residual solvent analysis is conducted through headspace GC-MS/MS analysis. Headspace sampling minimizes the matrix loading into the GC while effectively extracting the target residual solvents with minimal sample preparation. Learn more about the advantages that Waters GC-MS/MS technologies deliver with these application notes.

Application Notes

Solutions

Waters GC-MS/MS systems offer the performance your lab needs for separation and sensitivity in residual solvent testing.

Waters GC-MS/MS systems offer the performance your lab needs for separation and sensitivity in residual solvent testing.

No compromise atmospheric pressure ionization GC-MS/MS

No compromise atmospheric pressure ionization GC-MS/MS
Waters Atmospheric Pressure Gas Chromatography (APGC) Source

Discover the benefits that the next generation GC-MS source offers in operational efficiency, cost savings, and analytical quality across a range of MS technology platforms.

  • Residual Solvents Testing

The perfect addition to your laboratory

The perfect addition to your laboratory
Xevo TQ-GC Mass Spectrometry System

Maximize uptime and address difficult sample matrices in tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry applications with the Xevo TQ-GC Mass Spectrometer.

  • Residual Solvents Testing

Ensure your laboratory runs efficiently with Waters advanced software that provides quality and reliable results for increased productivity.

Ensure your laboratory runs efficiently with Waters advanced software that provides quality and reliable results for increased productivity.

Streamline quantitative data acquisition and processing

Streamline quantitative data acquisition and processing
MassLynx Quantitation Applications

Conduct application-specific data acquisition and transform the data into usable results with MassLynx for quantitation that offers a range of application managers with specialized data processing functionalities that eliminates the need for complex time-consuming manual data review.

  • Residual Solvents Testing

Achieve testing efficiencies and accurate results using streamlined Waters services and support.

Achieve testing efficiencies and accurate results using streamlined Waters services and support.

 Your success is just a click away

 Your success is just a click away
Waters Global Services

Optimize your laboratory's productivity and success with Waters Global Services. Maintain peak system performance, minimize down time, address application challenges, and support stringent compliance requirements.

  • Residual Solvents Testing

Make science more accessible

Make science more accessible
Payment Solutions

Maximize resources and minimize risk with payment options from Waters Capital, including upgrading aging equipment, getting customized support, and bundling services into one monthly payment.

  • Residual Solvents Testing

The data speaks for itself

The data speaks for itself
Overlayed MRM chromatograms of residual solvents analyzed by HS APGC-MS/MS
Overlaid MRM chromatograms of residual solvents analyzed by HS APGC-MS/MS.
Quantitation results for trichloroethene in a hemp oil PT sample
Quantitation results for trichloroethene in a hemp oil PT sample.

Webinars and Resources

  • Brochure

Atmospheric Pressure GC (APGC) - No Compromise GC/MS

Atmospheric Pressure GC (APGC) - No Compromise GC/MS
Download
  • Brochure

Xevo TQ-GC

Xevo TQ-GC
Download
  • Infographic

Next Generation GC-MS Technology

Next Generation GC-MS Technology
Download
  • White Paper

Atmospheric Pressure GC (APGC)

Atmospheric Pressure GC (APGC)
Download

Related

Cannabis and Hemp Testing
Ensure you meet cannabis and hemp regulatory compliance requirements while enabling growth and innovation with Waters quality and safety testing laboratory solutions.

Mycotoxin Testing in Cannabis Products
Ensure mycotoxin levels in cannabis are below regularity levels with Waters and VICAM solutions, including easy-to-use strip tests, immunoaffinity columns, and quantitative analysis with LC-FLR and LC-MS/MS.

Pesticide Testing for Cannabis and Hemp
Explore Waters LC and GC-MS/MS solutions for cannabis pesticide analysis, designed for sensitive and reproducible detection below current regulatory levels.

Terpenes Testing
Identify and quantify cannabis-derived terpenes in products with increased confidence with Waters terpenes testing solutions, including Xevo TQ-GC, and Xevo APGC-MS/MS systems.

Learn more about Residual Solvents Testing Solutions.

Learn more about Residual Solvents Testing Solutions.
Biotechnology scientist chemist working in lab
Back To Top Back To Top

Residual solvents testing is essential to ensure cannabis products are safe, high-quality, and compliant with state regulations. Solvents like ethanol, propane, butane, and CO₂ are commonly used during cannabis extraction and purification. Although drying and purging processes remove most solvents, traces can remain especially in complex sample types potentially leading to unsafe or non-compliant products. Additionally, impurities in solvents or cross-contamination during processing can introduce unexpected chemicals.

A major challenge for manufacturers is that each U.S. state has its own list of allowed solvents and limits, making regulatory compliance more difficult. Accurate and sensitive testing methods are needed to meet these varying requirements and detect even the smallest traces of residual solvents.

Waters offers advanced solutions to support cannabis testing labs. The Xevo® TQ-GC system provides high-sensitivity detection of volatile solvents, while the Xevo® APGC-MS/MS system is designed for more complex cannabis matrices, ensuring precise and reliable results. Both instruments help optimize workflows and achieve low detection limits, supporting both safety and regulatory needs.

Waters also emphasizes proper sample preparation, offering best practices and headspace sampling techniques to reduce contamination and improve accuracy. Together, Waters' instruments and preparation methods help cannabis producers and testing labs confidently deliver safe, compliant products to the market.