Cannabinoids produced by a plant come in acid form. Applying heat produces mainly the transformation of acid cannabinoids into neutral ones. This process is called decarboxylation. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decarboxylation). HPLC analysis allows to identify the major cannabinoids present in a sample, both acids and neutrals.
The results shown in the "Cannabinoid profile" are those corresponding to the actual concentration of cannabinoids present in the sample. These results are given in% w / w. For example, if a sample analysis gave 10% CBD, this means there are 10 grams of CBD (ie, 10 grams of CBD would be 90 grams of other substances) in 100 grams of product. If a sample has a 5% CBD it means that there are 5 grams of CBD in 100 grams of product.
If the client wants to know what amount of cannabinoids are present in a certain volume of the sample, the client should determine first the density of the product. This is done by measuring as precisely as possible the volume of the product (for example 100 ml) and weighing that volume.
For example, if a sample analysis shows 10% of CBD and the weight of 100 ml of the product is 95 grams, the calculation which needs to be done is:
CBD in the amount of 100 ml = 95 grams (which is what 100ml of the product weighs) x 10 (that is the% CBD w / w that showed the analysis) / 100.
In this example, 100 ml of product would have 9.5 grams of CBD, or what is the same, 0.095 grams per milliliter of product.
Because we work with a very small amount of sample, we can not determine the density of a product. Only the client is able to do that.
The results shown in the "post-decarboxylation profile cannabinoids" is the theoretical concentration of cannabinoids that the product contains in the event that enough heat was applied to transform 100% of the cannabinoid acids into neutrals.
These values are the maximum values that can be achieved when heat is applied to a product to transform acid cannabinoids into neutral cannabinoids. Decarboxylation is never perfect (derived substances can be formed or a 100% decarboxylation is not reached).
To calculate the theoretical concentration it is needed to take into account the loss in weight of CO2 from passing acid to neutral molecules. Becasue of losing CO2 the molecule weighs less.
Therefore, to know the weight in% of decarboxylated acid cannabinoids (ie, have lost CO2 and passed to the neutral form) we multiply this percentage by a conversion factor, which is 0.877 for THCA and CBDA and 0,878 for the CBGA.
For more information read: Cannabinoids Test