High-resolution time and spatial imaging of tobacco and its pyrolysis products during a cigarette puff by microprobe sampling photoionisation mass spectrometry

Abstract

The time- and space-resolved chemical signatures of gases and vapours formed in solid-state combustion processes are difficult to examine using recent analytical techniques. A machine-smoked cigarette represents a very reproducible model system for dynamic solid-state combustion. By using a special sampling system (microprobe unit) that extracts the formed gases from inside of the burning cigarette, which is coupled to a photoionisation mass spectrometer, it was possible to study the evolution of organic gases during a 2-s cigarette puff. The concentrations of various pyrolysis and combustion products such as 1,3-butadiene, toluene, acetaldehyde and phenol were monitored on-line at different sampling points within cigarettes. A near-microscopic-scale spatial resolution and a 200-ms time resolution were achieved. Finally, the recorded information was combined to generate time-resolved concentration maps, showing the formation and destruction zones of the investigated compounds in the burning cigarette. The combustion zone at the tip of cigarette, where e.g. 1,3-butadiene is predominately formed, was clearly separable from the pyrolysis zones. Depending on the stability of the precursor (e.g. lignin or cellulose), the position of pyrolytic formation varies. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that soft photoionisation mass spectrometry in conjunction with a microprobe sampling device can be used for time- and space-resolved analysis of combustion and pyrolysis reactions. In addition to studies on the model cigarette, further model systems may be studied with this approach. This may include further studies on the combustion of biomass or coal chunks, on heterogeneously catalysed reactions or on spray, dust and gas combustion processes.

The Apoe−/− mouse model: a suitable model to study cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in the context of cigarette smoke exposure and harm reduction

“…Combustion of tobacco results in both pyrolysis and pyrosynthesis of many harmful or potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) [ 106 – 108 ]. As the health risk associated with CS is due to the HPHCs it contains, the main driver for risk reduction is the reduction in exposure to HPHCs.…”

Measuring Airborne Emissions from Cigarette Butts: Literature Review and Experimental Plan

“…Zheng et al (2014) identified 67 gas-phase components in mainstream cigarette smoke using sorption tubes containing 3 beds of adsorbents (Carbopack C, Carbopack B and Carboxen III) analyzed using thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Hertz-Schunemann et al (2015) studied the evolution of organic gases during a two-second cigarette puff using a novel microprobe to extract gases from inside a burning cigarette and analyzed them with a photoionization mass spectrometer. The concentrations of various pyrolysis and combustion products such as 1,3-butadiene, toluene, acetaldehyde and phenol were monitored at different sampling locations within cigarettes.…”

Variation in Free Radical Yields from U.S. Marketed Cigarettes

“…1, 2 It has been known for almost seven decades that free radicals are generated in high concentrations as a result of complex reactions in mainstream smoke. 3–7 Due to the presence of an unpaired electron, radicals are unstable, highly reactive and redox active.…”