New insights into the formation of volatile compounds in mainstream cigarette smoke

Abstract

A sampling system has been set up to monitor a group of volatile smoke analytes (nitric oxide, acetaldehyde, acetone, benzene, toluene, 1,3 butadiene, isoprene and carbon dioxide) from mainstream cigarette smoke on a puff-resolved basis. The system was able to record gas evolution profiles during puffing and interpuff periods without interruption (e.g. taking clearing puffs). Gas phase smoke analytes were sampled as close to the mouth end of the cigarette filter as possible in order to minimise any dead volume effect. The results revealed that, for some volatile species, a significant fraction (e.g. up to 30% for benzene) in the cigarette mainstream smoke had been generated during the preceding smoulder period. These species were trapped or absorbed within the cigarette rod and then subsequently eluted during the puff. The identification of the two sources of the mainstream smoke, a smouldering source and a puffing source, has not been reported before. The observation contributes to the fundamental knowledge of the cigarette smoke formation and may have implications on wider smoke chemistry and associated effects.FigureA cross-sectional schematic of a burning cigarette, illustrating the main chemical and physical processes involved in the smoke formation

Pyrolysis and combustion of tobacco in a cigarette smoking simulator under air and nitrogen atmosphere

“…Previous work [13,53] has established that, when a cigarette is puffed, combustion products formed in the combustion and pyrolysis/distillation zones travel through the bed of unburnt tobacco and the cigarette filter before leaving the cigarette as mainstream smoke. Condensable compounds accumulate downstream from the cigarette coal to form the particulates in cigarette smoke which can be filtered by the unburnt tobacco and filter material.…”

“…This leads to averaged information about the progress of substance formation during the smoking process that cannot reveal information about their detailed reaction mechanisms. Other techniques may be adapted to analyse tobacco smoke on a puff-resolved basis including chemical ionisation mass spectrometry [13], multiplex gas chromatography-mass spectrometry [14,15], liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry [16] and extraction and derivatisation in single drop coupled to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry [17]. In other works, selected compounds in a single puff have been monitored online by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy [18,19], quad quantum cascade laser spectrometry [20,21], quantum cascade tuneable infrared laser differential absorption spectroscopy [22] and lead-salt tuneable diode laser infrared spectroscopy [23].…”

Carbon monoxide and nitric oxide modulate α2-antiplasmin and plasmin activity

“…Cigarette smoke contains both NO and CO, but in significantly different amounts [18]. Combustion of a single cigarette releases approximately 0.2 mg of NO (30 Da) and 12 mg of CO (28 Da), with a NO : CO molar ratio of 1 : 64 [18].…”

“…Combustion of a single cigarette releases approximately 0.2 mg of NO (30 Da) and 12 mg of CO (28 Da), with a NO : CO molar ratio of 1 : 64 [18]. Given that in our experiments 4-mmol/l NO was required to modulate a 2 -antiplasmin or plasmin compared with 75-mmol/l CO (NO : CO molar ratio 53 : 1), it would be expected that cigarette smoke exposure would essentially guarantee the hypofibrinolytic Comodulated and nomodulated fibrinolysis Arkebauer et al 717 Data are presented as mean AE SD.…”

PPROMEDIA – Database of Chemical Substances the Potential Biomarkers of Diseases with the Meaning in Noninvasive Diagnostics

“…Исходя из литературных данных по молекулярной массе летучих соединений, идентифицируемых масс-спектрометрией [13][14][15][16][17][18], нами было установлено ограничение в 250 г/моль на максимальную величину молекулярной массы соединения-потенциального биомаркера. Среди метаболитов, связанных с ферментами человека, были отобраны 24 метаболита с молекулярной массой менее 250 г/моль.…”