Influence of Moisture Content in Cut Tobacco on Smoking Quality,Particulate Volatile Components and Moisture Content in Cigarette Smoke

Abstract

In order to find the factors influencing the smoking quality of cigarettes with different moisture contents,the changes of moisture content in cut tobacco,smoking quality,moisture contents in particulate and gas phases and particulate volatile components in mainstream smoke of the cigarettes equilibrated in atmospheres of different relative humidities were studied.The results showed that: 1) when the circumstance's relative humidity increased from 30% to 70%,the moisture content in cut tobacco increased from 8.28% to 18.79%,the smoking quality of cigarettes with moisture content of 12.25% and 14.34% was better than that with moisture content of 8.28%,9.13% and 18.79%;2) the moisture contents in gas phase and particulate matters of cigarette smoke raised with the increase of moisture content in cut tobacco,while the moisture content in gas phase raised faster than that in particulate phase;3) the total particulate matter and nicotine in cigarette smoke decreased slightly,while the CO increased obviously with the increase of moisture content in cut tobacco;4) the same seventy volatile compounds were identified from the particulate matter in smoke of cigarettes with moisture contents of 8.28%,12.25% and 18.79%.Comparing with the total volatile compound content in cigarette with moisture content of 12.25%,that of 8.28% was higher,while that of 18.79% was lower.It was concluded that the smoking quality of cigarettes with moisture content between 12% and 14% was better,and atmospheric humidity or cigarette moisture content,would be an important factor affecting smoke moisture,especially gas phase moisture,lower-molecular-weight volatile components and smoking quality of cigarette.