Abstract:

This study aimed to explore the disparities in organic acid content within cigar smoke and its correlations with different parts, grades, and origins of cigars. In the study, an analytical method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) selective ion detection mode (SIM) was established. Using methanol as the extraction solvent, through the Cambridge filter (adding internal standard phenethyl acetate) for capturing total particulate matter (TPM) in mainstream smoke by ultrasonic extraction, 17 kinds of organic acids were quantitatively analyzed, and the pretreatment conditions were optimized. The results indicated that the detection limit of this method ranged from 0.0684 to 1.1798 μg/cig, the quantitative limit from 0.2277 to 3.9289 μg/cig, the recovery rate from 81.03% to 117.16%, and the relative standard deviation from 3.33% to 11.00%. The linear relationship was good (R²≥0.9982), which met the requirements of quantitative detection. Using this method, 49 cigar samples (15 from Yunnan, 6 from Hainan, 8 from Hubei, 9 from Sichuan, and 11 from Dominica) were analyzed. The results showed that the content of organic acids in the upper and middle tobacco leaves was significantly higher than that in the lower tobacco leaves. The content of organic acids in smoke of the first grade tobacco leaves was higher than that of the second and third grade tobacco leaves. The composition of organic acids in domestic producing areas and foreign producing areas (Dominica) is complementary, and is regulated by ecological conditions and chemical components of tobacco leaves. There exists a certain correlation between the differences in organic acid content in cigar mainstream smoke and the position, grade, and origin of the cigars. This method holds reference significance for the analysis and classification evaluation of organic acid content in the mainstream smoke of different types of cigars.

Key words: cigar, smoke, total particulate matter (TPM), ultrasonic extraction, GC-MS, organic acid