Abstract:In order to understand both effects of combustion temperature of cigarettes on the formation of main volatile components in cigarette smoke and the relationship between the volatile compounds formation in cigarette smoke and tobacco precursors, the effects of sequential pyrolytic temperatures on the formation of volatile components were simulated and investigated using the multi-step pyrolysis technology coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that 1) the multi-step pyrolysis technology could be used to well-study the effect of pyrolysis temperature on the volatile and semi-volatile substances released from tobacco during pyrolysis to reveal the relationship between the released substances and temperature. 2) During the combustion of cigarette, the free flavoring substances distillated and released under 250 ℃ with less volatile substances released, which were mainly free nicotine, nicotyrine and neophytadiene. The tobacco cracked within 300~600 ℃, and many volatile and semi-volatile substances were formed when the precursors, i.e., carbohydrates, amino acids, pigments, pigment esters with long-chain fatty acids, acyclic isoprenoids and cembrenoids, cracked at 300~500 ℃. Protein degraded and formed a large amount of nitrogen containing heterocyclic compounds at 600 ℃. The carbonization and combustion of tobacco occurred within 700~900 ℃, mainly producing simple gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. 3) Compared with pyrolysis, the proportion of volatile and semi-volatile compounds distilled from cigarette itself was very small (about 5.74%), while the volatile components formed by pyrolysis under high temperature (300 ℃ or above) might determine the aroma style characteristics of cigarettes.
