A method using gas chromatography with column splitter technique for simultaneous detection of humectants (glycerol, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol) in tobacco products by mass selective detection (MSD) and flame ionization detection (FID) was developed. Separation of humectants was achieved using a 15m megabore carbowax column and splitting flow between MSD and FID for simultaneous detection. The limits of detection were 0.5ppm (glycerol) and 1ppm (propylene glycol and triethylene glycol) with linear ranges of 2-2000ppm (glycerol) and 4-4000ppm (propylene glycol and triethylene glycol). Comparison of total humectants quantified by FID and MSD shows less than 0.5% difference. Carry over was eliminated by using a backflow pressure from FID of 20.0psi (inlet at 14.5psi). The sensitivity of FID and the selectivity of MSD make this an attractive method for the analysis of tobacco humectants.  Results of humectants in various tobacco products obtained from the simultaneous MSD and FID detection will be presented.

Quantitative analysis of humectants in tobacco products using gas chromatography with simultaneous mass selective and flame ionization detection

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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