Observations on the Distribution of Certain Tobacco Smoke Components with Respect to Particle Size

• Main Authors: Morie G.P., Baggett M.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 1977-06-01
• Series: Beiträge zur Tabakforschung International
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2478/cttr-2013-0430

If the distribution of specific smoke components with respect to particle size were significantly different than the size distribution of particulate matter, a compound or group of compounds might be selectively removed by the selective filtration of a given particle size. Various techniques have been used to determine the particle size distribution of a few smoke components. Berner and Marek used a Goetz aerosol spectrometer to determine the size distribution of potassium in smoke; and Owen, Westcott and Woodman used a conifuge to examine the distribution of three smoke components. In the present work, a cascade impactor was used to separate smoke particles into four fractions of 0.25 to 1.0 µ in diameter based on the principle that particles in a moving airstream impact on a slide placed in their path, if their momentum is sufficient to overcome the drag exerted by the airstream. The particle size distribution of five organic compounds: indole, nicotine, diethyl phthalate, norphytene, and neophytadiene were determined. These size distributions were compared to the distribution of total particulate matter (TPM) and the following observations were made: