Chemical Studies on Tobacco Smoke. LXI. Volatile Pyridines: Quantitative Analysis in Mainstream and Sidestream Smoke of Cigarettes and Cigars

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Abstract
A quantitative analytical method has been developed for volatile pyridines in tobacco smoke using pyridine- 14C as an internal standard. Mainstream and sidestream smoke are trapped in 0.05 N sulfuric acid anti partitioned with chloroform. The acidic portion is then concentrated, adjusted to pH 3 and extracted with chloroform. Methanol and a trace of 2N sulfuric acid are added to this chloroform portion and the mixture is carefully concentrated. A trace of sodium hydroxide is added and the final concentrate is analyzed by gas chromatography. Twenty-one volatile pyridines have been identified. The mainstream stroke of a popular. 85-mm U.S. cigarette without filter tip contained the following major pyridines: 33.4 μg pyridine, 12.3 μg α-picoline, 24.2 μg. β+γ-picoline, 7.6 μg 3-ethylpgridine, 5.9 μg: 4-ethylpyridine, and 23.3 μg 3,4-lutidine + 3-vinylpyridine. The sidestream smoke of this cigarette contained up to 28 times higher concentrations of pyridines. Volatile pyridines were also determined in the mainstream smoke of other non-filter cigarettes, filter cigarettes, little cigars and, a non-tobacco cigarette. Of special interest were the much greater quantities of volatile pyridines in the mainstream and sidestream of cigars in comparison to those of cigarettes. The ratio of pyridines in sidestream to those in mainstream was 5 to 50 in large cigars. Selective filtration was observed with both cellulose acetate and charcoal filter tips. The analytical method resulted in reproducible values for pyridine, with an average recovery rate of more than 90%. In addition to pyridines, two pyrazines were also isolated from the smoke. Processed tobacco contained minute amounts of some volatile pyridines.

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