Investigation of an Odour Problem on Cigarette Packets

The cause of an odour in certain packets of a batch of cigarettes has been investigated. Two compounds identified as being responsible for the odour were 1,4-dioxaspiro(4,5)decane and 2-methyl-1,4-dioxaspiro(4,5)decane which were formed from the reaction of cyclohexanone, a component of the tearstrip solvent, with ethane-1,2-diol and propane-1,2-diol. These diols had been found as plasticizers in the film used for some packet overwraps but no odour was produced when diethylene glycol, the usual plasticizer, was used in the film.