On the Development of a Very Rapid Gas Chromatographic Method for the Analysis of High Molecular Weight Hydrocarbons in Cigarette Smoke

A very rapid, flash-gas chromatographic (GC), quantitative method for the analysis of high molecular weight saturated hydrocarbons in cigarette smoke has been developed. The method was fast, accurate and precise. Sample turn around times were approximately six minutes, with an accompanying average percent relative standard deviation (%RSD) of less than 10%. Four linear saturated hydrocarbons with 27, 29, 31 and 33 carbon atoms were quantitated in an array of reference cigarettes ranging in “tar” deliveries from approximately 2 to approximately 20 mg. By use of a cyclohexane extraction of cigarette smoke captured on Cambridge filter pads, the extraction efficiency was determined to be greater than 95% for each hydrocarbon. The approach represents a significant advance over current analytical procedures that require, on average, greater than 30-min sample turn around times.