A Fraction Trapping and Transfer Device for the Analysis of Cigarette Smoke

The device described has been developed in order to provide a separation of smoke condensate volatiles (B. Pt. range 50°-350°C) adequate for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The various disadvantages of the use of a single GLC column for this purpose are avoided by the use of a two-stage GLC process. Fractions are trapped from a primary column chromatogram, and transferred to a secondary column of different polarity, where a further separation is obtained. The processes of trapping and transfer are electronically controlled, and permit quantitative transfer of any fraction between the two columns, which are run under completely independent conditions. Examples of the separation obtained with cigarette smoke 'semi-volatiles' and also with vapour phase are given.