Sampling and Analysis Techniques for Odorous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from Concentrated Aged Sidestream Smoke (SSS)

This work is part of a long term study aimed at determining the odorous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) deposited on clothing. In this preliminary phase of the study sidestream smoke (SSS) rather than true ETS was used, for the following reasons. Firstly, the sampling system had to be modified in order to increase the concentration of odorous VOCs collected so that the later analytical stages could proceed. This meant that the sampling system was developed to collect concentrated SSS on cloth. Secondly, the cigarette butts were removed from the system so that they did not contribute to the odour; and thirdly the cloth was left to age for 48 hours. Therefore, technically, the study was the determination of the odorous VOCs in aged concentrated SSS deposited on cloth; this will be referred to as ‘aged SSS’ from this point onwards throughout this paper. This paper describes the method development of sampling and analysis techniques for odorous VOCs in aged SSS deposited on cloth. In addition, this paper demonstrates the processes of heartcutting and the mass spectral identification of odorous components using a concentrated tobacco steam distillate extract. A sampling chamber was constructed to allow the aged SSS to be deposited on the surface of the fabric, and to ensure that the amount of smoke deposited on the cloth was sufficiently high to conduct further analyses. The fabric was then desorbed via a purpose built purge- and-trap system to release the volatiles onto selected adsorbents. Each adsorbent in turn was solvent desorbed and a concentrated extract obtained. The aged SSS extracts were then directly injected into a multidimensional Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), and GC profiles obtained. These chromatographic profiles facilitate both the direct comparison of the range of VOCs trapped and desorbed from each adsorbent, and the identification of odorous regions when used in conjunction with the odour port. The aged SSS chromatograms presented in this paper only show the range of VOCs collected by the different adsorbents. Further experiments were also conducted with a concentrated tobacco steam distillate extract. These results were obtained by directly injecting the extract into the multidimensional GC/MS system, connected to an odour port. Volunteers were then asked to sensorially evaluate the odour of the extract and to identify any odorous notes during the analysis. Two concentrated tobacco steam distillate extract chromatograms are presented.