Application of FTIR spectroscopy to the analysis of cigarette smoke

In the present paper, Fourier transform infrared aerosol flow tube (FTIR/AFT) and Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection (FTIR/ATR) were used as credible technologies to study the cigarette mainstream smoke and cigarette aerosol. In the experiment a convenient and effective setup was used to detect the sample. Before the cigarette was fired, the filter tip should be cut. Then the cigarette was connected with the sample chamber by a gluey tube. The mainstream cigarette smoke was imported by a vacuum pump. The technology of FTIR/AFT could get the information of the whole cigarette smoke including the chief gas phase and fine solid particles. A main peak at 1230 cm^-1, contributed by the C-O stretching band, indicated the existence of hydroxybenzene. A accurate peak at 1735 cm^-1 was contributed by the C = O stretching band of carboxyl acid. In addition, the strong peak of CO and CO₂ gas can be resolved. Two relative strong peaks at 2118 and 2170 cm^-1, respectively were contributed by CO gas. As to the gas CO₂, two strong peaks were observed at 2343 and 2362 cm^-1, respectively. While by taking the advantage of FTIR/ATR, we could obtain the information of cigarette aerosols deposit on the ZnSe substrate. The spectra of aerosol was correspondingly simple. The peak of CO disappeared and the peak intensity of CO₂ decreased greatly. Therefore, using the AFT and ATR techniques could help to understand the formation and the composition of the production of the burning cigarette more clearly. Especially, by analyzing the change of some characteristic bands with time, the processes of the chemical reaction, volatility of some components and the form conglomeration of cigarette combustion were investigated. This has offered a new viewpoint in cigarette study that is different from conventional ideas, and is simple and rapid without pretreatment.