The effect of the addition of SBA-15 to the slow pyrolysis of tobacco studied by heart-cutting GC/MC

The composition of evolved slow pyrolysis products under inert and oxidising atmospheres of reference tobacco from the University of Kentucky and its mixture with an SBA-15 mesoporous silica have been measured using a multishot pyrolyser attached directly to a gas chromatography/mass spectrometer. The results obtained show that under an inert atmosphere, the main decomposition rate occurs between 200 and 400 degrees C, with the evolution of nicotine and the generation of compound's characteristic of the decomposition of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and other constituents. The addition of SBA-15 to tobacco produces a reduction in most evolved gases at temperatures below 300 degrees C, markedly decreasing the formation of quinic acid, neophytadiene, nicotyrine and so on. In contrast, at temperatures above 300 degrees C, the opposite effect occurs and the generation of compounds is higher, increasing mainly the formation of acetaldehyde, chloromethane and aromatics. Under an oxidising atmosphere, at temperatures below 300 degrees C, almost all compounds are reduced when SBA-15 is added to tobacco, such as glycerol, neophytadiene and nicotine. The combustion processes occur between 400 and 500 degrees C with the generation of mainly CO2 and H2O. At temperatures above 300 degrees C, there is also a significant reduction in the evolved gases like acid acetic, acetonitrile and some aromatics. The application of this type of material could be interesting for heat-not-burn tobaccos to further reduce their toxicity for the consumer.

Automated summary

The study measured the composition of evolved slow pyrolysis products under inert and oxidising atmospheres of reference tobacco from the University of Kentucky and its mixture with an SBA-15 mesoporous silica. The results showed that the addition of SBA-15 affects the types and quantities of pyrolysis products of tobacco, suggesting potential reduction of toxicity in heat-not-burn tobaccos for consumers.