Tobacco and Hot Pot Odor Adsorbed by Cotton, Wool, and Polyester Fabrics: Desorption Components and Dynamic Analysis

Fibrous textiles readily absorb and desorb ambient odors. However, information on the composition and dynamic analysis of tobacco smoke and hot pot odors on fabrics during desorption is limited. This study used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze the desorption components of cotton, wool, and polyester fabrics exposed to these two odors, respectively. Then, a dynamic diffusion fabric structure model demonstrated the effect of airflow velocity and fabric porosity on nicotine desorption. Furthermore, we proposed mass diffusion coefficients with different molecular weights. The results showed that cotton fabrics with tobacco smoke released many low molecular weight compounds, while with wool fabrics significantly fewer compounds were detected than for the other two fabrics. Notably, 3-ethenylpyridine, a marker of tobacco smoke, was not detected in wool fabrics. For hot pot odor, cotton fabrics released more hexanal, nonanal, and anethole than wool and polyester, while wool fabrics released many beta-pinenes. The numerical results of the dynamic model showed that the air inlet velocity significantly affects the nicotine concentration in the fabric. Meanwhile, the concentration of nicotine in fabrics with lower porosity decreased faster. A lower mass diffusion coefficient will cause odors to remain in the fabric. This study aimed at the composition and the dynamics of odor in fabrics and offers essential information and simple models for reducing unnecessary washing of textiles and odor resistance textile design.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the desorption components of cotton, wool, and polyester fabrics exposed to tobacco smoke and hot pot odor using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Different mass diffusion coefficients were proposed for odors with different molecular weights. The results showed that cotton fabrics released more compounds with tobacco smoke and hot pot odor, while wool fabrics had fewer compounds, and 3-ethenylpyridine was not detected. The dynamic model demonstrated the effect of airflow velocity and fabric porosity on nicotine desorption.