Change Trends of the Chemical Components of Tobacco Strips Separated from Different Threshing and Pneumatic Separation Units

PurposeDifferences and trends of chemical constituents of tobacco strips separated from different threshing and pneumatic separation units were analyzed to provide reference for classified redrying, aging and industrial application of tobacco after threshing and further improve the modularization, homogenization and purification level of tobacco raw materials.

MethodThe flue-cured tobacco of Hongda C3F in Shilin, Yunnan Province in 2018 was taken as the research objects. Under the condition of stable production in threshing process, tobacco strips separated from different threshing and pneumatic separation units were sampled many times and their routine chemical components, polyphenols and aromatic components were determined. In the end, single factor variance analysis and cluster analysis were conducted.

Results(1) There were some differences and regularities in the contents of various chemical components in tobacco strips separated from different threshing and pneumatic separation units. The contents of total nitrogen, scopolamine and aldehydes were higher in tobacco strips in the first threshing and pneumatic separation units. The contents of sugars, nicotine, chlorogenic acid and rutin were higher in tobacco strips in the second threshing and pneumatic separation units. The contents of alcohols, ketones and esters were higher in tobacco strips in the third threshing and pneumatic separation units. The contents of potassium, chlorine and acid aromatic compounds were higher in tobacco strips in the fourth threshing and pneumatic separation units. (2) According to the results of the cluster analysis based on the above three kinds of chemical indexes and the strips samples from eleven separators of four threshing units could be divided into three categories (the first and second threshing units, the third threshing units, and the fourth threshing units).

ConclusionThere are obvious classification phenomena in the inherent chemical quality of tobacco strips with different threshing and pneumatic separation units, which can provide reference for the improvement of classified redrying and differential aging processes.