TG-MS Analysis of Weight Loss and Product Release Characteristics of Yunnan Tobacco Leaves under Heating

Purpose To investigate the weight loss and product release behavior of tobacco leaves under heating condition.

Methods Thermogravimetric-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) was used to study the thermogravimetric characteristics of Yunnan C3F tobacco leaves under 400 ℃, and a kinetic analysis of the stages in the thermogravimetric process was conducted, examining the effects of glycerol on the weight of tobacco leaves and the release of products.

Results 1) The application of glycerol decreased the maximum rate and water loss of the dehydration stage of non-isothermal drying, increased the maximum weight loss rate and loss rate of the volatile precipitation stage, decreased the initial release temperature of flavor substances, and increased the comprehensive heat release index. 2) The dehydration process could be described by the non-isothermal Page drying model, and the addition of glycerol increased the drying activation energy. The pyrolytic reaction during the volatilization precipitation and the thermal decomposition process of hemicellulose and cellulose conformed to the F1.5 chemical reaction model, and the addition of glycerol reduced the activation energy in this two stages, indicating that glycerol increased the thermal decomposition reactivity of tobacco. 3) Glycerol enhanced the release amount of components such as nicotine, which was beneficial to promote the process of pyrolysis reaction and the release of pyrosis products.

Conclusion The application of glycerol has an obvious effects on the weight loss process and component release of tobacco raw materials under heating. TG-MS can provide method support for the analysis of weight loss and product release of tobacco leaves.