Quantitative determination of sulfur compounds in the gas phase of cigarette smoke

Abstract Flame photometric detection ga chromatography affords a reliable approach for the determination of sulfur compounds in smokes. Reliable quantitative data can only be generated if the analytical system allows a minimum of time to elapse between smoke generation and the onset of analyses. Contact with stainless-steel surfaces must be minimized and the chromatographic column must be conditioned to avoid irreversible adsorption. Typical cigarettes deliver approximately 85 μg of H2S, 35 μg of COS, 2 μg of CS2, and 3 μg of SO2 when smoked under standard conditions. The gas phases of smokes contain at least 28 sulfur components. Quantitative distribution of these components is highly sensitive to sampling methodologies.