Published:Journal of Chromatographic Science, ISSN 0021-9665Volume 40, Number 7, August 2002, pp. 403-408

Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in
the Particulate Phase of Cigarette Smoke Using a
Gas Chromatographic–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Technique

Q. Zha, N.X. Qian, and S.C. Moldoveanu
Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., 2600 Weaver Road, Macon, GA 31217

A new procedure is developed for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the particulate phase of cigarette smoke. The procedure applies solid-phase extraction using a Bond Elut CH cartridge as a sample preparation step. The efficiency of the cleanup procedure is verified using a gas chromatographic (GC)–high-resolution mass spectrometric (MS) technique, proving that no interference occurs in the PAHs’ determination. The efficient cleanup allows GC detection using either high- or low-resolution MS detection. Enhanced sensitivity is obtained using GC–MS and selected ion monitoring. This new technique has several advantages over other reported techniques. The method is simple and robust and has good repeatability and accuracy. The estimated detection limit is 0.1 ng/cigarette for benzo[a]pyrene. In addition to that, the recovery from the smoke pad in which the smoke is collected is approximately 97% for all PAHs. Results for the PAH analyses for 1R5F, 1R4F, and 1R3 Kentucky reference cigarettes are reported in this study. These results provide useful evidence for clarifying the controversy about previously reported data.

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