METHOD FOR ANALYZING STEAM-VOLATILE ORGANIC BASES,PARTICULARLY ALKALOIDS OF TOBACCO,AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD

摘要

1303009 Determination of content of volatile organic bases in a material TAMAG BASEL AG 19 April 1971 [4 March 1970] 23055/71 Headings B1B and B1X In order to determine the content of volatile organic bases in a material, e.g. to determine the nicotine content in tobacco or cigarette filters, the material is made alkaline and submitted to steam distillation in flask 5 and the vapours pass through bridge 3 and pipe 15 into an organic solvent, e.g. toluene, in extraction tube 1 which is surmounted by reflux condenser 2. The organic bases dissolve in the organic solvent and the inorganic bases, such as ammonia, dissolve in the aqueous phase formed by the condensed steam. When the distillation is completed, the organic and aqueous phases are separated, and the organic bases in the organic phase are determined by quantitative analysis, e.g. potentiometrically or by acidimetric titration. Common salt is preferably added to the organic solvent in tube 1. In the case of tobacco, 2 grm. is ground to powder and added, together with 15 ml. of 15% soda lye, to flask 5 which is two-thirds filled with water. The flask is provided with an immersion heater 11 and a standpipe 6. If cigarette filters are to be analysed, they are placed, together with methanol, in attachment 4; and soda lye is added from funnel 20. The lower end of pipe 15 is advantageously provided with a gas-distributor, e.g. a glass frit.