The identification of an unusual volatile component in processed tobacco by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and atomic emission detection

Three types of tobacco products have been analysed for their volatile components which constitute the aroma of the product. Automatic thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and direct headspace sampling gas chromatography-atomic emission detection (GC-AED) have been used. One product was found to contain three unusual volatile components which were not present in the other two. By combining information from both mass spectrometric and atomic emission detection (AED), elemental composition and partial molecular structures were obtained. Final identification was achieved by comparing, both chromatographically and spectroscopically, with an authentic sample. The three components were isomers of dipropyleneglycol methyl ether and were present in the product in the same ratio as in the authentic sample. Direct headspace sampling offered several advantages over the thermal desorption approach.