Abstract
Carbon monoxide is found in the gas phase of cigarette smoke in relatively high quantities. In the present study a quantitative method for the determination of carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke by gas chromatography was used. The construction of a calibration line by means of carbon monoxide produced in the laboratory is indicated and the experimental procedure is described. Furthermore the relation between the carbon monoxide content in smoke and different parameters of the test cigarettes is evaluated. The carbon monoxide content in the smoke of various tobacco blends is determined. An increase of the carbon monoxide content in the smoke is observed after the extraction of sugars from the tobacco. The carbon monoxide content increased from puff to puff when the cigarettes were smoked. Cigarette weight had no influence on carbon monoxide in the smoke. This applies also to the humidity of the tobacco, the acetate filters and the carbon filters. Puff volume and the perforation of cigarette paper, however, influenced the carbon monoxide yield considerably.