Product Design
Vapor Phase Removal and Nicotine Augmentation with All Air Dilution Cigarettes
Abstract
Study describing use of air dilution as an alternative to the addition of nicotine for low tar cigarettes with enhanced nicotine (as part of the nicotine augmentation project). Lists removal efficiencies for smoke constituents using an all air dilution cigarette with no cellulose acetate filter plug. Other findings include increase in nicotine to tar ratio and increase in smoke pH, indicating potential use for all air dilution cigarette for low gas phase delivery. However, at tar levels below 6 mg, difficulties in pressure drop and lighting occur.
Fields
- Author
- Skladanowski, M A
- Hypothesis
- Mainstream constituent yieldsModification of selected mainstream smoke constituents in response to health concerns.
- Nicotine transport, transfer, and uptake
Design changes which alter nicotine delivery or effect how the product causes and maintains dependence, including transfer of nicotine from tobacco to smoke, and uptake into the body.- Use of filters, paper, and ventilation
Modification of tobacco products through use of filters, paper, and ventilation, and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity.- Free Nicotine
- Smoking psychology and behavior
- Smoke Control
- Nicotine transport, transfer, and uptake
- Keyword
- Alkalinity (High pH, Basic)
- Ciliatoxic
- Free nicotine (Unprotonated or unionized nicotine)
- Nicotine augmentation
- Tar/Nicotine ratio (Nicotine/Tar Ratio or T/N ratio)
- Vapor phase removal
- Ciliatoxic
- Additive
- Volatile acids
- Ammonia
see also: Ammonium bicarbonate, Ammonium carbonate, Ammonium chloride, Ammonium hydroxide, Ammonium sulfide, Diammonium phosphate, and Urea - Ammonia
- Smoke Constituent
- Hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
- Nicotine
- Nicotine
- Carbon monoxide
- acrolein
- Isoprene
- 2-Methyl Furan
- Acetone
- Acetonitrile
- Toluene
- Nitric oxides
- Methyl ethyl ketone
- Nicotine
- Design Component
- Filter ventilation (Filter vents, air vents)
- Cellulose acetate filter (CA filter, Conventional filter)
- Charcoal filter
- Tipping paper
- Filter ventilation (Filter vents, air vents)
- Air dilution
- Cellulose acetate filter (CA filter, Conventional filter)
- Brand
- Kent (Lorillard)
- True (Lor)
- Subject
- Filters (Design)
- Test/Smoke Constituents (Testing)
- Smoke Nicotine (Measures)
- Smoke pH (Measures)
- T/N Ratios (Measures)
- Tar (Measures)
- Ventilation (Design)
- Smoke Delivery/Transport (Measures)
- Test/Smoke Constituents (Testing)
Document Images
D~stribution :
Dr. H. J. Minnemeyer
Dr. F. J. Schultz
Dr. A. M. lhrig
Library
Ms. M. S. Ireland
Accession number
988
VAPOR PHASE REMOVAL AND NICOTINE AUGMENTATION
WITH ALL AIR DILUTrON CIGARETTES
Submitted by:. M. A. Skladanowski
Report numbar: Date:April 4, 1977
Summary ,or Abstract:
A 6mg total air dilution cigarette, without a cellulose
acetate filter plug, gave the following removal efficiencies:
Nicotine 43%
Corrected Part, Mat. 66%
Carbon Monoxide 82%
Nitrogen Oxide 73%
Aerolein 79%
Acetonitrile 62%
Isoprene 67%
Hydrogen Cyanide 86%
Acetone 67%
Furan 76%
2-Methyl
Methyl ethyl ketone 71%
Toluene 47~
The nicotine to tar ratio was increased 64%. The alkalinity
of smoke was increasod 1.1 pH units to levels equivalent to
0.2% ammonia addition to the tobacco. These cigarettes could
be considered useful for low gas phase cigarettes with tar
levels from 6 to 12 mg.
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ITRIAL EXHIBIT
10,102

The object of the nicotine augmentation project was to
"develop a flavorful cigarette delivering a level of nicotine
higher than could be obtained by.conventional cigarette con-
struction. This goal is almost an absolute necessity for
brands delivering less than 8 mg of tar".(1) Several approaches
to the problem other than the addition of nicotine to tobacco
were studied such as the (a) treatment of tobahco with ammonia,
(b) decrease of the tar from non-tobacco materials such as
casings, menthol and plasticizer, and (C) air dilution. (i)
This report is concerned with the study of air dilution as
an alternative to the addition of nicotine for low tar
cigarettes with enhanced nicotine. Two major disadvantages
of adding free nicotine to tobacco is its harsh taste and
its toxicity. In a recent patent for the addition of nicotine
to tobacco smoking mixtures (2), the addition of nicotine
as a free base was found to give the smoke an undesirable
chokiness. The addition of volatile acids along with the
free nicotine eliminated the chokiness. Free nicotine is
very toxic to man when breathed, swallowed or absorbed b7
the skin. A study by Tong and Heck indicated that as little
as 0.35 ml Of nicotine in the free base form could be fatal
when absorbed through the skin (3). The use of nicotine
in a manufacturing situation would require confinement of
the nicotine and constant mOnitoring of the nicotine levels
applied to the tobacco and in the working atmosphere.
At the present time Lorillard makes two cigarettes with
c~mbined air dilution and cellulose acetate filtering systems.
The nicotine to tar ratios in the smoke of both cigarettes
is great~.r than the ratios in the respective controls. Norman
(4.) has shown that air dilution alone increases the nicotine
to tar ratio even more than the combined system. The exact
mechanism by which air dilution increases the nicotine to
tar ratio in smoke is not agreed upon. Both Norman and
Miller (4,5) have proposed that the higher ratios are caused
by the modified thermal profile of the burning cone, making
it more like the profile in the free burning state. It
seems reasonable that the nature of the. cone may be changed
by air dilution since less air passes through the cone on
each puff. Whatever the mechanism, air dilution does tend
to increase the nicotine to tar ratio in the smoke as com-
pared to the control. It also changes the relative amounts
of other smoke components, such as phenol, hydrogen cyanide,
menthol, aldehydes and carbon monoxide (4). For example,
menthol, a desirable flavor, is removed less efficiently ~
than the total tar. ~'~
In this study cigarettes with only air dilution for .:p
removing undesirable smoke components were prepared from "~
materials easily obtained in the laboratory. The analyses ~
of the smoke showed that nicotine to tar ratios were increased
slightly and va~or phase components, such as carbon monoxide,
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were reduced to very low levels. Air dilution also increased
the alkalinity of the mainstream smoke to levels equivalent
to adding 0.2% ammonia to the tobacco (16).
EXPERIMENTAL:
The samples of total air dilution cigarettes were prepared
from either True 85 or Kent 85 cigarettes. The filters were
removed before the cigarettes were selected by weight. The
selected cigarettes were then modified as described in the
following sections. A control was prepared for each of the
samples. Tar and nicotine in the smoke was determined by
the Lorillard smoking laboratory. The vapor phase analyses
and smoke alkalinity were determined by Winston Barnes. (17)
Sample AD66-109 True 85 - The filter end is basically
a hollow cylinder with air vents in the cylinder wall midway
between the tobacco column and the end near the smoker
a. The plastic tip and cellulose acetate filter were
removed from forty True Blue 85 cigarettes (11.6 mg tar).
b. The plug wrap paper from the inside of the filter
tube was removed.
C. The True plastic mouthpiece was placed in the tip
of the cigarette near the smoker's mouth.
d. Three holes 0.6 mm diameter were added to the
True air dilution holes.
Samples ADT0-8 and AD70-55 True 85 - The filter is
basically a hollo~ cylinder with a mouthpiece which restricts
the passage of smoke to the smoker. Soma mouthpieces were
made so that a portion of the smoke passed undiluted to the
smaker. Air vents were located midway along the tipping
paper (19,20).
The plastic mouthpieces, ceflulose acetate plugs
and plug wraps were removed from True 85 production
cigarettes (5 mg).
2. A 0.4 mm drill bit was used to make holes in the
bottoms o~ 6.4 mm diameter gas chromatography column
caps. Two patterns for the holes were made, one
with nine hoses and one with eight holes.
3. Pieces of True plastic rod 2.0 cm long were cut
and three rectangular holes 0 4 cm by 0.5 cm were
cut equidistantly in the outer wall between the
supporting spines, and 0.5 cm from the ends.
4. The modified True plastic sections and column caps
were inserted into the filterless True 85 cigarettes.
The Caps were secured with tipping paper glue.
5. Additional holes 0.6 mm in diameter were put in
the tipping paper Where the True air vents are located.
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Sample AD70-40 Kent 85 - The filter end of the cigarette
had a hollow tube for the filter with a mouthpiece which
restricted the passage of smoke and provided for an acceptable
pressure drop. The air vents were located in the top of
the tobacco column where the tipping paper and cigarette
paper overlap.
i. The cellulose acetate plugs were removed from
Kent 85 production cigarettes.
A. 0.4 mm drill bit was used to make eight holes
in the bottom of 6.4 mm diameter gas chromatography
column caps.
The column caps were inserted into the filterless
Kent 85 cigarettes and secured with tipping paper
glue.
4. Vent holes 0.6 mm in diameter were placed where
the tipping paper and cigarette paper overlap.
RESULTS :
Air dilution alone, without a cellulose acetate filter,
increased the nicotine to tar ratio in the smoke and the
number of puffs per cigarette as shown in Table 1 (18).
By simply removing the cellulose acetate filter and adding
air vents, a True 85 cigarette with i1.5 mg tar and 0.6 mg
nicotine was modified to deliver 13 mg tar and 1 mg nicotine.
The nicotine to tar ratio in the smoke of modified cigarette
AD66-109 True 85 was 52% greater than in the control. The
pressure drop of these cigarettes was low. An adequate
pressure drop could be obtained in total air dilution cigarettes
by inserting a mouthpiece which restricted the passage of
smoke, The mouthpieces for samples prepared in the labo-
ratory were made from gas chromatography column caps. Holes
were drilled in the end of the cap. For the mass production
of total air dilution cigarettes a mouthpiece such as that
shown in Figure l, which could be made by an extrusion pro-
cess, might be preferred.
The air vents and smoke passages through the mouthpiece
were adjusted in sample AD70-55 True 85 so that 6 mg of tar
and 0.6 mg of nicotine were delivered per cigarette. The
data from the analyses of the vapor phase and particulate
phase are shown in Table 2. A comparison of the smoke from
AD70-55 True 85 and the control gave the following results:
1. Nicotine to tar ratio increased 64%
2. Alkalinity increased i.i pH units.
3. Carbon monoxide reduced 82%.
4. Nitrogen oxide reduced 73%.
5. Acrolein reduced 79%.
6. Acetonitrile reduced 62%.
7. Isoprene reduced 67%.
8. Hydrogen cyanide reduced 86%.
9. Acetone reduced 67%.

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i0. 2-methyl furan reduced 76%.
ii. Methyl ethyl ketone reduced 71%.
12. Toluene reduced 47%.
The 6 mg total air dilution cigarette exhibited better
gas phase removal than a True 85 cigarette by the following
percentages:
1. Carbon monoxide reduced 44%.
2. Nitrogen oxide reduced 40%.
3. Acrolein reduced 83%.
4. Hydrogen cyanide reduced 13%.
Since cellulose acetate is ineffective for removing gas phase
components, it was the 60% air dilution in the True 85 which
produced the gas phase removals shown in Table 2. The effec-
tiveness of total air dilution for removing gas phase compo-
nents also.compared favorably with charcoal as shown in Table
2. Air dilution was less effective than charcoal for removing
isoprene, acetone or toluene, however air dilution was more
effective for removing carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide,
hydrogen cyanide and acrolein. The characteristic taste
imparted to smoke by charcoal, which has been considered
undesirable, was not noticed in the air dilution cigarettes
(20). At the present time the amounts of vapor phase com-
ponents in smoke are not generally published, however recent
articles in the Readers Digest on the gas phase (21,22) may
arouse public interest. Carbon monoxide has been implicated
as a factor in heart disease (23). Acetaldehyde, acro~ein,
aoetonitrile and hydrogen cyanide have been shown to be
ciliastatic agents (24). Nitrogen Oxides have been shown
to be associated with chronic bronchitis and emphysema (22).
The tar and nicotine in the mainstream smoke of total
air dilution cigarettes could be adjusted by modifying the
size of the air vents or the smoke passageways as shown in
Table 3. (20). A nicotine to tar ratio of 0.i0 was the
highest that was obtained with the True 85 tobacco b~lend.~
As shown in Table 5, increasing the nicotine tO tar ratio
in the tobacco increased the ratio in the smoke, however
the percent removals were unchanged. When the tar level
of an all air dilution cigarette was lower than 6 mg,
problems with pressure drop, too little flavor and difficulty
in lighting the cigarette made the samples unacceptable.
Sample ADT0-40 Kent 85 was prepared with the air vents
located at the top of the tobacco column Where the tipping
paper and cigarette paper overlap. As compared to the con-
trol data, the nicotine to tar ratios in the smoke of
the sample were increased 53% (.078) and the number of
puffs was increased 19% (9.4 puffs per cigarette) as
shown in Table 4. These results were similar to those
with the air vents in the tipping paper. If a mouthpiece
such as that in Figure 3 was used in place of the cap,. this

design may be more practical than previous samples prepared
in the laboratory.
No attempt has been made to work on the taste of all
air dilution cigarettes however some evaluations have
been favorable (2). Total air dilution cigarettes with
~ mg of tar or greater have plenty of taste and a satisfying
amount of smoke per puff. Sample AD70-55 True 85 was
considered "out of balance" by one member of the expert
panel. This may be due to the high pH and nicotine content
of the smoke.
SUMMARY :
Nicotine to tar ratios of 0.1 were achieved using the
True 85 tobacco rod in a total air dilution 6 mg cigarette.
The ratio for a True 85 cigarette, July 8, 1976, was'0.085
(26). The gas phase study of the all air dilution cigarette
also showed significant removals of gas phase components.
The carbon monoxide concentration was reduced to half of
that in a True 85 cigarette. Acrolein, a component, which
has been designated as a ciliostatic agent by several
workers, was reduced almost six times that in the True 85
cigarette. The hydrogen cyanide was similar to that in
the True 85 cigarette. Overall the total air dilution
system for "filter" cigarettes appears to be a good way to
reduce the undesirable components in tobacco smoke. The
alkalinity of the smoke was also increased by the a11 air
dilution system and some reports indicated that higher
smoke pH increases the physiological effectiveness of
nicotine. The alkalinity was similar to that achieved by
adding 0.2% ammonium hydroxide to the True 85 blend;
From the work to date it does not appear that the total
air dilution system would be useful for the production of
a 2 mg tar cigarette. At tar levels below 6 mg the problems
of wisping undesirable pressure drops and difficulty in
llgh~ing the cigarette occurred. The use of ali air dilution
systems may be useful in low gas phase cigarettes with tar
levels of 6 to 12 mg.
Although all air dilution cigarettes are not commercially
available, the idea is not a new one. Examples of proposed
filtering devices for tobacco smoke which utilize air dilu- ~
tion of the smoke as the sole mechanism for removal are
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found in the patent literature. Several patents ~ere issued ~
to A. P. Miller. (6-9) Basically Miller's filters are
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hollow chambers for mixing incoming smoke and air, and
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orifices through which the smoke air mixture must pass to ~
reach the smoker. In 1961 a patent was granted for the idea
of locating the air vents in the filter paper of cigarettes
rather than in the cigarette paper (i0). A patent for a cigar
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or cigarette holder With air vents was also granted in 1962
(11). The use of air dilution in cigarettes has created
the problem of providing vents which war% reproducible and
uniform. Generally porous and perforated papers are used
to achieve the desired air dilution. A patent for a valve
along the cigarette seams was granted. It was claimed that
the valve gave reproducible air vents and could be constructed
with axisting machines and paper. The valves eliminated
the need for special porous papers, the porosity of which
ie difficult to control. Grassi's patent (13) also was
concerned with better ways to make air vents in cigarette
paper.
Recently a patent was granted to Norman (14) for a
filter design which provided a mixing chamber for the air
and smoke plus a restrictor to regulate the pressure drop
of the cigarette. A csntral smoke passageway was provided
for the smoke. Data was reported for the amounts of nicotine,
tar, hydrogen cyanide, water and other vapors in the main-
stream smoke as the size of the air vents and smoke passage-
way was varied. The nicotine to tar ratio for the control
was 0.057 and in one of the patented filters the ratio was
0.082, a 44% increase. The hydrogen cyanide concentration
in the control was 26.7 ug/puff whereas one particular design
had only 5.6 ug/puff. Optimum designs for the particular
emoke composition desired could be selected from Norman's
data.
Summers (15) attempted to solve the problem of decreasing
air dilution from the first to the last puff. A piston
devise which was slowly moved with each draw thus uncovering
r~re available air vents increased the air dilution in the
last puffs.
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Figure 1. Sketch of air dilution filter proposed by Tom
Larson - Extruded solid plastic mouthpiece
with ridges along the outer walls.

Table I. Smoke analyses for Sample AD66-I09 True 85a all air dilution
cigarette. The control had filter removed and holes taped.
AD66-109
Weight g/Fig 0,895
Pressure Drop mm/cig 29.0
Dry Part. Mat. mg/cig 14.0
Nicotine mg/cig 0,96
Corrected Part. Mat. mg/cig 13.1
Puff Count 8.6
Percent Nicotine Removal 18
Percent CPM Removal 46
Nicotine/CPM 0.073
a. Diagram showing AD66-I09 True 85 (old True)
Cont____rol True 85 4/76
0.866 .989
70.2 115.7
25.511.4
1.170.67
24.3I0 • 8
7.2 7.7
- 45,8~
- 56.1%
0.048 0.062
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Table 2. Results of the smoke analyses of sample AD70-55 - True 85
all air dilution cigarette
AD70-55 Control
True 85(5mg)
Pressure Drop mm/cig 97.2
67.7
Dry Part. Mat. mg/cig 7.0 4.4
Nicotine mg/cig 0~62 0.35
Corrected Part. Mat. mg/cig 6.4 4.1
Puff Count6.9 6.3
Nicotine/CPM .097 .085
Oxygen mg/cig 54,8 24.0 41,9
Nitrogen mg/cig 198.2 139.2 169.9
Carbon Monoxide mg/cig 2.2 12.5 3.9
Carbon Dioxide mg/cig 15.2 42.4 18.2
pH of Smoke 7.09 . ~.98 -
Hydrogen Cyanide ~g/cig 27 187 31
Nitrogen Oxide ug/cig 48 181 79
Isoprene ~g/cig 107.8 326.7
Acetaldehyde Ug/clg141.8 720.9
Acetone ~/cig 99.8 301.3
Acrcle£n ~g/cig 6.8 32.7 41~1
2-Methyl Furan ~g/cig 13.8 56,4
Methyl Ethyl Ketone ~.g/cig 48.3 163.8
Benzene ~g/cig 27.3 72.D
Acetonitrile ~g/cig55.4 145.1
Toluene ug/cig 60.1 114.3
a. Art Ihrig calculated gas phase for charcoal filter with a control
similar to the True 85 (5 mg controll.
b. Diagram showing AD-70-55 True 85 (new True)
Charcoala
~ilter,,
60
190
4O
120
50
10
15
35
20
50
35
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