Puff-by-puff releases of characteristic treemoss components in mainstream cigarette smoke

In order to investigate the delivery pattern of characteristic treemoss aroma components in mainstream smoke of cigarette, cigarettes of three different circumferences (17, 20 and 24 mm) were sampled. The release behaviors of four characteristic treemoss components, methyl 2, 4-dihydroxy-3, 6-dimethylbenzoate, ethyl 2, 4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate, ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-propylbenzoate and ethyl hexadecanoate were investigated. The results showed that:1) Generally, the puff-by-puff releases increased initially and then decreased for the cigarette of 17 mm circumference; while for the cigarette of 20 mm circumference, the puff-by-puff releases was stable after the 3rd puff, and for the cigarette of 24 mm circumference the yield increased continuously with the puff number. 2) The different release patterns of the four characteristic ester compounds were mainly due to their different intrinsic properties. 3) On per unit tar and per unit nicotine basis, the releases of treemoss aroma components in cigarette smoke of different circumferences decreased with the proceeding puffing and the increase of filter ventilation rate, especially the cigarette of 17 mm circumference. 4) The releases of the characteristic ester components became more uniform to a certain extent by reducing the pressure drop of cigarette.