Using partition coefficient as an index to study the distribution and transfer characteristics of ester monomer flavors in cigarettes

To elucidate the mechanism for different retention and transfer behaviors of exogenously added flavor compounds in cigarettes, the partition coefficients (K_cut/air, K_filter/air) of 11 ester monomer flavors in a cut tobacco matrix, a filter fiber matrix (solid phase) and a gas phase were determined using the phase ratio variation method combined with headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PRV-HS-GC-MS). Additionally, the retention behaviors of the 11 ester monomer flavors in cut tobacco and their partition transfer characteristics in cigarettes were analyzed by GC-MS. The results showed that: 1) The overall retention rates of the 11 ester monomer flavors in cut tobacco ranged from 37.56% to 61.95%, with K_cut/air values ranging from 12.83 to 62.32. The retention rate of each ester monomer flavor in cut tobacco showed a good positive correlation with the K_cut/air value. 2) The K_filter/air values of the 11 ester monomer flavors in the filter fiber matrix ranged from 15.04 to 36.34. The retention rates in cut tobacco and the transfer rates to cigarette filters were in the ranges of 10.98%-50.32% and 5.63%-32.61%, respectively. The ratio of the K_cut/air to the K_filter/air values of each ester monomer flavor was positively correlated with the ratio of the transfer rate to the filter to the retention rate in cut tobacco of the cigarette. 3) The differences in retention and transfer rates in cigarettes could be explained by the partition coefficients of each ester monomer flavor. The differences in the retention and transfer behaviors of ester monomer flavors could also be characterized quantitatively. The partition coefficient provides a new approach to researching the transfer behaviors of ester monomer flavors.