DETERMINATION OF NICOTINE IN TOBACCO AND IN PARTICULATE MATTER OF SMOKE BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

A gas chromatographic method for the determination of nicotine in tobacco and in smoke particulate matter is described. Tobacco samples are extracted with saturated barium hydroxide solution, and nicotine is then extracted with benzene-chloroform (9:1), and determined by gas chromatography. The column separates tobacco alkaloids into several fractions, giving different retention times for nicotine, nornicotine and anabasine. Tlie results obtained by this procedure are at least as good as those obtained by other methods presently available; the method is very simple and rapid. © 1968.