Examination of the nicotine analysis by GC/MS and a comparison with the regulating method

Abstract

This research examined gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) measurements for nicotine and 4-ethenylpyridine, which are passive smoking markers of environmental tobacco smoke. Since the object ingredient was a polar compound, a comparison examination was performed using both a non-polar column (DB-5) and a mid-polar column (DB-17) for analysis. Of the two columns, as a result of comparing the peak shape, sensitivity, and linearity, it was found that DB-17 is suitable for measuring nicotine and 4-ethenylpyridine, which is a substitute compound of 3-ethenylpyridine. When the nicotine concentration determined by the GC/MS method was compared with that of the GC/FID method, which was the regulating method, the concentration as determined by the GC/MS method was about 30 % lower than that of the GC/FID method. It was suggested that measurements by GC/FID include other organic components. When tobacco smoke (the gaseous and particle components of mainstream smoke and sidestream smoke) was measured using this GC/MS condition, nicotine was detected in all samples, except for the gaseous component of the mainstream smoke, and 3-ethenylpyridine was only detected in the gaseous component of sidestream smoke. © 2013 The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.