Skip to main content
Tob. Sci., 1959, 3-10, p. 57-59, ISSN.0082-4623

Composition studies on tobacco. VI. Phthalates from flue-cured leaves

STEDMAN R.L.; DYMICKY M.
Eastern Regional Research Laboratory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

A mixture of esters of phthalic acid was isolated by extensive fractionation of unaged, cured Type 12 tobacco. The identity of the acidic component of the esters was established by mixed melting point determination with authentic material. The alcoholic components of the esters were shown to be n-propanol, n-butanol and an unidentified alcohol by vapor phase chromatographic procedures. Possible extraneous sources of phthalates in the isolation procedure were also investigated. The possibility that the phthalates were derived from such sources appears remote.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")