A rapid quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method was developed for the analysis of plasticizer mixtures in cellulose acetate filter rods. Five 20-mm rods were extracted into 25 ml CCl₄ with 0.4% trifluoracetic acid containing benzene as internal standard. The NMR spectrum of the extract was obtained and the amounts of plasticizer components were determined from integrations of the spectrum. The method is applicable for filter rods containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and triacetin, triethyleneglycol diacetate (TEGDA) and PEG, or TEGDA and triacetin. At the 95% confidence level, the standard deviation of rods containing 3.2% PEG and 6% triacetin is 0.44% PEG and 0.47% triacetin.

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