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CORESTA Congress, Edinburgh, 2010, SSPT 26

A routine procedure for the measurement of particles or fibres released from cigarettes or filters

TAYLOR M.J.
Filtrona Technology Centre, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear, UK

Particle or fibre release from cigarettes during smoking has been the subject of much debate in recent years. A number of studies have been carried out to quantify the number and type of particles or fibres released from cigarettes or filters during puffing. Many of these methods involve dry puffing followed by relatively complex procedures, such as scanning electron microscopy or infrared microspectrometric analysis, to identify the number and nature of the particles or fibres released. To allow screening of a wide range of products a more rapid procedure to estimate the number of particles released is required. Laser particle counters are used to monitor air quality in a range of applications and offer a rapid measure of total particle quantity.A routine method for particle counting is described based on a modified laser particle counter and flow switching system. This method allows particles eluted from cigarettes or filters in the size range from 0.5 to 50 microns and at a range of different flow rates to be rapidly counted.Typical data is also given from the use of the procedure to evaluate the suitability of carbon manufactured from a range of raw materials such as coconut, coal, wood and peat, in terms or particle release, for use in cigarette filters.