The Determination of Propylene Glycol in the Tobacco Shred by Azeotropic Distillation-Periodic Acid Method

Abstract

Any method reported hitherto for the quantitative determination of propylene glycol in the shred of finished cigarette was not necessarily applicable. For instance, in case of gas chromatographic method, the blank value as propylene glycol in tobacco shred was neglected, and, in case of column chromatographic method, the data obtained did not give correct value when the tobacco shred contained 5 to 6 times of glycerine than propylene glycol. A new analytical method which gave more accurate value was established. This paper is describing the method of azeotropic distillation of propylene glycol with toluene followed by the periodic acid. This method was acceptably applied to the analysis of the various shreds of finished cigarettes.