Methyl nitrite, from methanol reaction

NO, in tobacco smoke has been quantified by calorimetric analyses (189, 3441, 3720), such as the Saltzman method (19A07), and by the chemical emission method (2122), which has been shown to be a rapid method for quantification (1884). Most of the NO, present in fresh MSS is NO, only a small amount of NO2 is present (189, 816, 2803). The concentration of NO2 in MSS increases (189, 2803, 3691) with the age of the smoke, and can reach levels of 200 ppm after 60 seconds (189). NO2 formation is believed to result from the auto-oxidation of NO. It has also been suggested that some of the NO2 produced by oxidation is converted (2941, 4058) to methyl nitrite through a reaction with methanol in the smoke (1884). Predominate precursors of NO are nitrates (189) and other A-containing compounds in the tobacco. N2O (2941) and HNO3 (4058) have also been reported as components of MSS in addition to the above compounds (1884). The currently preferred method for the determination of NO, is chemiluminescence (1930,19A02). 

This particular reaction may be important when sampling exhaust from methanol-fueled combustion sources. For example, significant concentrations (46-69 ppm) of methyl nitrite have been reported in the exhaust of a methanol-fueled bus (Hanst and Stephens, 1989). Such large concentrations would be of concern if... 

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