Reconstituted tobacco

Reconstituted tobacco is used at high levels in most American blend cigarettes, which are popular in many regions of the world (National Cancer Institute 1996). Reconstituted tobacco sheets are made from processing stems and other parts of the tobacco leaf that would otherwise go to waste. In the course of manufacturing reconstituted tobacco, numerous chemicals are added, including nicotine as replacement for the amount lost in the manufacturing process (Browne 1990 National Cancer Institute 1996). Indeed, this also provides an effective means for manufacturers to control or even increase the amount of nicotine in the total blend (Minnemeyer 1977). 

Ammonia compounds are a primary chemical component of many reconstituted tobaccos. The importance of ammoniation in the development of the characteristic flavor popularized by Marlboro has been widely pubhcized (Bates et al. 1999 Freedman 1995 Hurt and Robertson 1998). The chemical impact of ammoniation is complex and appears to influence the form and delivery of nicotine in a variety of interconnected ways (see BW Fig. 4) (Johnson 1989). Ammoniated reconstituted tobacco has a characteristic mild sensory profile, and features a number of important compounds created through the reaction between ammonia and sugars (J.R. Reynolds 1980 Wells and Kendrick 1995). Addition of ammonia as a strong base leads to increased smoke pH, which corresponds with increased levels of free nicotine in smoke (Hurt and Robertson 1998). Thus, a 1982 position paper from RJR observed that ... ammonia in smoke is one of the major pH controlling components and that ... studies of the effect of ammonia on smoke composition showed... an increase in physiological satisfaction with increasing ammonia content (Bemasek and Nystrom 1982). 

Hecht et al. (1562) described the importance of 1,2-benzenediol (catechol) as a tobacco smoke cocarcinogen. They also noted that the levels of 1,2-benzenediol (catechol) in MSS was reduced by prior extraction of the tobacco with hexane-ethanol or by inclusion of reconstituted tobacco sheet (RTS) in the tobacco blend. 

Compared to the corresponding control cigarette, the dry TPM [from a cigarette filled with reconstituted tobacco from which the wax layer had been removed by hexane-ethanol azeotrope extraction] had been reduced by 44%, the nicotine by 47% and catechol by 85%. This demonstrates a strong, selective reduction of catechols in the smoke by the removal of the wax layer. 

In 1975, Schlotzhauer and Chortyk (3452), emphasizing the toxicants in tobacco smoke, reported that the yields of PAHs and phenols in the pyrolysate from reconstituted tobacco sheet (RTS) were significantly lower than those from flue-cured tobacco leaf when generated under the same experimental conditions. Extrapolating their pyrolysis results to the formation of specific components of tobacco smoke, Schlotzhauer and Chortyk noted that the continued use of reconstituted tobacco sheet in tobacco products appears warranted. ... 

Cellnlose was included in the Kroller stndies becanse it constitntes the major part of cigarette paper, mnch of which is consnmed dnring the smoking process. It was not included because cellulose, as wood pulp, is sometimes added by some manufacturers to their reconstituted tobacco sheet (RTS) to improve integrity and reduce fragmentation. 

Baskevitch, N. and G. Ferrer Modification of the nicotine tar ratio through the use of reconstituted tobacco CORESTA 1982 Symp., Winston-Salem, NC, USA, CORESTA Inf. Bull., Spec. Edition 1982 Paper STl, 31. 

Brunnemann, K.D. Routine HPLC method for assessing sorbate in reconstituted tobacco 33rd Tobacco Chemists Research Conference, Program Booklet and Abstracts, Vol. 33, Paper No. 61, 1979, p. 33. 

Casey, W.J. and J.V. Fiore Identification of cellulose fibers isolated from reconstituted tobacco Beitr. Tabakforsch. 8 (1976) 302-313. 

Colorimetric determination of sorbic acid in reconstituted tobacco Tob. Sci. 19 (1975) 133-135. 

Raverdy Reconstituted tobacco treatment to reduce TSNA content of tobacco products 60th Tobacco 2331. 

Young, H.J. Reconstituted sheet made from cigarette dust. The use of tobacco pectin for production of reconstituted tobacco products R DM, 1988, No. 280,... 

Processed tobaccos (reconstituted tobacco sheet, expanded tobacco)... 

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