Effect of urea phosphate on thermal decomposition of reconstituted tobacco and CO evolution

The thermal behavior and burning characteristics of reconstituted tobacco are closely interrelated with evolved gaseous products. The primary goal of this paper was to investigate the influence of urea phosphate (UP) on the pyrolysis behavior and subsequent gaseous products, especially carbon monoxide, resulting from pyrolysis and combustion of reconstituted tobacco. Characterization was performed using thermogravimetric analysis with measurement of products by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA–FTIR) and flash pyrolysis–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FPY–FTIR). Moreover, the influence of UP on CO delivery in mainstream smoke was also studied. TGA results illustrated UP accelerated thermal degradation of reconstituted tobacco and hindered the combustion of carbonized reconstituted tobacco. UP had a considerable influence on the evolution of gaseous products during thermal decomposition of reconstituted tobacco. What's more important, both CO delivery per cigarette and that per puff in the smoking process were significantly reduced depending on UP content in reconstituted tobacco. Comparative analysis of CO evolution patterns in the flash and slow pyrolysis elucidated that the heat rate was one of the most important factors in decreasing CO evolution by UP. These results demonstrated that UP was a potential burning additive controlling CO delivery in mainstream smoke of reconstituted tobacco.

► The influence of urea phosphate on thermal behavior of reconstituted tobacco has been investigated for the first time.
► UP had a considerable influence on the evolution of gaseous products during thermal decomposition of reconstituted tobacco.
► Urea phosphate was evaluated for its performance of controlling CO delivery in mainstream smoke of reconstituted tobacco.
► The heat rate was one of the most important factors in decreasing CO evolution by urea phosphate.