Tobacco Documents Online

Ammonia Treatment of Tobacco

Abstract

This report from the Lorillard tobacco company discusses means of increasing "free" nicotine in tobacco. Nicotine in "free" form (as opposed to "bound" nicotine) is more readily absorbed by the smoker. The reason tobacco companies value free nicotine in tobacco is because it produces an "organoleptic effect" in the smoker. Dorland's Ilustrated Medical Dictionary (25th Edition) defines "organoleptic" as "making an impression on an organ of special sense." Many interpret this as the drug-effect of nicotine.

The document states that as tar levels decrease in cigarettes, so too does the amount of nicotine. Therefore, "the smoker desires more organoleptic effect than the low tar cigarette delivers." Lorillard wanted to enhance the organoleptic effect of nicotine by increasing the amount of free nicotine in smoke. They mention several ways of doing this, the most promising of which was treating tobacco with ammonia or ammonium ion. They determined this was inexpensive and safer than adding metal alkali.

Also of interest is the fact that they mention that treating tobacco with ammonia decreases its combustibility. This may be a reason why tobacco companies add chemicals to cigarette paper that keep cigarettes burning.

User-Contributed Notes

Fields

Notes

This document was used as a trial exhibit in Broin, Florida, Missouri, Texas, Minnsota and Washington.

Quotes

INTRODUCTION

During the past year the introduction of low yeild tar and nicotine cigarettes has been greater than any timein the history of the cigarette industry. Low tar cigarette (15 milligrams and under) production has increased from 10.9 percent in 1975 to 16.4 percent for the third wuarter of 1976...As the value for the tar decreases, the value for nicotine decreases. The smoker desires a more organoleptic effect than the low tar cigarettes delivers. By increasing the ration of free nicotine to bound nicotine in the tobacco this effect will occur. "Nicotine in basic tobacco smoke (pH 8.0) is absorbed much more readily through the mucous membrane of the mouth than is nicotine in acid tobacco smoke (pH 5.6) because of the higher concentration of unprotonated nicotine in basic smoke." (2) Several methods of incresing the free nicotine to tobacco, (2) the use of tobacco blends which have a high pH and high percent of nicotine, (3) the treatment of tobacco with a base, and (4) the air dilution of cigarette smoke by the use of special paper and filters. The pH of smoke from non-diluted filters range from 5.0 to 6.0 while the pH of smoke from air diluted dilters may be increased to 7.5. The reason for increasing the pH and increasing the nicotine to tar ratio is to make low tar cigarettes more acceptable to the smoker.

If tobacco is treated with ammonia gas, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate or ammonium hydroxide, the ammonia gas or ammonium ion will react with the nicotine salts to release the "free" nicotine. The pH of the treated tobacco will be higher due to the ammonia of ammonium ion treatment. The reason ammonia or ammonium ionis used for the treatment of tobacco are (1) ammonia is slightly stronger base than nicotine for the freeing of the nicotine from its salts, (2) ammonia is present in untreated tobacco and tobacco smoke, (3) the price is economical, (4) the treatment should be easier and safer than a "free" nicotine additive, and (5) the treatment with metallic alkali may cause adverse effects on tobacco and to its smoke. An increase in ammonia is linked to a decrease in combustibility, while the increase of potassium salts of acids and increase aerations (puffing) results in better combustibility. (3) In the ammonia or other alkaline treatment of tobacco care should be taken in the drying process to prevent the loss of nicotine.

Company

Lorillard Inc.

Author

Routh, W.E.

Recipient

Lorillard Tobacco Co., Inc.

Region

United States

Litigation

Broi/Trial Exhibit 1081

Broi/Trial Exhibit 353

Flag/Trial Exhibit 1911

Morm/Trial Exhibit 1323

Stmn/Produced

Stmn/Selected

Stmn/Trial Exhibit 17973

Txag/Trial Exhibit 1911

Waag/Trial Exhibit 1536

Type

Accession Report

Bibliography

Chart/Graph

Scrt, Scientific Report

Subject

Additives

Drug effects

economics