Tobacco Documents Online

Id MEMORANDUM TO: Mr. J. H. Bell FROM: J. P. Morgan January 15, 1982 SUBJECT: Research Proposal - Develop a Method for Distinguishing Between the Major Free and Bound Organic Acids in Tobacco. In an attempt to improve low grade and/or off shore burley tobaccos, it is necessary to better understand the role that organic acids play in their contribution to strength, character, and off-taste. This may be dependent on how they are bound in the tobacco, whether as a free acid or as a salt. Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium Salts of Organic Acids are always pr4bent. Oxalic Acid.occurs mainly as a Calcium Salt.1 Acids may also be bound with nicotine. Free and b~und acids have been recovered from tobacco by Tso and Jeffrey. A method for quantitation of Malic, Citric, and Oxalic Acid was established and used to evaluate a number of burley grades -vai.th respect to strength, character, and off-taste.3 Distinct differences were noted in tobacco grades with varying levels of acids. A positive relationship of total acid content to character and a negative relationship between Citric Acid content and off-taste was present~. No definite correlation was seen between Malic Acid and strength. The results-of a study by W. E. Crouse on the relationship between leaf nicotine and total organic acids confirmed that strength may be interelated to an interaction between nicotine and total organic acids; however, the exact mechanism could not be explained. Strength, character, and off-taste may not necessarily be a function of nicotine to total acid content. Tobacco or smoke quality is very difficult to scientifically determine and is not necessarily a function of the total = constituents present but on how they were bound in the leaf5 and delivered in the smoke. This is the primary reason for pursuing this project.

A method to distinguish between the free and bound major organic acids would provide additional chemical data which could explain their interlations with other tobacco constituents. These data in conjunction with organoleptic analyses may reveal a correlation which would enable the prediction of smoke characteristics by chemical means. There would be a better understanding in how to improve low grade or offshore tobaccos by addition of different acid forms. . P. Morgan JPM/sc

f References l. Brumagen, D. M. and A. J. Hiatt, 1966, The Relationship of Oxalic Acid to the Translocation and Utilization of Calcium in N. Tabacum Plant and Soil 24:239-49. 2. Tso, T. C. and R. N. Jeffrey, 1961 Biochemical Studies on Tobacco Alkaloids. IV the dynamic state of nicotine supplied to N. rustica. Arch Biochem Biophys. 92:253-6 3. Shoffner, R. A., (Lorillard Report, Accession No. 1214), An Improved Gas Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Oxalic, Malic, and Citric Acids in Tobacco is Their Methyl Esters, June 15, 1978. 4. Lewis, J. A., Lorillard Memorandum, A Comparison of the Organic Acid Contents of an Off-Shore Burley and Two Domestic Burleys. ~ 5. Wenusch, A., Determination of the Quality of Tobaccos by Chemical Examinations, Wien Chem. - Ztg. 46, 178-80, 1943.