Analytical procedures in the tobacco industry are becoming increasingly demanding as new regulatory guidelines are introduced and consumer expectations become higher. Only the highest standards of quality control ensure that market expectations are met. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of components that affect flavor and toxicity. Typically, concentrations of components known as Hoffman analytes are measured by industry laboratories worldwide and require a fast, accurate, and reliable method.
Background
Solution
The ComboSense is a mass spectrometer based on the patented V&F Ion Molecule Reaction (IMR-MS) combined with an Electron Impact Mass Spectrometer (EI-MS). This instrument can measure a predefined set of Hoffmann analytes puff-by-puff under ISO smoking conditions in real-time without requiring sampling or concentration. Special features such as background compensation and the ability to calibrate guarantee the reproducibility of measurements, as does the dedicated software. No further data processing is needed because peak detection, signal integration, and multicomponent analysis are integrated in the intelligent software. Concentrations are presented as puff-by-puff and as a sum total for each cigarette to facilitate direct comparison between batches.
Advantage
The ComboSense is a highly versatile instrument that facilitates continuous real-time measurement of multiple components with the highest precision. It can be easily integrated into an existing quality control system and serves the analytical needs of the tobacco industry. Via flavor breakdown of tobacco blends and smoke analysis, the ComboSense can help develop new products with new flavor combinations and reduce concentrations of toxic smoke ingredients.
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