Formation of Molecular Nitrogen by a Burning Cigarette

Abstract

ALTHOUGH the total nitrogen content of tobacco leaf is routinely determined, a respectable nitrogen balance between the amount of tobacco consumed and the amount of smoke produced by a burning cigarette has not been achieved. In our studies using ¹⁵N tracer techniques¹ we have been disappointed in our nitrogen balance, both with respect to total nitrogen and to total label. The possibility of generating molecular nitrogen during the smoking process thus seemed worthy of investigation. No reports in the literature indicate molecular nitrogen formation on smoking; in fact, Jarrell and de la Burde² have reported that none is generated and delivered to the mainstream. We report here the results of our investigation which show molecular nitrogen to be a major product in sidestream smoke.