Abstract
This study was conducted to determine menthol migration from the tobacco to the filter and the change in percentage of menthol in pack for different mentholated cigarettes. Methanol was used to extract menthol from tobacco, filter and foil. A known weight of internal standard was added to each extract and then the extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography. After 4 days, 95% of the menthol applied to the foil was delivered into the tobacco and filter, but in case of menthol applied to the tobacco, the percentage of menthol that migrated from the tobacco to the filter was below 10%. After 100 days, 30-45% of the menthol in the tobacco had migrated into the filter. The amount of menthol in the pack decreased after 20 days of storage, however, the remaining menthol in cigarette treated with 0.30% propylene glycol was higher in amount than that with 0.12% propylene glycol In analysis on menthol transfer to mainstream smoke, the most efficient sample was the cigarette with menthol applied to the foil rather than to the tobacco.