DICTIONARY

OF TOBACCO
TERMS
PHYSICIANS FOR A SMOKE-FREE CANADA
SEPTEMBER 1999

ACTIVATED CARBON:

An amorphous form of carbon which is specially

treated to produce a very large surface area, ranging
from 300 to 2000m2/g. The large surface area means
that the internal pore structure has been very highly
developed, providing activated carbon with the ability
to adsorb gases and vapors from gases, and dissolved
or dispersed substances from liquids. Almost any
carbonaceous material of animal, vegetable or mineral
origin can be converted into activated carbon through
proper treatment. There are two distinct types of
activated carbon recognized commercially: Liquid
Phase, or decolorizing, carbons which are generally
light, fluffy powders. Gas Phase, or vapor adsorbent,
carbons which are hard, dense granules or pellets.

AIR DILUTION

aka CIGARETTE VENTILATION; FILTER DILUTION

(in the case of tipping paper) The dilution of
MAINSTREAM smoke with air from the atmosphere;
affected by the natural POROSITY and by the
PERFORATIONS of the cigarette paper and/or the
tipping paper. The percent of a 1050 cc/min rate of
flow that is drawn in through the dilution system.
See also AIR PERMEABILITY, DIFFUSION, DEGREE
OF VENTILATION

AIR PERMEABILITY

Of cigarette paper in ml/min/cm2, the volume of air in

ml (20 C, 760 torr, 55-65% RH) that passes through 1
cm2 of a flat specimen of the paper in 1 minute when a
negative pressure of 100 mm water column (in the
case of normal and naturally porous papers) or 25 mm
water column (in the case of perforated papers) is
applied to one side of the specimen. In the latter case,
the value obtained should be multiplied by 4. There
are two kinds of air permeability: POROSITY and
PERFORATION.

ALKALOID

A basic substance of plant origin which contains a

cyclic nitrogenous nucleus. Tobacco alkaloids are, for
the most part, 3-pyridyl derivatives. Some, however,
are acidic in nature. The most abundant alkaloid in
tobacco is NICOTINE: 95-97% nicotine plus trace
compounds.

ALKALOID RETENTION

By a filter, where alkaloid retention is R: the

percentage of the total alkaloid entering the filter that is
retained by the filter.

AMES TEST

Bioassay for mutagenesis, using bacteria as target, to

detect and screen for potentially carcinogenic
compounds.

BAKED TAR

A measurement of a cigarettes smoke delivery; now

replaced by measuring TOTAL PARTICULATE
MATTER (TPM). Whole (wet) tar was baked to remove
moisture.

BALE

1.
2.
3.

A 50- to 75-pound case of unfermented tobacco,

EXTRUDED TOBACCO.
The rectangular packaging of leaf on the farm,
BURLEY farm bale.
A 1000-pound rectangular case of cellulose
acetate filter tow.

BI; BM; BW; EC/1

Microorganisms used to remove nicotine and nitrate

from tobacco simultaneously. (Cellulomonas sp.;
Pseudomonas putida; Erwinia carotovora)

BIDI

A form of cigarette found in India, consists of

granulated tobacco rolled in a section of Indian ebony
leaf and tied with thread. Also called BEEDI.

BLACK TOBACCO

A type of dark tobacco grown mainly, but not

exclusively, in the South American and Central
American countries as well as in Cuba, Spain, and
France. The strong varieties are usually used as cigar
fillers. Black tobacco which is SUN-CURED (cured in
the open air) is known as dark air-cured. Light
varieties, such as Paraguay and its hybrids, are mostly
AIR-CURED in barns. Light black tobaccos are used in
some cigarette blends in European countries.
PERIQUE (grown in Louisiana) is a black tobacco
used in pipe tobacco blends. See also BLOND
TOBACCO.

BLOND TOBACCO

By way of contrast with BLACK TOBACCO, blond

tobaccos are the BURLEY and FLUE-CURED
tobaccos so popular in the United States. See also
BLACK TOBACCO.

BLUE MOULD

Peronospora tabacina; a fungus which attacks tobacco

in the seedbeds, prevalent in nearly all growing areas.
Also called DOWNY MILDEW.

BRIGHT

See FLUE-CURED TOBACCO. See also VIRGINIA

TOBACCO.

BULK CURING

A curing process employed for FLUE-CURED tobacco.

Leaf is suspended in the curing atmosphere in bulk.
Humidity and temperature control are made precise
through the use of a forced draft which passes the
heated air in a vertical plane through the lightly packed
leaves in a completely closed system. Experiments
have been performed on the bulk curing of
MARYLAND and ORIENTAL tobaccos as well, but to
date the results have not proven acceptable. Also
called COMPACT CURING and INTACT CURING.

BURLEY

An AIR-CURED tobacco. Burley tobacco is grown in

rich limestone soils, primarily in Kentucky and
Tennessee. It is light brown to reddish brown in color
and has a somewhat greater FILLING POWER than
FLUE-CURED tobacco. Burley is light in body, with a
low sugar content and high alkaloid content. Burley
smoke is more basic (higher pH) than that of FLUECURED tobacco.

BURN CAPACITY

The surface, mass, or length of a burned cigarette;

expressed as a percent of the whole used for the
measurement.

BURNING ZONE
TEMPERATURE

The temperature of a burning cigarette at the point

where the coal meets the paper; measured by infrared
or with thermocouples. Reported during puffing to be
850 900 C. See also COAL, PEAK COAL
TEMPERATURE.

CAMBRIDGE FILTER

aka FTC FILTER A trapping device developed in 1959

and used universally on smoking machines for the
collection of particulate matter; consists of discs 44
mm in diameter from CM 113A fiberglass sheet
(Cambridge Filter Corp., Syracuse, NY).
Specifications: it shall collect at least 99.9% of all
particles over 0.3 m in diameter and 99.2% of 0.1 m
diameter particles at a flow rate of 28 linear ft/min;
have a maximum pressure drop not exceeding 93 mm
of water at 28 ft/min; contain not more than 5% of the
acrylic type binder. A trap (using O-ring fiberglass filter
disc and a rubber membrane) used on smoking
machines to collect TOTAL PARTICULATE MATTER
(TPM).

CAMVER TEST

BAT Hamburg test to measure the time required for

smoke to block a CAMBRIDGE FILTER under
continuous draw conditions.

CAPABILITY

The maximum and minimum weight/PRESSURE

DROP achievable by a given TOW item in a specific
FILTER rod configuration.

CASE HARDENING

Hardening and shrinking of particles caused by drying

from the surface faster than moisture migration from
the interior.

CASING

Tobacco additives applied to improve moisture

retention and smoking ability; the process of applying
these additives to tobacco. A mixture of
HYGROSCOPIC AGENTS and/or plasticizing agents
and volatile or nonvolatile flavoring agents applied to
tobacco to condition it for processing (to reduce
breakage, facilitate cutting, etc). Some commonly
known flavoring agents are: cocoa, chocolate, licorice,
ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, molasses, rum, brandy,

maple syrup, certain esters and oils, honey, and sugar.

See also: TOP FLAVORINGS.
CELLULOSE ACETATE

A white, odorless, tasteless, nontoxic solid used for

making cigarette filters. Cellulose acetate, also known
as secondary acetate, is a partially acetylated
cellulose, having an average degree of substitution of
2.4 acetyl groups per glucose unit.

CIGARETTE FIRMNESS

A cigarette rods resistance to compression; the force

required to deform cigarettes a preselected amount;
the deformation of a cigarette after a predetermined
time at a given pressure; sometimes referred to as
CIGARETTE HARDNESS. See also
COMPACIMETER.

CIGARETTE PAPER

The wrapping surrounding the CIGARETTE ROD. Flax

and hemp papers are the most common cigarette
papers, although kenaf, esparto grass, rice straw,
high-quality cellulose, etc. may be used as well. To the
paper may be added any number of chemicals; e.g.
calcium carbonate will improve (increase) porosity and
combustion; magnesium carbonate will improve ash
color; titanium oxide will whiten the ash; and
potassium nitrate will give the ash greater adherence.
The paper which encloses the tobacco column is
called the cigarette wrapper. The cigarette wrapper
should have a neutral taste (unless it has been
specifically flavored), should have a white ash that
does not drop from the cone while burning, and should
burn evenly without leaving a black edge. See also
PLUG WRAP, TIPPING PAPER.

CIGARETTE ROD

The combined form of shredded and blended tobacco

wrapped in cigarette paper.

CIGARETTE SIZE

The dimensions of a finished cigarette. The

circumference of most cigarettes is approximately 25
mm. The length, however, varies greatly. A Regular
cigarette is 70 mm; a King-Size one is 85 mm; a Super
King-Size or 100 is 100 mm; and the Longs or 120s
are 120 mm. The first 85 mm brand in the United
States was Pall Mall (1939); the first 100 mm was the
Pall Mall filter (1965); the first 120 mm was the More
filter (1975); (The long size was originally introduced
with the Marlboro filter in 1954. It was 80 mm in
length.)

CIGARETTE SMOKE
AEROSOL

The condensed and cooled mixture of gases passing

down the tobacco rod and issuing through the filter
end. The aerosol contains from 108 to 1010
3
particles/cm , ranging in size from <0.1 to
approximately 1.0 in diameter.

CIGARETTE SMOKE

Cigarette smoke that is condensed or trapped by a

method which attempts to collect all of the smoke. This
includes, e.g., IMPACTION TRAP, ELMENHORST

CONDENSATE

COLD TRAP, and ELECTROSTATIC

PRECIPITATION. This does not include the process
used to collect TPM (TOTAL PARTICULATE
MATTER). Also nonvolatile cigarette smoke
condensate, CRUDE SMOKE CONDENSATE, DRY
SMOKE CONDENSATE.

CIGARETTE
VENTILATION

See AIR DILUTION

COAL

The burning cone at the lighted end of a cigarette. See

also BURNING ZONE TEMPERATURE.

COAL RETENTION

CR. Ability of a burning cigarette to retain its fire during

smoking; number of cigarettes that retain their coal
after testing on a coal retention shaker, expressed as
a percent.

COAL STRENGTH

The ability of the burning cone of a cigarette to remain

firmly attached to the rod throughout vibrations to
which it may be subjected; dependent on firmness,
moisture, size of cut, packing and paper. Also called
fire retention, BURNING ZONE TEMPERATURE.

COMBUSTION

The interaction of tobacco with oxygen to produce heat

and light. Combustion of tobacco is a flameless,
glowing one. Tobacco is oxidized inefficiently, resulting
in DISTILLATION PRODUCTS, PYROLYSIS products
and PYROSYNTHESIS products, as well as the
expected CO2, H2O and other gases See also
PYROLYSIS, PYROSYNTHESIS, DISTILLATION
PRODUCTS.

COMPACIMETER

An instrument used to measure CIGARETTE

FIRMNESS by deformation; consists of a plunger, a
timer, an amount-of-deformation indicator and the
capacity to test 15 cigarettes. See also CIGARETTE
FIRMNESS.

COMPENSATION

The tendency for a smoker to obtain a similar delivery,

intake and uptake of smoke constituents, on a daily
basis, from a variety of products with different standard
(machine-smoked) deliveries.
FULL COMPENSATION - when daily intake of smoke
constituents is independent of standard delivery of
product smoked.
NO COMPENSATION - when a smokers behavior
(including consumption, puffing and inhalation) is the
same regardless of the product, and smoke uptake
depends on the standard delivery.

CORESTA

Centre de Cooperation pour les Recherches

Scientifiques Relatives au Tabac. An international

organization of representatives from the tobacco

industry, sharing scientific/technical information
relating to the tobacco plant as well as tobacco
products.
CORESTA
STANDARDS

An attempt by this international tobacco organization

to standardize testing procedures for the industry.
After several standards were issued, it was decided
that future work should be done under the guide of the
International Organization for Standardization, which
created a Tobacco Technical Committee for this
purpose. While the ISO is reviewing the standards
needed, CORESTA is continuing to publish what they
are now calling recommended methods for
immediate laboratory use.

CRIMP RATIO

Amount of crimping of cellulose acetate in forming a

filter.

CRUDE SMOKE
CONDENSATE

CORESTA Standard definition; the weight of that

portion of the total smoke which is trapped in the
smoke trap; reported in mg per cigarette (mg/cig). See
also CIGARETTE SMOKE CONDENSATE.

CURING

The drying process for newly harvested tobacco. AIR

CURING is performed in widely ventilated barns under
natural atmospheric conditions (from which the name
comes) with little or no artificial heat; it takes 3-12
weeks. Light air-cured tobacco is very thin to medium
in body, light tan shaded toward red to reddish brown
in color, and mild in flavor. Burley is light air-cured.
Dark air-cured is medium to heavy in body, light to
medium brown in color. FLUE CURING is performed in
small, tightly constructed barns with artificial heat
beginning at 90 F and ending round 170 F; it takes
5-7 days. The name comes from the metal flues used
in the heating apparatus. Flue cured tobacco is yellow
to reddish-orange in color, thin to medium in body, and
mild in flavor. FIRE CURING is performed in ventilated
barns with open fires (from which the name comes)
allowing the smoke to come in contact with the
tobacco; it is alternated with air curing. Fire-cured
tobacco is light to dark brown in color, medium to
heavy in body, and strong in flavor. SUN CURING is
performed on racks in the sunshine (from which the
name comes) for set daily periods over 4 weeks,
depending on the weather. Sun-cured tobacco looks
similar to air-cured. Also: bulk curing, homogenized
leaf curing, cross-flow curing.

CYTREL

NONTOBACCO SMOKING MATERIAL (synthetic)

made by Celanese to reduce tar and nicotine.

DEGREE OF
VENTILATION

That part of PUFF VOLUME which penetrates the

paper and/or the filter wrapper of a cigarette. See also:
AIR DILUTION.

DENIER

Measure of filament size, equaling weight in grams of

9000 meters of filament.

DENSITY LEVEL

Generally used to refer to amount of tobacco put into a

cigarette

DIFFUSION

The exiting of combustion gases through the

CIGARETTE PAPER as air enters. Diffusion is
dependent on many things, among them paper
POROSITY, gas flow rate, and cigarette circumference
and length.

DISTILLATION
PRODUCTS

Leaf components which are transferred into the smoke

stream essentially unchanged. See also
COMBUSTION

DRAFT
RESISTANCE/DRAW
RESISTANCE

See RESISTANCE TO DRAW

DRY SMOKE
CONDENSATE

CORESTA Standard definition: the weight of crude

smoke condensate after deduction of its water content;
reported in mg per cigarette (mg/cig). See also
CIGARETTE SMOKE CONDENSATE.

DRYER

Machine used to reduce the moisture content of

tobacco. This is effected by exposing the tobacco to
moving heated air having a relative humidity low
enough to absorb moisture. An apron dryer is a tunneltype apparatus through which a wire mesh conveyor
passes. Tobacco is spread on the conveyor in a thin
layer so that air may move through it. A rotary dryer is
a cylindrical apparatus which, by the use of steam
tubes around the inner perimeter of the cylinder shell,
elevates the tobacco in a stirring action. Exposure to
the heated tubes and a countercurrent airstream
through the length of the cylinder reduces the moisture
content of the tobacco.

DUOLITE

Anion and cation exchange resins, may be used in

cigarette FILTERS.

ELASTICITY

1.
2.

END STABILITY

The tendency for a cigarette to increase

ventilation rate at higher puffing pressure drop
The ability of a leaf to be stretched without
breaking. Leaf with elasticity has good drinking
quality and high FILLING POWER.

Resistance of a cigarette to lose tobacco. Determined

by quantitating the amount of tobacco which will fall
from the end of a cigarette during a standardized
agitation period reported as mg/cig fallout.

ETHREL

Trade name for a ripening agent or plant growth

regulator, the active ingredient being 2chloroethylphosphonic acid. See RIPENING AGENTS

EXPANDED TOBACCO

See EXPANSION

EXPANSION

A chemical and/or physical procedure that increases

the volume of the cells of tobacco, thus increasing
shred dimensions and the FILLING POWER of the
shreds; performed on cured, cased or uncased filler.
Generally the tobacco is saturated with an inert gas in
a high-pressure vessel called an IMPREGNATOR.
Expansion of the tobacco then takes place in an
expansion tower through the introduction of hightemperature air. See also: PUFFED TOBACCO,
FREEZE-DRIED TOBACCO.

EXTRUDED TOBACCO

Tobacco that is compressed into a BALE, planked on

top and bottom with plywood, and wrapped with a
synthetic film material. Tobacco is baled in this way for
easier transportation.

FERMENTATION

Generally applied only to cigar tobacco but sometimes

to BLACK TOBACCO; characterized by high initial
moisture content (up to 50%), heat generation, and 1020% loss of dry weight. Sometimes called sweating.
Fermentation is a vigorous, controlled, process, as
opposed to ageing.

FILLER

Cut, blended, cased, and flavored tobacco ready for

cigarette making. Also referred to as cut filler.

FILLING POWER

The ability of tobacco to form a firm cigarette rod at a

given moisture content. A high filling power indicates
that a lower weight of tobacco is required to produce a
cigarette rod than is required with a tobacco of lower
filling power. CYLINDER VOLUME is used
interchangeably with filling power; a high cylinder
volume indicates a high filling power. Filling power is
mistakenly referred to as SPECIFIC VOLUME.

FILTER

Any air permeable substance (e.g. paper, cotton, cork,

silica gel, meerschaum, cellulose acetate, etc.)
attached to the smoking end of a cigarette. Paper and
cellulose acetate are in most common use today, often
in conjunction with charcoal. The paper and cellulose
acetate help reduce particulate matter; the charcoal
adsorbs portions of the gaseous phase of the smoke.
Filters are made in varying densities, diameters, and
designs. The first commercial cigarette in the United
States with a filter mouthpiece was Parliament,
manufactured by Philip Morris in 1932. In 1936 Brown
& Williamson introduced Viceroy, having a filter
comprised of a cylinder of folded paper rather than a
hollow tube with cotton. The use of CELLULOSE
ACETATE appears to have begun in the early 1950s
with the L&M brand. See also PLUG SPACE PLUG,

DUOLITE.
FILTER EFFICIENCY

The percentage of the incoming smoke or smoke

component that is removed by a filter. Fraction of the
tar or nicotine that gets trapped in the filter rather than
passing out the mouth end.

FILTER TOW

A bundle of continuous filaments used to produce

cigarette filters, commonly made of cellulose acetate.
See TOW.

FIRMNESS

A measure of the resistance of radial deformation of a

cigarette, expressed in counts. Ability of a cigarette to
resist compression.

FLUE-CURED
TOBACCO

Commonly called BRIGHT or VIRGINIA tobacco.

There are 4 types: Old Belt Virginia & North Carolina
(#11), Eastern North Carolina (#12), South CarolinaNorth Carolina Border Belt (#13), and Georgia &
Florida (#14). Flue-cured tobacco is lemon or orangeyellow in color. Flue-cured tobacco possesses a sweet
aroma and slightly acidic taste. It is high in sugar
content and low to average in nitrogenous materials,
acids and nicotine. It blends well with BURLEY and
MARYLAND tobaccos because its sugar content
smooths and neutralizes the smoke.

FOAMED TOBACCO
SHEET

A tobacco or NON-TOBACCO SMOKING MATERIAL

sheet that has been foamed (e.g. with Methocel ) by
the introduction of air or vapor into the slurry during the
casting process to give it a lower density; one of the
methods of increasing the FILLING POWER of
tobacco.

FREE AMINO ACIDS

In tobacco, amino acids that are not tied up in peptides

or proteins.

FREEZE-DRIED
TOBACCO

Tobacco that has been wet with water, frozen, and

dried in a vacuum chamber, resulting in expansion of
the cells. See also EXPANSION.

FUMIGATION

1.
2.
3.

GAS PHASE

The process of FIRE-CURING LATAKIA tobacco.

See also CURING, LATAKIA.
The treatment of stored tobacco with any of a
variety of agents to inhibit insect infestation.
The treatment of seedbeds prior to sowing
tobacco seed to produce young tobacco plants for
the field.

The phase of cigarette smoke which passes through a

CAMBRIDGE FILTER under standard smoking
conditions, consists of permanent gases and vapors,
including oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon
dioxide, methane, ethane, butane, low boiling
hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, carbonyls, etc. Also

called VAPOR PHASE.

GREEN LEAF

1.
2.

Leaf before it has been aged

Leaf that has been harvested before it was ripe.
Such leaf is sour, immature, and hay-like.

HOGSHEAD

A large wooden cask traditionally used for storing and

ageing tobacco. Usually contains about 1000 pounds
of flue-cured or 950 pounds of burley tobacco.

HOMOGENIZED LEAF
CURING

An accelerated process for curing tobacco which

affects the acquired chemical changes in a
homogenized slurry instead of in the intact whole leaf.
The slurry is then RECONSTITUTED into sheet form
for commercial use. The procedures involved are
homogenization, incubation and dehydration.

HUMECTANT

Substance having an affinity for water, with stabilizing

action on the water content of a material; keeps within
a narrow range the moisture content caused by
humidity fluctuations; used in treating tobacco. See
also HYGROSCOPIC AGENT

HYGROSCOPIC AGENT

HUMECTANT; ingredient added to tobacco to help it

retain moisture and plasticity. The first such agent was
glycerin, dating from the 1890s.

LATAKIA

A Syrian tobacco known for its very pungent aroma

MAINSTREAM

In a closed system (for analytical purposes)

mainstream is the smoke issuing from the mouth end
of a cigarette. In a free smoking situation, it is the
smoke that is drawn from the mouth end of a cigarette
during puffing.

MARYLAND TOBACCO

A light AIR-CURED tobacco, named after the state of

Maryland. Maryland tobacco is similar to BURLEY but
somewhat milder and lighter in taste. It is low in
carbohydrates and nicotine and average in
nitrogenous materials and nonvolatile acids.

MAXWELL REPORT

Successor to the Wooten Report; an annual statistical

report on the domestic cigarette industry. Maxwells
published summaries began in 1964 in Printers Ink. In
1964 as well in World Tobacco he published his first
annual international survey of the cigarette industry,
sometimes referred to as the MAXWELL
INTERNATIONAL REPORT.

MENTHOL

C10H20O; 3-hydroxymenthane; peppermint camphor.

Colorless crystals obtained mainly from oil of Mentha
arvensis or from other mint oils (eg. from Mentha
piperita), or prepared synthetically from thymol or

turpentine derivatives. Both the dl- and l-menthols may

be prepared synthetically, only the l-menthol is found
in nature. While both forms smell and taste like mint,
the dl-menthol has more of a camphor-like odor. The
first menthol cigarette on the U.S. market was Spud,
introduced in 1927 by the Axton Fisher Tobacco Co.
MENTHOLATION

Process of adding MENTHOL to cut tobacco.

MENTHOL MIX

Blended tobacco of insufficient volume to identify by

brand, also from accidental mixing.

METHOPRENE

A biorational (nature-identical) substance used for pest

control with a broad base of agricultural commodities,
including tobacco; the active ingredient in Kabat
(Altosid).

NAVY CUT

Refers to the days when British sailors were allowed to

purchase unmanufactured, duty-free tobacco leaf.
They formed it into a cigar-like roll and bound it tightly
with a thin cord. As tobacco was required, the rope
was unwound and the pressed, solid plug cut into
slices.

NEUTRAL FRACTION

The material which is recovered under standard

conditions after a solution of CIGARETTE SMOKE
CONDENSATE or of tobacco has been extracted with
aqueous acid and alkali.

NICOTIANA

Genus to which tobacco belongs. There are three

subgenera petunioides, rustico, and tabacum and
over 100 species and groups, not to mention
subgroups, and varieties. The most well-known
species is N. tabacum Linnaeus, an amphidiploid
which has never been found growing in a truly wild
state.

NICOTINE

C10H14N2; 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-pyridine. One of

the few liquid alkaloids; a colorless to pale yellow
liquid, found in tobacco leaves and smoke, which turns
brown on exposure to light or air. First isolated from
smoke in 1809 by L. Vaqueline, nicotine is the most
abundant alkaloid found in tobacco.

NONTOBACCO
SMOKING MATERIAL

A cigarette filler composed of a material other than

natural tobacco. The basic organic plant constituent
cellulose is the most common nontobacco filler.
However, more complex substances have also been
used, as well as some man-made materials.
Reference can be found to the following vegetablebased substances: rhubarb, plantain, coltsfoot, selfheal, comfrey, stinging nettle, watercress, groundsel,
oxtongue, beet, mallow, poppy leaves, sage, walnut,
cherry, red beech, hornbeam, maple, hazlenut,
goldenregen, prickly broom, eucalyptus, bagasse,
lettuce, peanut, soybean, potato, corn, yarn, taro, and

cocoa, as well as paper and seaweed. The first

nontobacco cigarette was Cubebs, made from Java
pepper plant leaves, and marketed in the 1920s. See
also SYNTHETIC TOBACCO, TOBACCO
EXTENDER, CYTREL.
ORIENTAL TOBACCO

A class of tobaccos grown in Turkey, Greece, and

neighboring areas. It is mostly SUN CURED. Also
known as Turkish, aromatic, or Greek tobacco.
Oriental tobacco has a strong characteristic flavor. It is
low in nicotine, average in structural carbohydrates
and nitrogenous materials, and high in reducing
sugars, nonvolatile acids, and volatile flavor oils.

PAPIROSSI

aka PAPIROSSY. A cigarette which allows the

smoke to pass through a hollow cardboard tube before
being drawn in by the smoker. The tobacco is so
densely packed that often the papirossi will not stay lit
without the action of puffing. Papirossi are favored by
Russia and other Slavic countries.

PARTICULATE PHASE

The phase of cigarette smoke retained on a

CAMBRIDGE FILTER pad during standard smoking
conditions; consists of solids and condensed droplets
in suspension ranging mostly in size from 0.2 to 0.4
micron, having a maximum size of 1.0-1.5 micron.

PEAK COAL
TEMPERATURE

The maximum temperature measured during a single

puff at any location in the burning zone. See also
BURNING ZONE TEMPERATURE.

PERFORATION

Of cigarette or tipping paper, increases both the AIR

PERMEABILITY of the paper and the AIR DILUTION
of the cigarette. MECHANICAL PERFORATION: the
paper is mechanically perforated in the form of round
holes, slits or embossing. ELECTROSTATIC
PERFORATION: the paper is perforated by electrical
discharges bringing about irregular holes. LASER
PERFORATION: the paper is perforated by a laser
beam causing tear-drop shaped holes.

PERIQUE

A tobacco (Type #72) grown only in St. James Parish,

Louisiana. It is noted for its pleasing aroma and is
used especially in fancy pipe tobacco blends. Perique
is produced by a unique process of packing the dried
leaves in casks under great pressure for about 9
months. Annual production averages 250 thousand
pounds, a large portion of which is exported.

pH

Measure of acidity or basicity.

PLASTICITY

Inherent ability of a material to be molded or formed.

PLASTICIZER

1.

2.

For CELLULOSE ACETATE, a softening agent

added in small quantities to the TOW to tack the
fibers together at points where the filaments cross
each other, usually TRIACETIN or TRIETHYLENE
GLYCOL DIACETATE. A weak solvent which
softens the fiber surfaces so that bonds may form
wherever fibers touch. Increases firmness of filter
rods.
For tobacco, see HYGROSCOPIC AGENTS

PLUG

A segment of FILTER material. Also called a PLUG

ROD.

PLUG MAKER

A FILTER making machine. Filters are manufactured

in continuous lengths sufficient for 4 or 6 cigarettes.
Added filter materials or recessed filter tips are
handled in subsequent steps on COMBINERS. The
plug rods are transported to the cigarette ROD
MAKER in trays or by pneumatic conveyor.

PLUG SPACE PLUG

A FILTER consisting of two plugs of filter material

separated by a cavity which may be left empty or into
which may be placed any of the substances capable of
contributing to filtration efficiency. Also called a cavity
filter.

PLUG WRAP

The wrapper in which the FILTER material, e.g.,

CELLULOSE ACETATE, is contained. See also
CIGARETTE PAPER.

POROSITY

1.

2.

Of CIGARETTE PAPER, a measure of air

permeability expressed as the time taken for a
given volume of air to pass through a given area
of paper; the number of cc of air which under a
constant or variable suction will pass through a
certain surface area of paper in a given time.
Porosity measurements are usually reported in
Greiner numbers which refer to the time in
seconds required for 50 cc of air to pass through
0.786 square inches of paper. The higher the
Greiner number, the lower the porosity of the
paper.
Of leaf, its ability to absorb moisture, casings, and
flavors. Porous tobacco has an open grained
surface.

PRESSURE DROP

The change in pressure in a mass of flowing fluid as it

flows through a resisting element (such as a filter or
tobacco column). See RESISTANCE TO DRAW

PRIMARY
PROCESSING

That portion of a cigarette plant that deals with the

preparation, blending, and flavoring of tobacco prior to
cigarette making. Sometimes called the prefabrication
area.

PROTEIN

Naturally occurring complex combination of amino

acids essential to all living cells.

PUFF COUNT

The number of puffs taken on a cigarette smoked to a

prescribed butt length under standard smoking
conditions.

PUFF DURATION

The fixed time lapse for a 35 cc draw on a cigarette.

The puff duration is standardized at 2.0 + 0.2 sec.

PUFF FLOW RATE

See PUFF VELOCITY

PUFF FREQUENCY

The number of puffs per unit of time on a smoking

machine. The puff frequency is standardized at 1 puff
per 60 1 sec.

PUFF NUMBER

A whole number which describes a given puff on a

cigarette in terms of the total number of puffs taken on
that cigarette. Puff number is sometimes incorrectly
used as a synonym for PUFF COUNT.

PUFF PROFILE

A graphic representation of the volume rate of flow of a

35 cc puff over a 2 sec duration on a SMOKING
MACHINE. The puff profile is a velocity/time curve and
will vary as functions of the cigarettes RESISTANCE
TO DRAW and the applied drawing force. PUFF-BYPUFF PROFILE: a graphic representation (over the
entire cigarette) of any smoke component on a per puff
basis.

PUFF RESISTANCE

See RESISTANCE TO DRAW.

PUFF VELOCITY

The velocity of a 35 cc puff in a 2 sec duration on a

SMOKING MACHINE. The puff velocity is
standardized at 1050 cc/min air flow. Also called PUFF
FLOW RATE, which is standardized at 35 cc/2 sec =
17.5 cc/sec.

PUFF VOLUME

The volume of smoke taken from the end of a cigarette

during one puff by a SMOKING MACHINE. The puff
volume is standardized at 35 0.3 cc (CORESTA 20
C and 760 torr)

PUFFABILITY

See RESISTANCE TO DRAW.

PUFFED TOBACCO

Expanded tobacco; tobacco whose particle size has

been increased by a combination of heat, high
pressure differential processing, and a puffing agent; a
means of expanding tobacco. See also EXPANSION.

PYROLYSIS

The thermal degradation of chemical species, usually

to smaller fragments. See also COMBUSTION.

PYROLYSIS ZONE

The area behind the BURNING ZONE where thermal

decomposition, rather than burning takes place as
indicated by a high concentration of carbon monoxide
and low concentration of oxygen.

PYROSYNTHESIS

The recombination of fragments resulting from

PYROLYSIS, to form new smoke components. See
alseo PYROLYSIS, COMBUSTION.

QUALITY

Of tobacco as a raw material, there are two

considerations: it must be pleasant to smoke and to
look at, and it must possess characteristics favoring
high manufacturing capacity. Tobacco quality is
composed of three major components:
1. PHYSICAL CRITERIA: stalk position, ripeness
and maturity, uniformity, foreign matter, strip yield
and size, filling power.
2. CHEMICAL CRITERIA: nicotine, sugar, petroleum
ether extracts, mineral components, alkalinity of
water-soluble ash, total nitrogen, protein nitrogen,
-amino nitrogen, starch, nonvolatile acids, total
volatile bases.
3. SMOKE FLAVOR CRITERIA: strength, aroma,
mildness, and sharpness of smoking taste and
odor.
Also: Bruckner Quality Index, Pyriki Quality Index,
Shmuk Quality Index, Trifu Number.

RECONSTITUTED
TOBACCO

Tobacco dust, stems, by-products, etc. that are finely

ground, that may be mixed with a cohesive agent, and
that are rolled or cast into a flat sheet of uniform
thickness and quality. The sheet may be cut into any
size shreds. The five basic sheet processes are: dustimpingement process, tobacco slurry process,
impregnation-of-web process, paper process, and
extrusion process. Reconstituted leaf is not a new
idea, having been suggested as early as 1857. It is
alternately known as homogenized tobacco;
regenerated tobacco.

REDUCING SUGARS

Those sugars that have either an aldo or keto group

that reduces copper oxide.

REDUCTION OF
CONDENSATE AND
NICOTINE

RCN. See NONTOBACCO SMOKING MATERIAL.

RESISTANCE TO
DRAW

RTD. The pressure required to force air through the

full length of a cigarette at the rate of 17.5 ml/sec (20
C, 760 torr); this value is expressed as inches or mm
of water. Resistance to draw often is referred to as
PRESSURE DROP, DRAFT RESISTANCE, DRAW
RESISTANCE, PUFFABILITY, and PUFF
RESISTANCE.

RIPENING AGENTS

A chemical which promotes yellowing of tobacco

leaves after maximum dry weight has been reached.
Generally achieved with ethylene gas, either released
in the barn after harvesting or in the field through
application of an agent such as ETHREL.

ROLL-YOUR-OWN

A homemade cigarette prepared by wrapping loose

tobacco in a piece of specially purchased cigarette
paper and moistening the longitudinal side to seal it
during smoking. See also: TUBING

SAUCE

Flavoring, CASING

SEITA

Service dExploitation Industrielle des Tabacs et

Allumettes, a French cigarette and tobacco research
organization.

SEMIVOLATILES

Liquids or solids of high vapor pressure in the

PARTICULATE PHASE of tobacco smoke that are
relatively volatile by gas chromatography; may include
STEAM VOLATILES. Semivolatiles are a large class
of materials that can be subject to selective filtration.

SIDESTREAM

In a closed smoking system (for analytical purposes),

sidestream is the smoke that does not issue from the
mouth end of a cigarette but rather from the burning
end, through the paper, etc. In a free smoking
situation, it is all of the smoke issuing from any part of
a cigarette except that which is drawn through the
mouth end during puffing. In free smoking, sidestream
may issue from the mouth end during static burning.

SMOKE REMOVAL
EFFICIENCY

The weighable material captured by the FILTER

divided by the total weighable material entering the
FILTER under a standard smoking routine. Removal
efficiency for standard CELLULOSE ACETATE filters
can be affected by filter length, pressure drop,
circumference, and fiber DENIER. See empirical
equation below, which relates some of these variables.
See also: FILTER EFFICIENCY.
4

loge(1-E/100) = A*L + B*P*C + D*L/ ; where E =

removal efficiency (smoke, nicotine, tar), L = filter
length in mm; P = filter PRESSURE DROP in mm
H2O at 17.5 ml/sec flow; C = filter circumference in
mm; = fiber DENIER per filament in g. A, B, D =
constants from table below:
A
B
D
-2
-9
-2
Smoke -1.542*10
-9.602*10 -2.102*10
Nicotine -3.822*10-3
-1.048*10-8 -1.824*10-2
-3
-9
-2
Tar
-9.957*10
-8.517*10
-2.587*10
SMOKE YIELD

MAINSTREAM smoke; the quantity of particulate

matter per gram of tobacco consumed.

SMOKING MACHINE

A mechanical device allowing reproducible cigarette

smoking under standard conditions in a manner
designed to approximate human smoking behavior.
AUTOMATIC SMOKING MACHINE: any type of
restricted smoking machine capable of taking a 2second 35 cc puff once per minute on each channel
independently. Restricted means that the unlit ends of
the cigarettes are not open to the atmosphere between
puffs.

SOFTENING

The decrease in volume of a selected segment of a

burning cigarette rod after a given pressure has been
applied for a specific length of time. The softening
index as described by Harris and Fredrickson
[Tobacco, Vol. 177, #17 (22 August 1973), p. 45] is:
Softening Index = [{V(n) - V(unlit)}/ V(unlit)]*100;
where V(unlit) = the decrease in volume of the unlit
tobacco rod; V(n) = the decrease in volume of the
tobacco rod as measured 15 seconds following the
puff necessary to consume n mm of the tobacco rod; n
= the segment of the rod consumed in mm (usually 40
for the purposes of this test)

SPECIFIC HEAT

The number of calories required to raise the

temperature of 1 g of material by 1 C.

SPECIFIC VOLUME

The envelope volume of a predetermined amount of

tobacco divided by the weight of the tobacco; cc/g.

STATIC BURNING
RATE

The relationship of a unit of length and/or weight of

tobacco burned statically per unit of time; the amount
of time required for a CIGARETTE ROD to burn 40
mm under static conditions; the rate at which a
cigarette smoulders in the absence of drafts or puffing
action. The static burning rate affects the production of
SIDESTREAM smoke. It is expressed as sec/cm2 or
as mg of tobacco burned/min.

STEAM VOLATILES

Liquids or solids in the PARTICULATE PHASE of

tobacco smoke (or in tobacco) that distil over in the
presence of steam; may be SEMIVOLATILES.

STIFFENING

A process for increasing the FILLING POWER or

cylinder volume of cut and/or expanded tobacco; a
procedure resulting in the loss of a certain degree of
elasticity of the cell wall, brought about by the addition
of chemicals or by treatment to modify the softening
effect of water.

SYNTHETIC TOBACCO

Oftentimes used synonymously with NONTOBACCO

SMOKING MATERIAL, synthetic tobacco more strictly
implies a nontobacco filler composed of a man-made
material. See also NON-TOBACCO SMOKING

MATERIAL, TOBACCO EXTENDER.

TCRC

TOBACCO CHEMISTS RESEARCH CONFERENCE.

An annual convention of tobacco chemists.
Summaries of papers presented and a number of the
full papers are in the Brown & Williamson Research
Library.

TPM

TOTAL PARTICULATE MATTER.

TAR

FTC tar is TOTAL PARTICULATE MATTER minus the

nicotine and water content.

TIPPING

Removing the top portion of the tobacco leaf that does

not contain objectionable STEM; the remaining portion
of the leaf is threshed. FLUE-CURED tobacco often is
not tipped.

TIPPING PAPER

Paper (usually cork-like or opaque white in

appearance) that is wrapped around the FILTER,
joining it to the end of the CIGARETTE ROD.

TIPS

The top-most leaves on a BURLEY plant; the next-tothe-top leaves on a FLUE-CURED plant. Tips have the
highest TOTAL PARTICULATE MATTER (TPM)
delivery and the lowest FILLING POWER and drinking
quality of all plant positions. See also BURLEY, FLUECURED.

TOBACCO CHEMISTS
RESEARCH
CONFERENCE

TCRC. An annual meeting where papers on progress

in the scientific and technical aspects of the tobacco
industry are presented. The meeting is held in the
autumn at a non-profit-making institution, e.g. a
university, and co-sponsored by one of the cigarette
manufacturers.

TOBACCO CLASS

One of the major divisions of tobacco leaf.

Class 1: Flue-cured tobacco
Class 2: Fire-cured tobacco
Class 3: air-cured tobacco
Class 4: Cigar filler tobacco
Class 5: Cigar binder tobacco
Class 6: Cigar wrapper tobacco
Class 7: Miscellaneous tobaccos
Class 8: Foreign tobaccos

TOBACCO EXTENDER

A nontobacco material, natural or synthetic, that is

blended with tobacco in the making of smoking
products to produce any of a number of desired
effects, e.g. cost savings, alteration of smoke
constituents, reduction of tar delivery, improvement of
physical characteristics of the products, etc. Also
referred to as a tobacco supplement. See also
NONTOBACCO SMOKING MATERIAL, SYNTHETIC

TOBACCO.
TOBACCO FOIL

A sheet of RECONSTITUTED TOBACCO.

TOBACCO SHEET

1.
2.

TOBACCO
SUBSTITUTE

See: NONTOBACCO SMOKING MATERIAL

TOBACCO
SUPPLEMENT

See TOBACCO EXTENDER

TOP FLAVORINGS

Volatile aromatic flavors applied to cut tobacco after

final drying, usually applied in the COOLER. See also
CASING.

TOPPING

Removing blossoms and sometimes top leaves of

tobacco plants; tends to increase size, thickness,
body, and nicotine content of the leaves.

TOTAL PARTICULATE
MATTER

TPM. That portion of smoke which is collected on a

CAMBRIDGE FILTER. Tso et al have suggested the
following formula as a means of predicting the TPM
content of smoke based on certain leaf characteristics
of FLUE-CURED tobaccos: TPM (mg/cig) = 170.16504
(constant) + 17.62296 * total polyphenols (%)
17.00079 * total phytosterols (mg/g) + 50.87225 * pH
value 5.22681 * sugar (%) 0.22681 * trichome
(within 3 mm diameter) + 16.5053 * leaf thickness +
92.31470 * total nitrogen 55.31998 * potassium (%)
8.09804 * lipid residue (%) 0.18060 * oxalate
(meq/g) 81.77171 * malate (meq/g) 2.64672 *
cellulose (%). From T.C. Tsos Physiology and
Biochemistry of Tobacco Plants.

TOW

CELLULOSE ACETATE processed into bundle form

for use in FILTER making.

TOW BUG

European name for the cigarette beetle.

TRANSFER
EFFICIENCY

The degree to which chemical constituents of tobacco

are driven from tobacco into tobacco smoke by
volatilization, sublimation, or entrapment. (Below)
indicates some typical transfer efficiencies for both
natural tobacco components and for tobacco additives.
The data are based on the amount of component
delivered in MAINSTREAM smoke as a function of the
amount present in the tobacco consumed during the
puff. Also called transfer rate, transference rate.

RECONSTITUTED TOBACCO
2. A burlap sheet used on the warehouse floor
during marketing.

Compound
Menthol
Nicotine

Boiling Point
212 C
245 C

%Transfer(aprox*)
39
24

Glycerol
d.290 C
22
Neophytadiene 284 C
20
Nornicotine
270 C
8
Dotriacontane
467 C
30
Solanesol
(MP) 41.5 C
3
*Based on content in tobacco consumed.
TRIACETIN

Glycerol triacetate; PLASTICIZER for CELLULOSE

ACETATE fibers in cigarette filters.

TRIETHYLENE GLYCOL
DIACETATE

TECDA. PLASTICIZER for CELLULOSE ACETATE

fibers in cigarette filters.

TUBING

A roll-your-own concept in which the smoker buys

empty tubes of paper and makes his own cigarettes by
filling them with tobacco himself using a special
gadget. See also ROLL-YOUR-OWN.

UNIVERSITY OF
KENTUCKY
REFERENCE
CIGARETTES

Standard reference cigarettes used for biological

testing and smoke chemistry studies. Coded 1R1 (first
run) and 2R1 (current run), they were developed by
the University of Kentucky and are for sale to
laboratories by them. At 12% moisture the reference
cigarette contains: 40.1% Flue-cured lamina, 14.2%
Flue-cured stem, 24.9% Burley lamina, 11.6% Turkish
(whole leaf), 1.1% Maryland lamina, 2.8% glycerin,
5.3% invert sucrose. All physical characteristics were
determined in consultation with various cigarette
manufacturers.

VAPOR PHASE

See GAS PHASE.

VENTILATION

See AIR DILUTION. See also DEGREE OF

VENTILATION.

VIRGINIA TOBACCO

A general reference to FLUE-CURED tobacco grown

anywhere in the world. BRIGHT tobacco.

WHOLE SMOKE
CONDENSATE

WSC. See CIGARETTE SMOKE CONDENSATE.

WHOLE TAR

TAR, including water and nicotine.

YIELD

1.
2.
3.

The relationship between PRESSURE DROP and

weight of TOW in a filter.
The weight of cured tobacco produced per unit of
land; in the U.S., commonly lbs/acre.
The weight of tobacco after the redrying and
green leaf threshing processes. The ratio of strip
to stem, and the percentage of loss by way of
dust, sand, lint, etc, are both of prime
consideration.

SOURCES:
These definitions are direct citations from tobacco industry documents, including:
Dictionary of Tobacco Terminology, M. Z. DeBardeleben (1987) Philip Morris document ID:
2054432502/2628; Glossary/Acronyms List, C.S. Lincoln (1987); Brown & Williamson document, pages
620411092-620411135;
Proceedings of the Smoking Behavior Marketing Conference 84709-840712 (1984), B&W document ID
588065; RJR document ID 511331024-1028 dated 1993.