This International Standard specifies a method for the spectrometric determination of alkaloids in cigarette smoke condensates. The smoking of cigarettes and collection of mainstream smoke are normally carried out in accordance with ISO 4387. However, this method is also applicable to the determination of nicotine in cigarette smoke condensates obtained by non-standard smoking.
NOTE 1 ISO 4387 specifies the use of gas-chromatography for the determination of nicotine in smoke condensate solutions (see also ISO 10315). In countries that are not in a position to use the gas-chromatographic method, the determination of nicotine in smoke condensate should be performed by the method described in this International Standard and an appropriate note made in the expression of results.
This International Standard determines total alkaloids, whereas ISO 10315 determines only nicotine by virtue of the gas-chromatographic separation. Occasionally, differences can occur because of minor amounts of alkaloids other than nicotine in some types of tobacco.