As a tobacco producer, Serbia has to deal with large amounts of leftover tobacco stalks after harvesting. One option for this type of biomass is to burn it, but burning is not encouraged in Serbia, ...since the levels of its combustion products have not been investigated yet. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the elemental composition, ash and nicotine content, heat values, and composition of gaseous combustion products of tobacco stalk briquettes and to see if their mixing with other types of biomass available in Serbia could improve their ecological profile. We made 11 different types of briquettes: six of pure raw materials, including burley tobacco stalks, sunflower head remains, wheat straw, corncob, soy straw, and beech sawdust and five by mixing tobacco stalks with these other raw materials in a 50:50 mass ratio. All briquettes meet the ecological criteria regarding the emission limits for nitrogen oxides (NO
), sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Nicotine content in flue gases (<10 mg/kg) is far below the maximum level allowed by the European Union. Heat values of all biomass samples are acceptable, although lower than those specified for solid biofuels (≥16.0 MJ/kg), save for corncob and beech sawdust and their mixtures with tobacco stalks. Our findings therefore encourage the use of tobacco stalks as a viable biofuel.
•The influence of the minerals complex in Virginia tobacco, from different production areas, on static burning rate (SBR) value was determined.•The most important factors for mineral matter content ...in tobacco leaves are soil pH, organic matter content in soil and vicinity of large industrial centers.•A very strong positive correlation between the content of Ca and Pb, a positive correlation of Mg and Na, and a strong negative correlation of Cd and both SBR values has been found.•It has been established a very strong positive correlation (r=0.88, p<0.01), between SBRl and SBRm values.
The aim of this study was to determine the influence of particular element of the minerals complex in Virginia tobacco, from different production areas, on value of static burning rate (SBR). Large leaf tobacco, type Virginia from five production areas in Serbia during year 2013, was used as a research material. Mineral content was determined by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Static burning rate was determined by the device Free Burning Rate Meter.
had confirmed that the most important factors for mineral matter content in tobacco leaves are soil pH, organic matter content in soil and vicinity of large industrial centers. A very strong positive correlation between the content of Ca and Pb, a positive correlation of Mg and Na, and a strong negative correlation of Cd and both SBR values has been found.
Virginia tobacco type grown at Senta area had the highest values for both speeds of combustion (4.99mm/min for SBRl and 69.97mg/min for SBRm). Virginia tobacco type grown at Sremska Mitrovica area had the lowest values for both speeds of combustion (3.95mm/min for SBRl and 49.11mg/min for SBRm).
The aim of this study was to examine the impact of three main tobacco types (flue-cured FC, air-cured AC and sun-cured SC) and two tobacco-based materials (reconstituted tobacco - recon RT and ...expanded stem) on the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) in the gas phase of mainstream cigarette smoke. The results showed that the type of tobacco examined had a significant impact on the amount of carbon monoxide production in the gas phase of cigarette smoke. AC and SC tobaccos had the most evident impact. The amount of tobacco in mixtures M1, M2 and M3 as well as the addition of expanded stems had an impact on the amount of CO formed in the cigarette smoke. There is weak correlation between CO content in the smoke and the chemical composition of the tobacco. Draw resistance had an impact on CO production. The research results are of great importance, since tobacco selection is the first step in the production of cigarettes with reduced emission of harmful elements contained in the smoke.
Filtration is one way of purification of tobacco smoke. The aim of this study was to examine the potential filtration effects of zeolites Y and ZSM-5, with different degree of crystallinity and in ...two modes of application (as a segment or as a powder added longitudinally with the filter fibers). Zeolites were added in the quantity of 60 mg. Degree of filter efficiency and sorption capacity has been determined in regard to several hazardous constituents of mainstream tobacco smoke such as: tar, carbon monoxide and nicotine. Composition of mainstream tobacco smoke was determined by using standard ISO methods. Experimental results showed that both, the type and the mode of the zeolite application affected the efficiency of smoke filtration. Zeolite Y, which was longitudinally applied to the filter, is shown to be the most effective. It was found 58.82% reduction of nicotine, 66.86% of tar and 86.24% of CO. During segmental application of zeolites, the blocking effect was observed.
Plants are autotrophic organisms which are able to use sunlight and carbon dioxide as the sources of energy and carbon. Plants’ roots absorb a range of natural and anthropogenic toxic compounds for ...which they have developed some extraordinary detoxification mechanisms. From this point of view, plants can be seen as natural, solar-powered pump-and-treat systems for cleaning up contaminated soils, leading further to the concept of phytoremediation. The phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) refers to the use of plants and associated soil microorganisms in terms of reducing the concentrations or toxic effects of these contaminants in the environment. Although there is little evidence to prove that PAHs from soils are accumulated considerably in plants’ parts, there is a lot of evidence that in soils vegetated with grasses and legumes, a significant dissipation of PAHs occurs. Namely, the primary mechanism controlling this process is the rhizospheric microbial degradation, where soil microbial populations use organic compounds as carbon substrates for its growth. This is usually stimulated by roots exudates. The final result of this process is the breakdown and eventual total mineralization of the contaminants. The main challenge in PAH phytoremediation is to improve the performances of plants and rhizospheric microorganisms requiring thus more basic research and knowledge on natural detoxification mechanisms.
Tobacco stalks are an under-utilized material that remains after the harvest of leaves. Given the share of large leaf tobacco in total production in Serbia (more than 85%) stalks could be easily ...available as well as payable raw material in the fabrication of cellulose. The aim of this study was to determine cellulose content in leaves and more importantly in stalks of large leaf tobacco and to provide necessary data to processors engaged in processing of biomass. Stalks and leaves of two types of tobacco, Burley and Virginia, reared in Srem (Serbia), were used as experimental material samples. Two parallel methods were applied for determining cellulose content: method by Kürschner-Hanack and method by Updegraff. It can be concluded that both methods are applicable to tobacco, but the method by Kürschner-Hanack was found to be simpler, more convenient, faster and economically more cost-effective. Thus, it should be recommended for use. Results showed that stalks of large leaf tobacco contain on average 30.50% to 34.30% of cellulose. There was no statistically significant difference in the cellulose content between the two applied methods. Given the number of plants that lag behind in fields after harvesting leaves, 28,000 tons of cellulose could be used.
This research was carried out to determine the possibility of total and selective reduction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content in cigarette smoke by applying different amounts of ...zeolite directly to the cigarette blend. Zeolite catalysts CuZSM-5 were applied in the form of suspension to the cut tobacco blend in the quantities of 1 and 3%. After the equalization of the blend, the cigarettes were rolled on the cigarette making machine type MOLINS-9. The cigarettes were smoked according to the standard of ISO 3308 procedure. The smoke condensate which was extracted from Cambridge filter with methanol was analyzed by gas chromatography-microscopy (GC-MS). The obtained results indicated that there is a possibility of effective and selective catalytic reduction of PAHs in tobacco cigarette smoke. The determined reduction degree for the PAHs was 35.78 to 40.88%. The decrease of PAHs was proportional to the quantity of the zeolite added. CuZSM-5 showed a certain selectivity, especially towards fluoranthene (reduction ratio was 55.25:77.96%) and acenaphthylene (reduction ratio was 42.39:71.15%). It is possible to apply zeolite in the form of suspension to factory-made cigarettes because it does not affect the operation of machinery, especially the work of a cigarette maker.
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