Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of major tobacco alkaloids

Polar and apolar columns were tested for the chromatographic analysis of tobacco alkaloids. Disadvantages of polar-based polyethylene glycol phases are reported, such as the adsorption of the nornicotine alkaloid and the occurrence of errors on quantitation of alkaloids due to the presence of interfering compounds in tobacco extracts. A chromatographic method using a new apolar base-modified phase was evaluated for the analysis of alkaloids in tobacco products. The nicotine and other major alkaloids were quantitated using two internal standards simultaneously.