Analysis of solid samples using supported liquid membranes: a method for the evaluation of the release of nicotine from Swedish snuff Original Research Article

A method for the evaluation of the amount of nicotine released from Swedish snuff based on the use of supported liquid membranes has been developed. The solid sample is directly placed, with minimal pre-treatment, in the membrane unit and the nicotine released from the sample passes through the membrane (polypropylene/n-undecane) into an acidic acceptor stream. This stream flows through a spectrophotometric detector allowing the measurement of nicotine absorbance at 260 nm. The influence of pH on the release of nicotine from aqueous nicotine solutions as well as from snuff has been studied. The method allows differentiating among different types of snuff depending on their nicotine content. The results of direct spectrophotometric measurements in the acceptor stream were checked against results obtained using gas chromatography.