Gas Monitoring in Tobacco Processing

During the cigarette manufacturing process, tobacco leaves undergo a series of heat treatment stages—such as the re-humidification of loose tobacco leaves, the drying of shredded tobacco, and leaf beating and re-curing—during which a significant amount of chemical compounds are released from the tobacco leaves (see Figure 1). Current process parameters are primarily based on empirical observations; however, only through precise analysis of the gases released during heat treatment can the production line’s processes be further optimised, thereby enhancing product quality and advancing the digitisation and visualisation of production processes.

We have conducted detailed research into the compounds released during various cigarette processing stages and have obtained a wealth of data on the effects of temperature, humidity, flow velocity and other factors on these emissions (see Figure 2 below).

　　Figure 1: Cigarette manufacturing production line

Figure 2: Analysis of qualitative and simulation results for emissions from cigarette production