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

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. T he solid sample is directly placed, with minimal pre treatment, in the memb rane unit and the nicotine released from the sample passes through the memb rane (polypropylene/n-undecane) into an acidic acceptor stream. This stream flows through a spectrophotometric detector allowing the measurement of ni cotine 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. Th e method allows differentiating among different types of snuff depending on their nicotine content. The results of direct spectrophotometric measureme nts in the acceptor stream were checked against results obtained using gas chromatography. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.