Investigating Tobacco Sucrose Esters Using Liquid Chromatographic Techniques
Scientists from Zhejiang, China recently conducted experiments meant to properly characterize sucrose ester isomers from tobacco samples.
In a new study published in the Journal of Separation Science, scientists from Zhejiang, China conducted experiments to properly characterize sucrose ester isomers from tobacco samples.
opened package of tobacco on wooden surface | Image Credit: © zadveri - stock.adobe.com
Sucrose esters (SEs) play a large role in tobacco’s functionality due to its nature as smoke flavor precursors. However, the structures of SEs are complex, making it difficult to separate and analyze SEs in tobacco, which can be especially problematic with massive SE structures. The scientists obtained fractions enriched SEs from oriental and flue-cured tobacco samples, which were obtained through a series of pretreatments. Two types of SEs (Types I and II) were identified via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis, with Type II SEs being newly characterized in tobacco samples.
Five types of SEs were purified with preparative high-performance LC (HPLC) coupled to an evaporative light scattering detector. Their structures were characterized using a variety of nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry techniques, such as heteronuclear single quantum correlation and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation. This combination led to the proposal of the structures of eight SE isomers, four of which were newly identified. Researchers were empowered by the results, believing the findings to help further their understanding of SE structural diversity in tobacco.
Reference
(1) Zhu, J.; Yuan, K.; Xie, Y.; Liu, H.; Sun, C.; Feng, H.; Li, Q.; Pan, Y. Separation, identification, and structural characterization of sucrose ester isomers from tobacco. J. Sep. Sci. 2023, 2300415. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jssc.202300415
Emerging Trends and Challenges in Detecting Residues and Contaminants in Food in the Exposome Era
June 18th 2025This article describes the analytical challenges of chemical exposomics in food safety. The need for high-throughput, multi-platform approaches—such as LC–HRMS and GC–HRMS with IMS—to capture the full spectrum of potential contaminants in our food supply is emphasised.
New Research Explores Role of Nucleotide Hydrophobicity in Oligonucleotide Separation
June 18th 2025Researchers from Waters and Biospring studied the contribution of nucleotide type and modifications on the retention and resolution of 22–24 nt long oligonucleotides in different chromatographic methods.
A Life Measured in Peaks: Honoring Alan George Marshall (1944–2025)
June 18th 2025A pioneer of FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry, Alan G. Marshall (1944–2025), is best known for co-inventing Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), a transformative technique that enabled ultrahigh-resolution analysis of complex mixtures. Over a career spanning more than five decades at institutions like the University of British Columbia, The Ohio State University, and Florida State University, he published over 650 peer-reviewed papers and mentored more than 150 scientists. Marshall’s work profoundly impacted fields ranging from astrobiology to petroleomics and earned him numerous prestigious awards and fellowships. Revered for his intellect, mentorship, and dedication to science, he leaves behind a legacy that continues to shape modern mass spectrometry.
