Analytical Sciences

Multivariate Classification of Cigarettes According to Their Elemental Content Determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry

Carla C. CRISPINO,*^1,*² Kelly G. FERNANDES,*^1,*² Marcos Y. KAMOGAWA,*⁴ Joaquim A. NÓBREGA,*¹ Ana Rita A. NOGUEIRA,*² and Márcia M. C. FERREIRA*³

*1 Grupo de Análise Instrumental Aplicada, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos SP, Brazil
*2 Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste, P. O. Box 339, 13560-970, São Carlos SP, Brazil
*3 Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas SP, Brazil
*4 Universidade de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Piracicaba SP, Brazil

In this paper we describe our study on the characterization of cigarette samples according to their mineral content. Acid digestion assisted by microwaves was employed, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was the analytical technique used for the determination of Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P and Sr in conventional, light, and flavorized cigarettes. Multivariate techniques, such as hierarchical clusters analysis (HCA) and principal-component analysis (PCA), were applied to discriminate among different types of cigarettes. Cluster analysis and principal-component analysis showed differences in cigarettes according to the type and mineral composition. The cigarette samples were divided within the 3 groups according to their mineral composition. Ca, Sr, Cu, K and Na were the most important elements for cigarette classification, and only these 5 variables were sufficient for the classification and discrimination of the evaluated types of cigarettes.

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