REPORT Nicotine degradation test on samples of

Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica ed Elettrochimica
Messrs
GranitiFiandre S.p.A.
Via Radici Nord, 112
42014 Castellarano (RE)
Italy
REPORT
Nicotine degradation test on samples of
Orosei Active
Prof. C.L. Bianchi, Dr C. Pirola
Milan, 28 February 2012
Prof. Claudia L. Bianchi
Docente di Chimica Industriale e Impianti Chimici
[email protected]
Introduction
GranitiFiandre S.p.A. (Castellarano, Reggio Emilia) commissioned a series of tests to assess and
quantify the photocatalytic activity of some of its products (ceramic tiles) towards the
photodegradation of nicotine placed in direct contact with the material.
The degradation of nicotine in direct contact with the material under test is a mean to assess its
photocatalytic self-cleaning efficiency, i.e. the photodegradation of pollutant molecules placed
directly on the surface of the sample due to the combined action of the photocatalyst TiO2 and
light.
The test was performed by the team headed by Prof. C.L. Bianchi in the laboratories of the
University of Milan, Department of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry.
Nicotine
Nicotine is an organic compound, an alkaloid that is naturally
contained in the tobacco plant. Although present throughout
all the plant, it can be found in particularly high
concentrations in the leaves, which contain percentages of 0.3
- 5% by dry weight.
Nicotine
is
a
mind-altering
substance
[http://www.unitab.it/la_nicotina.htm]. Liquid in its pure
state, it turns brown in contact with the air.
It is a powerful neural poison. In low concentrations, the
substance acts as a stimulant in and is the main factor
responsible for the dependence-forming properties of tobacco
smoking.
Nicotine molecule
In small doses, nicotine is a stimulant: it increases activity, concentration and memory. It also
increases heart rate and blood pressure and reduces appetite. In high doses it causes nausea and
vomiting.
The current European directive 2001/37/EC, implemented in Italy by Legislative Decree no.
184/2003, sets the maximum nicotine content at 1 mg/cigarette.
Test System and Operating Procedure
The tile sample analysed, Orosei Active Iris Ceramica, referred to below as Orosei Active, was
sampled and cut to the necessary sizes (as described above) from an original tile randomly
withdrawn from a new, completely intact pack.
In order to allow a direct comparison, the test was also performed on a sample of laboratory
glass (soda-lime-silica glass).
Prof. Claudia L. Bianchi
Docente di Chimica Industriale e Impianti Chimici
[email protected]
The photoreactor is provided with a compartment to lodge a flat sample of 30x30 mm of surface,
disposed parallel with respect to the optical window. The window is specifically made in quartz,
a material that absorbs a minimal amount of light in the near-ultraviolet wavelengths.
Ambient light is simulated with a lamp above the reactor, which emits light in the UV-A region
with power of 20 W/cm2.
Once the sample was positioned in the photoreactor, 5 µl of pure nicotine (equivalent to 5 mg,
or the mean nicotine content of 5 cigarettes) (produced by Sigma Aldrich, purity > 99%) was
placed on it, and then continually irradiated for 6 hours.
The sample was then washed with a known amount (10 ml) of double distilled water to remove
the undecomposed nicotine; the water collected was analysed using a UV-vis spectrophotometer,
monitoring the typical nicotine molecule absorption peak at 261 nm.
Data Obtained
Nicotine
VNicotine
Degradation
(mg)
(µl)
(%)
Glass
5
5
11.9*
Orosei Active
5
5
80.6
*in this case the degradation is due to the effect of light only (photolysis)
Conclusions
The sample OROSEI ACTIVE was found to be active in the photocatalytic degradation of the
nicotine in contact with the surface of the material.
Prof. Claudia L. Bianchi
Principal Investigator
Prof. Claudia L. Bianchi
Docente di Chimica Industriale e Impianti Chimici
[email protected]