Characterization of Tobacco Stalk Ash

Abstract

During the preparation of ‘tuibur’, a non-cigarette tobacco product of Northeast India (NEI), tobacco ash generated from the tobacco stalk (stem, petiole, and midrib) is haphazardly dispersed into the soil. Powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis indicated the presence of calcite, potassium chloride, potassium aluminum silicate, magnesium calcite and calcium silicate hydrate crystallites in the tobacco ash. C, O, Mg, Al, Si, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, P and Hg species present at the surface of tobacco stalk ash were studied using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), in a complementary manner, indicated the content of selected heavy elements (essential and non-essential).Scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) revealed aggregates of sub-micronorganic tobacco ash particles along with inorganic nano-crystalline particles in the tobacco ash. Raman spectral features revealed the presence of calcite and aragonite, the polymorphs of calcium carbonate, in the tobacco stalk ash samples. Haphazard disposal of tobacco waste such as tobacco ash may lead to environmental degradation.