September 10, 2025ACS Omega0 citationsOpen Access
View Full PaperStability Evaluation Method and Application of Puff-by-Puff Release of Aerosol Constituents in Heated Tobacco Materials and Products
Key Points
- The novel stability index enhances puff-by-puff release evaluation and improves product quality.
- With a 10% relative deviation in release measurements, the stability index maintains a precision of 10.6%.
- The methodology includes a new algorithm for evaluating consistency across various heated tobacco products.
- This approach allows early identification of inconsistent formulations, streamlining heated tobacco product development.
Abstract
Puff-by-puff release stability is critical for heated tobacco product (HTP) quality and user experience, yet existing methods lack dynamic puff-by-puff evaluation. Here, we develop a novel stability index (SI) using the "modulus of the sum vector of two evaluation dimensions" algorithm to quantify puff-by-puff release consistency and interpuff variability. In addition, the algorithm has been validated through practical product applications. Compared with traditional methods, SI significantly enhances the differentiation and accuracy of stability evaluation. Under a 10% relative deviation in the release amount measurement, the deviation of the stability index (SI) is maintained at 10.6%, demonstrating precision. The SI is applicable to reconstituted tobacco sheets, HTP sticks, and final products, enabling quantitative stability assessment. As a key screening tool, it streamlines HTPs development by identifying inconsistent formulations early.