Abstract
The moisture sorption and desorption isotherms of various tobaccos were obtained over a relative humidity range from 0 to 90% at $20^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$. The hysteresis effect, constant and rate of moisture sorption and desorption, monomolecular-layer moisture content, and specific surface area were analyzed from the obtained data. The moisture sorption and desorption isotherms showed a different characteristics for different tobacco varieties. At a lower humidity range below 50% RH, Burley tobacco had higher moisture sorption and desorption figures than Hicks and Basma, while, at a higher humidity range above 50% RH, Hicks had higher values than the others. The hysteresis effect of tobacco were greater in an intermediate humidity range (40-70% RN), and Basma showed a greater effect than the others. The sorption and desorption constant (K) increased with temperature, but decreased with RH, and Burley tobacco had larger K values, while Hicks had smaller K values than others. The sorption and desorption rate of Burley tobacco were greater than the other tobaccos. The monomolecular-layer moisture was 27.8 and 51.4mg/g, and the specific surface was 101 and $186m^2/g$, for Basma and Burley, respectively.