Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate moisture sorption and desorption characteristics followed by tobacco type. Experiments were performed at various temperature(5, 15, 25, 40 $^{\circ}C$) and relative humidity range (11～84 %) controlled by saturated salt solution. Regression equation was obtained to predict equilibrium moisture according to various relative humidity, temperature and tobacco types. The obtained regression equation showed high $R^2$(above 0.95) and predicted accurate equilibrium moisture. Equilibrium moisture contents declines in the following order when a relative humidity is 50 % or above: expanded stem, flue-cured, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, USA flue-cured, orient, burley. To maintain 13 % moisture of each tobacco type in the range of 5～40 $^{\circ}C$ it is recommendable to control relative humidity 49～56 % for expanded stem, 50～57 % for flue-cured, 54～61 % for USA flue-cured, 56～60 % for reconstituted tobacco, 57～62 % for expanded tobacco, 58～64 % for orient and 58～65 % for burley, respectively. It means that the relative humidity of each tobacco type should be differently controlled to maintain the same moisture under the same temperature. In the range of 5～25 $^{\circ}C$, the lower temperature showed the higher equilibrium moisture content.