Moisture Sorption and Desorption Characteristics of Tobacco Types.

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.

담배종류별 흡습 및 방습 특성