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Bull. Spec. CORESTA Congress, Lisbon, 2000, p. 209, STPOST6

Investigation on the moisture absorption qualities of Bulgarian Oriental tobaccos from various origins

DRACHEV D.; LUDNEV I.
Inst. for Tobacco and Tobacco Products, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
The changes of the moisture absorption qualities were investigated and the isotherms of sorption for tobacco were determined for the following origins: Krumovgrad, Nevrokop, Harmanli, Melnik, East Balkan and Djebel. Investigations were conducted at 21°C and for relative air humidity (R.H.) values of 58, 68 and 80%.The following results were obtained:- the humidity at equilibrium of tobacco at 58% R.H. is as follows: origin Krumovgrad 11,9-14,4%; Nevrokop 11,8-12,6%; Harmanli 11,6-13,0%; Melnik 11,2-12,2%; East Balkan 12,7-12,8% and Djebel 12,5-12,9%. Under such humidity at equilibrium tobacco loses its flexibility and strength and becomes very breakable;- the humidity at equilibrium of tobacco at 68% R.H. is: origin Krumovgrad 15,9-17,2%; Nevrokop 15,8-16,5%; Harmanli 15,0-15,4%; Melnik 15,6-16,0%; East Balkan 16,1-16,5% and Djebel 15,4-16,9%. Tobacco has the optimal flexible properties under these conditions which appear to be conducive to its storage.- the humidity at equilibrium of tobacco at 80% R.H. is: origin Krumovgrad 21,7-23,0%; Nevrokop 21,4-22,0%; Harmanli 20,6-22,8%; Melnik 20,8-21,5%; East Balkan 21,4-22,9% and Djebel 22,3-22,7%. Under such values of humidity at equilibrium tobacco gets mouldy.