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. 2026 Feb 17;14:1755255. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2026.1755255

TABLE 5.

Relative intensity ratio (RIR), direct transfer efficiency (DTE), and precursor contribution index (PCI) quantitative analysis.

Index Avg (SBSE) Avg (PY) Avg (Smokiness) DTE (Smk/SBSE) RIR (Smk/SBSE) RIR (Smk/PY) PCI (PY/Smk) Notes
1,2,3-Propanetriol, 1-acetate 0.0709 0 26.54 374.3 374.3 0 High-efficiency release, no thermogenesis
2-Propanone, 1-hydroxy- 0 2.36 14.32 6.07 0.165 Complete thermogenesis, partial entry into flue gas
3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol 0.071 0 0.0438 0.617 0.617 0 Present in leaves but limited release
Acetic acid 0.0033 1.22 12.86 3,897 3,897 10.54 0.095 Extremely enriched in flue gas, primarily thermogenic
Butanoic acid, 2-methyl- 0.014 0 0.2209 15.78 15.78 0 Primordial release type
Butanoic acid, 3-methyl- 0.0319 0 0.5362 16.8 16.8 0 Primordial release type
Glycidol 0.0466 0 13.17 282.6 282.6 0 High-efficiency release, non-thermogenic
Hydroxylamine 0.0493 0 16.93 343.4 343.4 0 High-efficiency release, non-thermogenic
Neophytadiene 35.12 1.26 15.44 0.439 0.439 12.25 0.0816 High in-situ, low transfer, weak thermogenesis
Phenol 0.1435 1.1812 2.221 15.48 15.48 1.88 0.532 Significant thermogenesis + high-efficiency release
Pyrazine, methyl- 0.0481 0 1.939 40.31 40.31 0 High release efficiency, thermal generation
Pyrazine, 2,6-dimethyl- 0.0466 0 2.463 52.85 52.85 0 High release efficiency, thermal generation
Pyrazine, 2-ethyl-5-methyl- 0.0305 0 0.2839 9.31 9.31 0 High release efficiency, thermal generation
Pyridine, 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-, (S)- 355.15 20.87 653.89 1.84 1.84 31.33 0.0319 Primarily from primary release, minor thermal generation
Pyridine, 3-(3,4-dihydro-2h-pyrrol-5-yl)- 3.032 1.7698 42.97 14.17 14.17 24.28 0.0412 High release efficiency + moderate thermal generation

The Relative Intensity Ratio (RIR) measures the distribution preference of a component across different samples: if the SBSE, value is 0, only the presence or absence of PY, formation is considered; the opposite applies. Direct Transfer Efficiency (DTE) evaluates the ability of existing components in tobacco leaves to transfer into smoke: If DTE ≈1: essentially equal transfer; If DTE >> 1: potential concentration effect or co-distillation-enhanced release; If DTE << 1: prone to degradation or retention in residues. Thermal Generation Factor (TGF) evaluates whether the compound is primarily newly generated during pyrolysis: If TGF >> 1: Significant thermal generation; If SBSE, 0 and PY > 0: Fully thermally generated. Precursor Contribution Index (PCI) identifies certain “indirect products” that show no signal in SBSE, or PY, but appear in Smokiness.