Spark Source Mass Spectrographic Analysis of Tobacco Ash R. M. Jones, W. F. Kuhn, and Charles Varsel Research Center, Philip Morris, Inc., P . 0. Box 3 0 , Richmond, Va. A suitable technique for the qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of tobacco ash by spark source mass spectrography has been developed. Several techniques of sample handling and data reduction were evaluated. An optimum set of conditions was determined which gives reliable results. Samples were ashed and pelletized and strips of the pellets were sparked against a gold wire counter electrode. Qualitative analysis showed the presence of 30 to 35 elements. Quantitative determinations were made for eight elements and their concentrations ranged from
