Abstract:Main polyacids and higher fatty acids of 112 domestic and foreign cigarette samples were determined by gas chromatography, and variation of main polyacids and contents of higher fatty acids contents were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) Average contents of the polyacids besides malic acid and total polyacides in foreign cigarettes were significantly higher than those of domestic cigarettes; Average contents of the higher fatty acids and its total amount in foreign cigarettes were significantly lower than those of domestic cigarettes. (2) Average contents of malic acid in different types of cigarettes from high to low were as followed: domestic blended > foreign flue-cured > domestic flue-cured > foreign blended; differences in average contents of citric acid among types were significant at 5% level, domestic and foreign blended cigarettes the highest, foreign flue-cured cigarettes the second, domestic flue-cured cigarettes the least; average contents of oxalic acid in foreign blended cigarettes was highest, and was the lowest in domestic flue-cured cigarettes; differences in average contents of total polyacides among types were significant at 5% level,domestic blended cigarettes the highest, foreign flue-cured and blended cigarettes the second, domestic flue-cured cigarettes the least; Average contents of higher fatty acids and its total amount in domestic flue-cured cigarettes were significantly higher than other types. (3) Average contents of malic acid and total polyacids in different grades of domestic flue-cured cigarettes from high to low as followed: Grade 4 > Grade 3 > Grade 2 > Grade 1; average contents of citric acid in Grade 4 of domestic flue-cured cigarettes were significantly higher compared to other grades; differences in average contents of higher fatty acids and total higher fatty acids among grades were not significant at 5% level.