Tobacco additives may contain cations like ammonium (see AN-C-168) as well as other cations as counter ions of organic acids. These additives include components to retain moisture and flavor of the tobacco. Ammonium is added to increase the appeal of smoking, and is therefore considered to increase the addictive potential. The determination of cations in tobacco additives is performed by ion chromatographic separation followed by non-suppressed conductivity detection.