HZSM-5 zeolite was used to conquer the challenge of liquid adsorption of tobacco specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA), either in aqueous solution or tobacco extract solution, offering a candidate with an optimal Si/Al ratio and channel structure to capture the carcinogens. It could trap 84% of N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 99% of 4-methylnitrosamino-1-3-pyridyl-1-butanone (NNK) in aqueous solution, much better than that by NaZSM-5 zeolite. Both FTIR and TG/MS technologies were employed to study the adsorption and catalytic degradation of NNN and NNK by HZSM-5 zeolite. The N-N bond of NNK was broken in the range of 423-573 K and the pyridine fragments appeared at 630 K due to the breakage of C-C bond between pyridine and carbonyl groups. Besides, HZSM-5 zeolite was sprayed on the rod of cigarette and smoked with different manners for the first time, in order to assess its function of reducing TSNA content in mainstream smoke and compared with that of liquid adsorption. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.