# US 2009/0260645 A1 · Method for neutralization, adsorption, and absorption of hazardous or otherwise undesired compounds in a tobacco product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260645 A1 - Document ID: US20090260645A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/423,678 - Filed: 2009-04-14 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-14 - Assignees: NanoScale Corporation - Inventors: David Brotton; Olga B. Koper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260645A1 ## CPC - A24D 3/16: of inorganic materials - A24B 15/245: {Nitrosamines} - A24B 15/246: {Polycyclic aromatic compounds} - A24B 15/28: by chemical substances - A24B 15/286: {Nanoparticles} - A24B 15/287: {by inorganic substances only} - A24D: CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES - A24B: MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF ## Abstract A tobacco product comprising nanocrystalline particles and methods of reducing the levels of undesirable compounds in tobacco smoke are provided. The nanocrystalline particles are effective sorbents of numerous toxic compounds released by burning tobacco and may be incorporated into the tobacco itself, incorporated into a filter element, or incorporated into the fibers of a wrapping paper. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tobacco product comprising nanocrystalline particles and tobacco. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tobacco product of claim 1, wherein said tobacco product is a cigarette or cigar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tobacco product of claim 1, wherein said tobacco and said nanoparticles are contained within a paper wrapping. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tobacco product of claim 3, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are dispersed within said tobacco. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The tobacco product of claim 3, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are loaded upon or contained within the fibers of said paper wrapping. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tobacco product of claim 1, wherein said tobacco product comprises a fibrous filter portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The tobacco product of claim 6, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are included within said filter portion and are configured to contact and adsorb smoke and/or toxic materials produced from the burning of said tobacco. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tobacco product of claim 1, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are selected from the group consisting of the oxides, hydroxides, halides, carbonates, and phosphates of metals, metalloids, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tobacco product of claim 8, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are selected from the group consisting of the oxides, hydroxides, halides, carbonates, nitrates, sulfates, and phosphates of transition metals, alkali metals, alkaline earth metal, lanthanide metals, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tobacco product of claim 1, wherein said nanocrystalline particles have an average surface area of at least 20 m2/g. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tobacco product of claim 1, wherein said nanocrystalline particles have an average crystallite size of between about 2 to about 25 nm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tobacco product of claim 1, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are amorphous and have an average crystallite size of less than 2 nm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tobacco product of claim 1, wherein said tobacco product comprises between about 0.001% to about 2% by weight of said nanocrystalline particles based upon the weight of the entire tobacco product. ### Claim 14 A method of reducing the level of reducing the level of undesirable components in tobacco smoke from a tobacco product comprising the step of incorporating a quantity of nanocrystalline particles into said tobacco product. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are combined with said tobacco prior to creation of said tobacco product. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said tobacco product is a cigarette or cigar. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of said nanocrystalline particles are incorporated into a filter portion of said tobacco product. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are loaded upon or contained within the fibers of a paper wrapping of said tobacco product. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are selected from the group consisting of the oxides, hydroxides, halides, carbonates, and phosphates of metals, metalloids, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are selected from the group consisting of the oxides, hydroxides, halides, carbonates, and phosphates of transition metals, alkali metals, alkaline earth metal, lanthanide metals, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said nanocrystalline particles have an average surface area of at least 20 m2/g. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said nanocrystalline particles have an average crystallite size of between about 2 to about 25 nm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said nanocrystalline particles are amorphous and have an average crystallite size of less than 2 nm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said tobacco product comprises between about 0.001% to about 2% by weight of said nanocrystalline particles based upon the weight of the entire tobacco product. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, including the step of combusting a portion of said tobacco product containing said tobacco thereby generating tobacco smoke and one or more undesirable compounds. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, said nanocrystalline particles sorbing at least one of said one or more undesirable compounds contained in said tobacco smoke. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, said one or more undesirable compounds being selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, acrolein, benzene, N-nitrosamines, nicotine, phenol, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).