Nicotine removal process
AssigneeAMF Incorporated
InventorWilliam J. Casey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention concerns a method of removing nicotine from tobacco by rapid drying of an alkaline aqueous dispersion of tobacco. Preferably, the dried tobacco is remoistened with water and subsequently rapidly re-dried to realize higher efficiency of nicotine removal.
Claims9
A process for removing nicotine from tobacco without substantially removing solubles other than nicotine which comprises forming an aqueous dispersion of particulate nicotine-containing tobacco at a pH of at least about 8.5, and rapidly air convection drying said dispersion at an elevated temperature and at air flow rates such that material temperature does not exceed about 200.degree. F and at least 90% of the initial water content is removed within 2 minutes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.