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US 4,340,073 AGranted
Expanding tobacco
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsRoger Z. de la Burde, Patrick E. Aument
Life of this patent
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AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsRoger Z. de la Burde, Patrick E. Aument
Estimating the term…
A process for expanding tobacco is provided which employs liquid carbon dioxide as the expansion agent. Tobacco is contacted with liquid carbon dioxide to thoroughly impregnate the tobacco with the liquid carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide impregnated tobacco is maintained at a temperature no lower than -2.degree. C. and under conditions of temperature and elevated pressure such that all or substantially all of the carbon dioxide which is in contact with the tobacco is in liquid form. After the impregnation has been completed, any excess liquid carbon dioxide which may be present with the tobacco may be removed from the tobacco. The elevated pressure is then reduced in order to convert the liquid carbon dioxide to solid carbon dioxide within the tobacco structure. The resulting solid carbon dioxide-containing tobacco is then subjected to conditions of temperature and pressure, preferably by rapid heating at atmospheric pressure, such that the solid carbon dioxide is vaporized and the tobacco is thereby expanded. Apparatus for carrying out the above described process is also provided.
A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of (1) contacting tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide under conditions such that the temperature of the tobacco is maintained at a level no lower than about -2.degree. C. and such that substantially all of the liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form to impregnate the tobacco with the liquid carbon dioxide, (2) subjecting the liquid carbon dioxide-impregnated tobacco to conditions such that the liquid carbon dioxide is converted to solid carbon dioxide and (3) thereafter subjecting the solid carbon dioxide-containing tobacco to conditions whereby the solid carbon dioxide is vaporized to cause expansion of the tobacco.
A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of (1) contacting tobacco containing from about 8 to about 50% by weight of water with at least 1 part, by weight per part of tobacco, of liquid carbon dioxide under conditions such that the temperature of the tobacco during impregnation is maintained at a level no lower than about -2.degree. C. and such that all of the liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form to impregnate the tobacco with the liquid carbon dioxide, (2) subjecting the liquid carbon dioxide-impregnated tobacco to conditions such that the liquid carbon dioxide is converted to solid carbon dioxide to provide an impregnated tobacco, and (3) thereafter subjecting the solid carbon dioxide-containing tobacco to conditions whereby the solid carbon dioxide is vaporized to cause expansion of the tobacco.
A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of (1) contacting tobacco containing from about 8 to about 50% by weight of water with at least 1 part by weight, per part of tobacco, of liquid carbon dioxide, maintaining during said contact, a pressure of from about 583 to about 983 PSIG and a temperature of from about 5.degree. to 24.degree. C. for a period of from about 0.5 to 10 minutes, such that substantially all of said liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form whereby said tobacco is impregnated with said liquid carbon dioxide, (2) subjecting the liquid carbon dioxide-impregnated tobacco to conditions such that the liquid carbon dioxide is converted to solid carbon dioxide and (3) thereafter subjecting the solid carbon dioxide-containing tobacco to a pressure of from about 0 to about 10 PSIG and a temperature of from about 100.degree. to 360.degree. C. for a period of from about 0.2 to 10 seconds, whereby the solid carbon dioxide is vaporized to cause expansion of the tobacco.
Apparatus for expanding tobacco which comprises a pressure vessel,
The method of expanding tobacco which comprises the steps of (1) impregnating the tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide under conditions such that substantially all of the liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form to impregnate the tobacco with the liquid carbon dioxide, (2) subjecting the liquid carbon dioxide-impregnated tobacco to conditions such that the liquid carbon dioxide is converted to solid carbon dioxide and (3) thereafter subjecting the solid carbon dioxide-containing tobacco to conditions whereby the solid carbon dioxide is vaporized to cause expansion of the tobacco.
Apparatus for expanding tobacco which comprises a pressure vessel,
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.