Process for expanding tobacco
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsNorman B. Rainer, Dean M. Siwiec
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved process for expanding tobacco wherein tobacco components such as stems, midribs and veins are contacted with an alkaline-hydrogen peroxide solution to effect expansion, washed and then dried and/or roasted to produce an expanded tobacco material highly suitable for use in smoking products. Prior to contact with the alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution, the tobacco materials are subjected to a pretreatment step with a multivalent salt solution to prevent clumping and/or interadherence of the tobacco shreds which would otherwise occur during the drying step.
Claims23
A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting rolled and cut tobacco stems having a moisture content between about 2 and 40% OV with an aqueous solution of a polyvalent salt in an effective amount to prevent clumping and interadherence thereof during subsequent processing;
- (b) partially drying the salt treated stems to a moisture content between about 10 and 40% OV;
- (c) contacting the stems with an alkaline-hydrogen peroxide solution at a temperature below about 55.degree. C. and for a period of time between 5 minutes and 3 hours to effect expansion thereof;
- (d) extracting the expanded stems with water to remove water-soluble substances;
- and
- (e) drying the expanded, extracted stems at a temperature between about 50.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. to obtain a final moisture content between about 10 to 15%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.