Process for expanding tobacco
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsNorman B. Rainer, John R. Hearn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved process for expanding tobacco is disclosed 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 gaseous ozone to prevent clumping and/or interadherence of the tobacco shreds which would otherwise occur during the drying step.
Claims21
A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of:
- (a) subjecting rolled and cut tobacco stems having a moisture content between about 20 and 50% OV to a pretreatment with gaseous ozone in an effective amount to prevent clumping and interadherence thereof during subsequent processing;
- (b) contacting the ozone-treated stems with an alkaline-hydrogen peroxide solution to effect expansion thereof;
- (c) extracting the expanded stems with water to remove water-soluble substances;
- and
- (d) drying the expanded, extracted stems at a temperature between about 45.degree. and 200.degree. C. to obtain a final moisture content between about 10 to 15%.
An improved process for preparing an improved reconstituted tobacco product having improved filling power wherein tobacco stems and fines are extracted with water to form an aqueous tobacco extract which is separated from the fibrous tobacco portion and thereafter the fibrous portion is pulped and cast to form a base web which is dried to a moisture content of 20 and 50% and shredded, the improvement comprising (1) pretreating said shredded base web with a gas stream containing ozone at a concentration of about 5 to 10% for a period of time from about 5 to 10 minutes, (2) immediately contacting said ozone treated base web by spraying with an alkaline-hydrogen peroxide solution to effect partial expansion, and (3) drying said partially expanded base web at a temperature at or above 45.degree. C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.