Nicotine removal process and product produced thereby
AssigneeHelme Tobacco Company
InventorAttila A. Lenkey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for removing nicotine from tobacco which does not adversely affect the flavor and aroma of the product tobacco is disclosed. The process entails mixing a tobacco having a moisture content of 25% to 53% with an alkalinizing agent to obtain a pH of 8 to 11 and maintaining the tobacco in an aerobic environment at a temperature of 40.degree. F. to 120.degree. F. at a pressure of 1 atmosphere for a period of 4 to 14 weeks. The product so produced is also disclosed.
Claims14
A method for removing nicotine from tobacco comprising the steps of:
- (a) mixing a tobacco having a moisture level of about 25% to about 53% by weight with an alkalinizing agent to obtain a mixture having a pH of about 8 to about 11;
- and
- (b) maintaining the mixture in an aerobic environment at a temperature of about 40.degree. F. to about 120.degree. F., at a pressure of about 1 atmosphere for a period of about 4 to about 14 weeks thereby removing nicotine from the tobacco.
A method for reducing nicotine content in tobacco without deleteriously affecting the flavor and aroma in the tobacco comprising the steps:
- (a) drying tobacco obtained from a bulk fermentation process having a pH of about 7 and below, down to a moisture level between about 25% to about 53% by weight;
- (b) mixing the dried tobacco with an alkalinizing agent to obtain a mixture having a pH between about 8 to about 11;
- and
- (c) maintaining the mixture in an aerobic environment at a temperature between about 40.degree. F. to about 120.degree. F. at a pressure of about 1 atmosphere for a period of about 4 to about 14 weeks whereby the nicotine content of the tobacco is reduced.
A method for removing nicotine from tobacco comprising the steps:
- (a) obtaining a tobacco from a bulk fermentation process having a pH of about 7 and below, and a moisture content between about 56% to about 82% by weight;
- (b) drying said tobacco to a moisture level of about 25% to about 53% by weight;
- (c) mixing the dried tobacco with about 1% to about 6% sodium carbonate by weight to obtain a mixture having a pH of about 8 to about 11;
- and
- (d) maintaining the mixture in an aerobic environment, at a temperature of about 40.degree. F. to about 120.degree. F. at a pressure of about 1 atmosphere for a period of about 4 to about 14 weeks thereby removing nicotine from the tobacco without deleteriously affecting the flavor and aroma of the tobacco.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.