US 4,967,771 A · Process for extracting tobacco

Abstract

Tobacco extracts are provided by first extracting tobacco material with water and then subjecting the resulting aqueous tobacco extract to a liquid/liquid extraction process using a halocarbon or a halogenated hydrocarbon. Preferably, the pH of the aqueous extract is adjusted to about 9 or above prior to the liquid/liquid extraction step. The two immiscible solvents then are separated from one another such that there is provided an aqueous tobacco extract having certain extracted tobacco components removed therefrom and halocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon solvent having extracted tobacco components carried thereby. The processed aqueous extract can be spray dried to provide a concentrated tobacco extract which then can be employed as a flavoring agent for cigarettes and other smoking articles. Tobacco components carried by the halocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon solvent also can be separated from that solvent.

Claims60

Dependent claims

A process for providing a tobacco extract, the process comprising:

(i) extracting components from tobacco material with a first liquid solvent having an aqueous character,
(ii) providing a liquid extract of tobacco within the first solvent and adjusting the pH thereof,
(iii) contacting the first solvent and extracted tobacco components therewithin with a second liquid solvent which is immiscible with the first solvent,
(iv) subjecting the contacted first and second solvents to conditions sufficient to transfer some tobacco components from with the first solvent to within the second solvent,
(v) separating the first and second solvents from one another, and
(vi) isolating tobacco components from each of the first and second solvents.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process for extracting tobacco

Life of this patent

Process for extracting tobacco

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims60