Tobacco treatment process
AssigneeR. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
InventorsJackie L. White, Thomas A. Perfetti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Flavorful tobacco extracts are provided by subjecting a tobacco extract to heat treatment. The tobacco extract is contacted with an ammonia compound capable of releasing ammonia or a base capable of releasing ammonia indigenous to the tobacco extract, and then is subjected to a heat treatment above about 100.degree. C. in a pressure controlled environment. Resulting flavorful extracts are useful as forms of tobacco in cigarettes and other smoking articles.
Claims30
A process for altering the chemical nature of a tobacco extract, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) extracting tobacco material with an extraction solvent to provide a tobacco extract;
- (b) contacting the tobacco extract with an ammonia compound capable of releasing ammonia;
- and
- (c) subjecting the tobacco extract to heat treatment (i) in a pressure controlled environment to above ambient pressure, and (ii) at a temperature above about 100.degree. C. so as to alter the chemical nature of the tobacco extract.
A process for altering the chemical nature of a tobacco extract, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) extracting tobacco material with an extraction solvent to provide a tobacco extract;
- (b) contacting the tobacco extract with a base of releasing ammonia;
- and
- (c) subjecting the tobacco extract to heat treatment (i) in a pressure controlled environment at above ambient pressure, and (ii) at a temperature above about 100.degree. C. so as to alter the chemical nature of the tobacco extract.
A process for altering the chemical nature of a tobacco extract, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) extracting tobacco material with an extraction solvent to provide a tobacco extract having a moisture content of at least about 5 percent;
- (b) contacting the tobacco extract with an ammonia compound capable of releasing ammonia;
- and
- (c) subjecting the tobacco extract to heat treatment (i) in a pressure controlled environment at above ambient pressure, and (ii) at a temperature above about 100.degree. C. so as to alter the chemical nature of the tobacco extract.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.