Tobacco reconstitution process

A process for collecting dispersed plant material particles during the formation of a reconstituted plant material and utilizing the same in forming the reconstituted tobacco material, the process comprising the steps of:

• (a) extracting extract components from plant material having pectins using a solvent having an aqueous character thereby providing a solvent and a plant portion insoluble in the solvent;
• (b) separating at least a portion of the solvent from the insoluble plant portion;
• (c) refining the insoluble plant portion provided in step (b) to form a pulp and forming the pulp into a predetermined shape;
• (d) removing excess solvent, from the formed insoluble plant portion, the removed solvent having plant material particles dispersed therein;
• (e) collecting the excess solvent having dispersed plant material particles therein;
• (f) separating at least a portion of the excess solvent from the dispersed plant material particles;
• (g) collecting the dispersed plant material particles;
• (h) applying the dispersed plant material particles to a plant material pulp formed by a process comprising steps (a)-(c);
• and
• (i) drying the formed plant material pulp having the dispersed plant material particles therein to provide a reconstituted tobacco material.

A process for providing a reconstituted tobacco material, the process comprising the steps of:

• (a) extracting extract components from plant material having pectins using a solvent having an aqueous character thereby providing a solvent and a plant portion insoluble in the solvent;
• (b) separating at least a portion of the solvent from the insoluble plant portion;
• (c) subjecting the insoluble plant portion to conditions sufficient to release tobacco pectins to provide a slurry having released tobacco pectins;
• (d) refining the slurry provided in step (c) to form a pulp and forming the pulp into a predetermined shape;
• (e) removing excess solvent, from the formed pulp, the removed solvent having plant material particles dispersed therein;
• (f) collecting the excess solvent having dispersed plant material particles therein;
• (g) separating at least a portion of the excess solvent from the dispersed plant material particles;
• (h) collecting the dispersed plant material particles;
• (i) applying the dispersed plant material particles to a pulp previously formed by a process comprising steps (a)-(d);
• and
• (j) subjecting the formed pulp having the dispersed plant material particles to conditions sufficient to crosslink the released pectins to provide a reconstituted tobacco material.