Oxidant/catalyst nanoparticles to reduce carbon monoxide in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette

Abstract

Cut filler compositions, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided, which involve the use of nanoparticle additives capable of acting as an oxidant for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or as a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Cut filler compositions are described which comprise tobacco and at least one nanoparticle additive. Cigarettes are provided, which comprise a tobacco rod, containing a cut filler having at least one nanoparticle additive. Methods for making a cigarette are provided, which involve (i) adding a nanoparticle additive to a cut filler; (ii) providing the cut filler comprising the additive to a cigarette making machine to form a tobacco rod; and (iii) placing a paper wrapper around the tobacco rod to form the cigarette. Further, methods of smoking the cigarette described above are described, which involve lighting the cigarette to form smoke and inhaling the smoke, wherein during the smoking of the cigarette, the additive acts as an oxidant for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or as a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.