Menthol cigarette
AssigneePhilip Morris USA Inc.
InventorsUlrike Becker, Tony Howell, Lixin Xue, Georgios D. Karles, Jay A Fournier
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Abstract
Cigarettes are provided which contain a filtering system and flavorants encapsulated with polyvinyl acetate, wherein deactivation of a sorbent by the flavorant is reduced through the encapsulation of the flavorant within the polyvinyl acetate. A preferred flavorant is menthol. The encapsulated flavorants are prepared by mixing at least one flavorant with polyvinyl acetate and a solvent, such as ethanol, and forming the encapsulated flavorants. Methods of making cigarettes and smoking the articles are also provided.
Claims8
A method of making a cigarette including a sorbent in a filter thereof, comprising:
- incorporating an encapsulated flavorant comprising a triacetin-free polyvinyl acetate matrix with flavorant bound within the polyvinyl acetate matrix in a component of the cigarette,
- wherein the flavorant comprises menthol and wherein the menthol is substantially uniformly distributed throughout the matrix.
A method of flavoring mainstream tobacco smoke, comprising:
- retaining a flavorant with a triacetin-free polyvinyl acetate matrix;
- and
- releasing the flavorant from the matrix while generating mainstream tobacco smoke, said releasing step including an application of heat and/or moisture to the matrix, wherein the flavorant is released by heat and/or moisture from the tobacco smoke;
- wherein the flavorant comprises menthol and wherein the menthol is substantially uniformly distributed throughout the matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.