CN115135172A

CN115135172A - Method for treating tobacco material, device for treating tobacco material, treated tobacco material and use thereof

Info

Publication number: CN115135172A
Application number: CN202180017090.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·弗兰克; J·克诺特; F·普鲁克汉; M·林科
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2020-02-27
Filing date: 2021-02-25
Publication date: 2022-09-30
Also published as: AU2021227449A1; WO2021171021A1; CA3167501A1; IL295299A; AU2021227449B2; KR20220143757A; BR112022017155A2; MX2022010543A; JP2023515543A; US20230082455A1; GB202002790D0; EP4110089A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of processing tobacco material comprising combining pre-cut and/or pre-expanded stems with lamina to form an initial combination of stems and lamina; shredding the initial combination of stems and leaves; expanding the combination of stems and leaves; and intermittently contacting the expanded combination of stems and lamina with a heated surface to produce a treated tobacco material. An apparatus for treating tobacco material is also provided. The invention also provides treated tobacco material, and products comprising the same.

Description

Method for treating tobacco material, device for treating tobacco material, treated tobacco material and use thereof

FIELD

The present invention provides a method of treating tobacco material. An apparatus for treating tobacco material is also provided. The invention also provides treated tobacco materials and products comprising the same.

Background

Various methods and devices are known for expanding tobacco material to improve the fill value of the tobacco material.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating tobacco material, comprising: combining pre-cut and/or pre-expanded stems (stem) with leaves (lamina) to form an initial combination of stems and leaves; shredding the initial combination of stems and leaves; expanding the combination of stems and leaves; and intermittently contacting the expanded combination of stems and lamina with a heated surface to produce a treated tobacco material.

In some embodiments, the initial combination of stems and leaves comprises at least about 5% leaves up to about 99% leaves by weight, and/or at least about 1% stems up to about 95% stems by weight.

In some embodiments, the expansion of the agitating bars and blades combine to intermittently contact the heated surface.

In some embodiments, the heating surface has a temperature of at least about 100 ℃ to about 300 ℃ prior to contacting with the tobacco material.

In some embodiments, the temperature of the heating surface is at least about 120 ℃ to about 250 ℃ prior to contact with the tobacco material, or at least about 150 ℃ to about 300 ℃ prior to contact with the tobacco material.

In some embodiments, the contact of the expanded combination of stems and lamina with the heating surface heats the tobacco material to a peak temperature of about 120 ℃ to about 230 ℃.

In some embodiments, the heated surface is a heated metal surface.

In some embodiments, the treated tobacco material has a moisture content of 0 to about 10% Oven Volatiles (OV).

In some embodiments, the expanded combination of stems and leaves has a moisture content of at least 5% OV prior to its intermittent contact with the heated surface. In some embodiments, the expanded combination of stems and leaves has a moisture content of from about 5% to about 25% OV, or from about 12 to about 16% OV, prior to its intermittent contact with the heated surface.

In some embodiments, the expanded combination of stems and leaves is intermittently contacted with the heated surface for a period of time of at least about 1 minute to about 15 minutes. In some embodiments, the expanded combination of stems and leaves is intermittently contacted with the heated surface for a period of time of at least about 2 minutes to about 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the expanded combination of stems and leaves is intermittently contacted with the heated surface for a period of time of at least about 2.5 minutes to about 5 minutes.

In some embodiments, at least one of water and steam is added to the expanded combination of stems and leaves while it is in intermittent contact with the heated surface to increase its moisture content. In some embodiments, at least one of water and steam is repeatedly added to the expanded combination of stems and leaves while it is in intermittent contact with the heated surface to increase its moisture content.

In some embodiments, the method is a continuous process.

In some embodiments, the expansion of the stem and blades is combined by at least one of: a screw mechanism; a twin-screw mechanism; an air flow; and a drum.

In some embodiments, the fill value of the treated tobacco is at least about 5% or at least about 15% higher than the fill value of the combination of stems and lamina immediately prior to the step of intermittently contacting the expanded combination of stems and lamina with the heated surface. In some embodiments, the fill value of the treated tobacco is from about 30% to about 50% higher than the fill value of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

In some embodiments, the sugar content of the treated tobacco is from about 20% to about 95% less than the sugar content of the initial combination of stems and lamina. In some embodiments, the sugar content of the treated tobacco is from about 60% to about 90% less than the sugar content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

In some embodiments, the nicotine content of the treated tobacco is from about 10% to about 80% less than the nicotine content of the initial combination of stems and lamina. In some embodiments, the nicotine content of the treated tobacco is from about 35% to about 70% less than the nicotine content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

In some embodiments, the ammonia content of the treated tobacco is from about 30% to about 99% less than the ammonia content of the initial combination of stems and lamina. In some embodiments, the ammonia content of the treated tobacco is from about 50% to about 90% less than the ammonia content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

In some embodiments, the cut combination of stems and leaves is expanded by exposing the cut stems and leaves to a bulking agent. In some embodiments, the bulking agent is selected from: liquid carbon dioxide, solid carbon dioxide, steam, liquid nitrogen, liquid short (C5 or C6) chain carbohydrates, or mixtures thereof.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the first aspect, the apparatus comprising a module for intermittently contacting an expanded combination of a stem and a leaf with a heated surface, the module comprising a heated surface for intermittently contacting an expanded combination of a stem and a leaf.

In some embodiments, the device comprises means for agitating the expanded combination of stems and blades. In some embodiments, the means for agitating the expansion combination of the stems and blades comprises at least one of: a screw mechanism; a double screw mechanism; an air flow; and a drum.

In some embodiments, the heating surface has a temperature of at least about 100 ℃ to about 300 ℃ prior to contacting with the tobacco material. In some embodiments, the temperature of the heated surface is at least about 120 ℃ to about 250 ℃ prior to contacting the expanded combination of stem and leaf, or at least about 150 ℃ to about 300 ℃ prior to contacting the expanded combination of stem and leaf.

In some embodiments, contacting the expanded combination of stems and leaves with a heated surface heats the expanded combination of stems and leaves to a peak temperature of about 120 ℃ to about 230 ℃.

In some embodiments, the heated surface is a heated metal surface. In some embodiments, the heating surface is heated by a heating medium that is water, oil, steam, electricity, or a combination thereof.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a treated tobacco material obtained or obtainable by a method according to the first aspect.

In some embodiments, the treated tobacco material has a reduced content of one or more of the following as compared to the content in the initial combination of stems and lamina: sugar, nicotine, and ammonia.

In some embodiments, the sugar content of the treated tobacco is from about 20% to about 95%, or from about 60% to about 90% less than the sugar content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

In some embodiments, the nicotine content of the treated tobacco material is from about 10% to about 80%, or from about 35% to about 70% less than the nicotine content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

In some embodiments, the ammonia content of the treated tobacco material is from about 30% to about 99%, or from about 50% to about 90%, less than the ammonia content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

In some embodiments, the fill value of the treated tobacco is at least about 25% or at least about 30% higher than the fill value of the initial combination of stems and lamina. In some embodiments, the fill value of the treated tobacco is from about 30% to about 50% higher than the fill value of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a tobacco industry product comprising a treated tobacco material according to the third aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of a treated tobacco material according to the third aspect for the manufacture of a tobacco industry product.

Brief Description of Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a process flow diagram of an exemplary method; and

figure 2 is a schematic view of the progress of tobacco material through an apparatus for processing tobacco material.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention seeks to improve the processing of tobacco materials in preparation for their incorporation into tobacco industry products. As discussed below, tobacco industry products include smoking articles, such as combustible cigarettes, as well as tobacco heating products and the like. Tobacco industry products also include non-smoking products comprising tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes.

After harvesting, the tobacco material may be processed in various ways to prepare the material for use. One treatment is drying. The purpose of drying is to remove moisture from the tobacco material. Another treatment is the expansion of the tobacco material. The purpose of expansion is to increase the filling value of the tobacco. Still further treatment or series of treatments may have the purpose of improving the organoleptic and/or taste characteristics of the tobacco material.

The present invention seeks to achieve all these effects in a simple and relatively quick process, while also producing a treated tobacco material that is highly consistent or uniform in terms of colour, particle size and combustion properties, despite the fact that the raw materials comprise stems and lamina (lamina).

The term "tobacco material" as used herein includes any portion of any member of the nicotiana genus and any associated byproducts, such as leaves or stems. The tobacco material used in the present invention is preferably derived fromNicotiana tabacumSpecies of the species.

Any type, style and/or variety of tobacco may be processed. Examples of tobacco that can be used include, but are not limited to, Virginia (Virginia), Burley (Burley), Oriental (Oriental), carmom (Commum), Amarelinho, and Maryland (Maryland) tobacco, as well as blends of any of these types. The skilled person will appreciate that treatments of different types, styles and/or breeds will result in tobacco having different organoleptic properties.

The tobacco material may be pre-treated according to known practices.

The tobacco material to be treated may comprise and/or consist of cured tobacco (post-curing tobaco). The term "cured tobacco" as used herein refers to tobacco that has been cured but has not been subjected to any further processing so as to alter the taste and/or aroma of the tobacco material. Cured tobacco may have been mixed with other styles, varieties, and/or types. The cured tobacco does not comprise or consist of cut filler.

Cigarettes typically contain a blend of different types of tobacco. Three main types of tobacco are commonly used in these blends, namely Virginia (Virginia), Burley (Burley), and Oriental (Oriental). These major tobacco types are further divided into subgroups based on the location of the tobacco growth, which parts are taken from the plant, and other characteristics (including color, maturity and uniformity) that are associated with the perceived quality of tobacco. Different classes and different subclasses have different properties. The three major tobacco types and sub-types may have different taste characteristics and different nicotine content.

Whole tobacco leaves contain a central stem (or midrib) and leaves (lamina). These parts of the leaves are usually separated by mechanical threshing (mechanical threshing).

Threshing and grading are repeated until all stems and leaves are separated. They are then processed separately. The stalks are typically conditioned so that the moisture content of the stalks is higher than the green leaves. The stems were then cut into shreds before drying.

After threshing and classification, the moisture content of the leaves often changes and it is important to treat the leaves to ensure uniform moisture content. First, the leaves are dried and then cooled. Then, it enters a high humidity conditioning chamber (conditioning chamber) where the blades absorb moisture and reach equilibrium. The leaves are then packaged and stored until use.

The physical characteristics of leaves and stems vary widely. The leaves are a more fragile structure, while the stems are more fibrous, woody and strong.

It is often desirable to include blended lamina and stems in blends that are incorporated into smoking articles. Typically, these materials are treated separately after the separation and pretreatment discussed above, before blending for inclusion in a smoking article.

Further processing of the leaves involves shredding. The stems are typically treated to have physical characteristics more like leaves. Such processing typically involves rolling, shredding and/or expanding.

Nevertheless, it is often the case that when a smoking material comprising a blend of lamina and stem is viewed, the stem component can be visually perceived. The stalk component may also impart a coarser and more stimulating quality to the smoke formed when the smoking material is combusted, as compared to smoking material consisting of the lamina alone.

Combining stems and leaves

According to the first step of the method of treating tobacco material, the stem and the tobacco lamina (tobaco lamina) are combined. Here, for convenience and clarity, the combination of stems and leaves formed by this step is referred to as "initial combination of stems and leaves".

The stems have been cut into shreds and/or they have been expanded before being combined with the leaves.

In some embodiments, the stems have been conventionally processed prior to being combined with the leaves. In some embodiments, the stems have a moisture content of about 18% to about 45% OV.

Unless otherwise indicated, reference herein to moisture content refers to Oven Volatiles (OV). Volatiles are defined as the percentage of volatile components contained in the total mass of the solid matter. This includes water and all other volatile compounds. Oven volatiles are the mass of volatiles emitted. The moisture content (OV) can be measured as the mass reduction when the sample is dried in a forced air oven at a temperature adjusted to 110 ℃ ± 1 ℃ for 3 hours ± 0.5 minutes. After drying, the sample was cooled to room temperature in a desiccator for about 30 minutes to allow the sample to cool.

When the stems have been pre-cut, they have been cut to a width of 0.08 to 0.3 mm in some embodiments.

When the stem has been pre-expanded, expansion can be achieved by any conventional expansion step. Conventional Stem expansion techniques include, for example, the Steam Treated Stem (STS) process, the Steam tunnel (curing tunnel), the shredded Stem process, and the process commonly referred to as the expanded-Stem (CRES).

The lamina has been conventionally processed to encompass all known methods and principles common in the tobacco industry. In some embodiments, the leaves have been moisture regained and have a moisture content of about 20% to about 30% OV. The leaves may also have been blended and may have been treated with a feed solution (casting).

In some embodiments, once the stems and leaves have been combined, they may be mixed or blended to form a relatively homogeneous mixture.

In some embodiments, the combination of stems and leaves can comprise at least about 5% leaves up to about 99% leaves, and/or at least about 1% stems up to about 95% stems. In some embodiments, the combination of stems and leaves comprises from about 5% stems and 95% leaves to about 50% stems and 50% leaves.

In some embodiments, the combination of stems and lamina further comprises reconstituted tobacco material. Reconstituted tobacco is often processed with leaf stages, so it may be processed with stems and lamina according to the present invention.

Shredding the combination of stems and leaves

According to a further step of the method of treating tobacco material, the initial combination of stems and lamina is shredded.

Shredding may be performed using any conventional shredding process and/or device.

In some embodiments, the initial combination of stems and leaves is cut to a width of at least about 0.2 mm. In some embodiments, the combination is cut to a width of at most about 2 mm. Typically, lamina is cut to a width of 0.6 mm to 1.1 mm for combustible smoking articles (for homemade cigarette tobacco, significantly finer cut lamina is used, even down to a width of 0.25 mm), and stems are cut to a width of between 0.12 mm and 0.25 mm. The wider the cut, the stronger the resulting product, and thus the possibility of leaving an acceptable particle size after subsequent processing steps. However, fewer particles are produced at wider cut widths. Since this process depends in part on the fill value of the final product in addition to the taste, the desired particle size combination must be determined. The present invention may provide the possibility of a conventional window beyond the cutting width of the lamina, the width of which is at most 2 mm, thereby making it possible to increase the resulting fill value of the tobacco even more.

Expanding the combination of stems and leaves

According to a further step of the method of treating tobacco material, the combination of stems and lamina is expanded.

The cut tobacco can be expanded to reduce the mass of tobacco contained and combusted in the cigarette. Many tobacco brands with low ISO tar yields use a proportion of expanded tobacco in the overall mixture.

In the method according to the invention, the cut combination of stems and leaves is treated by an expansion step of expanding cut stems (cut stems) and cut leaves (cut laminas). In some embodiments, such expansion produces an expanded material having a fill value that is at least about 10% higher than the fill value of the pre-expanded cut combination of stems and leaves when measured at a normalized moisture content of 14.5% OV.

In some embodiments, the expanding step begins with a cut-to-shred combination of stems and leaves having a moisture content of about 20% to about 40% OV prior to the expanding step.

In some embodiments, the expansion step begins with a cut combination of stems and leaves having a fill value prior to the expansion step of about 3.5 to about 7 ml/g when measured at a normalized moisture content of 14.5% OV.

In some embodiments, the expanding step utilizes conventional expansion techniques. Various methods have been proposed for expanding tobacco, including impregnation of the tobacco with a gas or steam under pressure and subsequent release of the pressure, whereby the gas expands the tobacco pores to increase the volume of the treated tobacco. This may involve using known blade expansion techniques such as: expansion processes for producing Dry Ice Expanded Tobacco (DIET), flash column drying, INCOM (inert gas compression) processes, and IMPEX processes involving impregnation of tobacco with hydrocarbon solvents and steam tunnels combined with drying techniques.

In some embodiments, the method includes impregnating the tobacco with a liquid, such as water or a relatively volatile organic liquid, and thereafter expelling the liquid to expand the tobacco. One common conventional expansion technique involves the use of dry ice to produce so-called dry ice expanded tobacco or DIET. The method involves infiltrating the tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide prior to heating. The resulting carbon dioxide gas forces the tobacco to expand.

Other methods that may be used include treating the tobacco with a solid material that decomposes upon heating to produce a gas for expanding the tobacco. Other methods include treating tobacco under pressure with a liquid containing a gas, such as water containing carbon dioxide, to impregnate the tobacco with the liquid. The impregnated tobacco is then heated or depressurized to cause the release of gas and expansion of the tobacco. Other techniques for expanding tobacco have been developed which involve treating tobacco with a gas that reacts within the tobacco to form solid chemical reaction products, such as with carbon dioxide and ammonia to form ammonium carbonate. These solid reaction products can then be thermally decomposed to produce gases within the tobacco which, when released, cause the tobacco to expand. Various types of heat treatment or microwave energy may also be used to expand the tobacco. Freeze-drying of tobacco may also be used to obtain an increase in volume. Continuous drying techniques may also be used to expand cut combinations of stems and leaves, such as air drying and fluid bed drying.

In some embodiments, the expanding step comprises exposing the cut combination of stems and leaves to an expanding agent. The swelling agent may be selected from: liquid carbon dioxide, solid carbon dioxide, steam, liquid nitrogen, liquid short (C5 or C6) chain carbohydrates, or mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the expanded combination of stems and lamina is Dry Ice Expanded Tobacco (DIET).

It is known that such conventional expansion techniques can result in an increase in fill value of at least about 10%. After the expansion step using one of the conventional expansion techniques described above, the cut combination of stems and leaves can have an expanded fill value of at least about 4 ml/g (referenced to a feed fill value of 3.5 ml/g) to at least about 8 ml/g (referenced to a feed fill value of 7 ml/g) when measured at a normalized moisture content of 14.5% OV. These swelling values are conservative and represent the lowest swelling effect known from conventional swelling and drying processes. Indeed, the expansion effect of known expansion techniques may be more pronounced. For example, the expanded combination of stems and leaves can have a fill value of from about 5 ml/g to about 10 ml/g, such as from about 5 ml/g to about 9 ml/g, such as from about 5 ml/g to about 8 ml/g, such as from about 5 ml/g to about 7 ml/g, when measured at a normalized moisture content of 14.5% OV.

In some embodiments, the expanding step expands the cut combination of stems and leaves to provide an expanded tobacco material having a fill value at least about 12%, at least about 15%, at least about 20%, at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at least about 35%, at least about 40%, at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90%, or at least about 100% higher than the fill value of the pre-expanded cut combination of stems and leaves when measured at a normalized moisture content of 14.5% OV.

In some embodiments, the expanded combination of stems and leaves has a moisture content of about 5% to about 25% OV, such as about 5% to about 20% OV, such as about 10% to about 15% OV.

Intermittent contact with heated surfaces

According to a further step of the method of treating a tobacco material, the combination of stems and lamina are intermittently contacted with a heated surface to produce a treated tobacco material.

It has been found that exposure of tobacco to hot surfaces not only dries the material to extremely low moisture content levels (based on oven volatiles), but in some embodiments, the process may result in one or more of the following desirable chemical or physical changes:

the organoleptic properties of the processed material are significantly improved;

a significant reduction in sugar content, for example between 20% and 90% for treated cut stems and treated cut leaves;

a significant reduction in nicotine content, for example between 10% and 70% for treated cut stems and treated cut leaves;

a significant reduction in the analysis value of ammonia, for example between 20% and 90% for the treated cut stems and treated cut leaves; and

a significant increase in the filling value, for example 15% to 50% for the processed material.

The step of intermittently contacting the combination of stems and lamina with the heated surface causes a chemical change in the tobacco material. In at least some embodiments, these changes provide improved sensory properties to the treated tobacco material.

It is conventional to enhance the organoleptic properties of tobacco materials by means of various treatments. The tobacco material may be cured to prepare the tobacco leaf for use. The tobacco material may be further processed, for example by alcoholizing (aging) or fermenting, to enhance the organoleptic properties of the tobacco. However, these processes can be tedious and the quality of the resulting tobacco material can vary. The treatment of tobacco materials to enhance or add flavor and aroma at a later stage of tobacco processing typically involves the addition of one or more additives to the tobacco and may require additional processing steps and equipment, which is expensive and time consuming.

Intermittent contact of the combination of stems and leaves with the heated surface results in repeated short term exposure to intense heat. In some embodiments, such intermittent contacting can be achieved by agitating the tobacco. The temperature of the heating surface, and thus the temperature to which the tobacco is exposed, is significantly greater than about 100 ℃, and in some embodiments at least about 150 ℃. Intermittent contact is therefore important to ensure that the tobacco does not burn due to prolonged continuous exposure to such high temperature surfaces.

In some embodiments, the intermittent contact of the tobacco with the heating surface causes the tobacco material to be burned or scorched. This is due to exposure to sudden and intense heat. This has a drying effect but also results in a different tobacco treatment than the mild drying process known in the prior art.

In some embodiments, the oxygen content around the tobacco during treatment can be reduced. This may have the effect of reducing the risk of "hot spots" being formed by exposure to the heated surface, and reducing the risk of tobacco burning. This reduction in oxygen content may therefore allow the tobacco to be treated at higher temperatures than in prior art processes and apparatus. In some embodiments, the oxygen content is reduced by applying steam.

Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is speculated that the process may be divided into two stages. During the first stage, the tobacco material is dried as a result of being exposed to heat in some steam distillation of the tobacco material to drive out volatile components including water. During the second stage, an effect referred to herein as "burning" occurs. It is during this second stage that the major chemical changes in tobacco appear to occur.

It is speculated that the brief contact of tobacco material with the heated surface and the localized burning of tobacco may result in an increase in maillard and caramelization reaction products, many of which are known to contribute to desirable organoleptic properties. The maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars, which are present in tobacco raw materials, but which are reduced in the amount in the treated tobacco material. Which is a non-enzymatic reaction that typically occurs at temperatures of about 140 to 165 c. In addition to the pleasant effect of the maillard reaction products on the organoleptic properties, this reaction is also responsible for the browning of the material. It has been observed that tobacco treated according to embodiments of the present invention has a darker brown color than tobacco material.

In some embodiments, treating the tobacco material by intermittently contacting it with a heated surface as described herein provides the tobacco material with an enhanced flavor profile or enhanced organoleptic properties (as compared to the flavor profile of tobacco that has not been treated or has been treated using only conventional tobacco processing methods). This means that off-flavors or irritants are reduced while maintaining the taste characteristics of tobacco as seen after conventional tobacco processing. As used herein, the term "enhanced" with respect to flavor or sensory properties is used to mean an improvement or refinement in taste or taste quality as determined by a professional smoker. This may, but need not, include taste enhancement.

References herein to the sensory properties of a tobacco material may relate to the sensory properties of the tobacco material itself, for example when used by a consumer in the oral cavity. Additionally or alternatively, to the sensory properties of an aerosol generated by burning tobacco material or a vapour generated by heating tobacco material. In some embodiments, the treated tobacco material provides desirable sensory properties to a tobacco product comprising the tobacco material when the product is used or consumed.

In some embodiments, the method of the present invention has the unexpected advantage of mitigating the negative sensory impact of stems on the overall performance of the blend. Burnt coating, cellulosic and "stemy" taste contributions are considered to be disadvantages of the overall characteristics of the stem.

It is further speculated that scorching also has a physical effect on tobacco materials to cause individual pores within the plant material to expand as the moisture within them is rapidly heated and evaporated.

In some embodiments, the temperature of the heating surface is in the range of about 100 ℃ to about 300 ℃. In some embodiments, the temperature is at least about 105 ℃, 110 ℃, 115 ℃, 120 ℃, 125 ℃, 130 ℃, 135 ℃, 140 ℃, 145 ℃, 150 ℃, 155 ℃, 160 ℃, 165 ℃, 170 ℃, 175 ℃, 180 ℃, 185 ℃, 190 ℃, 195 ℃ or at least about 200 ℃. In some embodiments, the temperature of the heating surface is at most about 295 ℃, 290 ℃, 285 ℃, 280 ℃, 275 ℃, 270 ℃, 265 ℃, 260 ℃, 255 ℃, 250 ℃, 245 ℃, 240 ℃, 235 ℃, 230 ℃, 225 ℃, 220 ℃, 215 ℃, 210 ℃, 205 ℃, or at most about 200 ℃. In some embodiments, the heating surface has a temperature of at least about 120 ℃ to about 250 ℃, or at least about 150 ℃ to about 300 ℃.

When discussing the temperature of the heating surface, reference is made herein to the temperature prior to contact with the tobacco material. This is because the contact with the tobacco material and the drying process can result in cooling of the heated surface. The exact temperature of the heated surface during the drying process therefore depends on how much "drying work" is done. For example, more energy will be used in the initial stage of evaporation of water from the tobacco, thereby resulting in greater cooling of the heated surface. It is therefore easy and accurate to determine the temperature of the heated surface prior to contact with the tobacco.

In some embodiments, the temperature of the heated surface is controlled to minimize significant variations in the treatment process. For example, a feedback mechanism may be used to ensure that the temperature remains within an acceptable range, heating the surface as the temperature drops as a result of processing the tobacco material.

In some embodiments, it is appropriate to adjust the temperature of the heating surface according to the type of tobacco material being treated. One reason why this is appropriate is that different tobacco materials have different initial moisture contents, and thus processing will involve removing different amounts of moisture and volatiles.

In some embodiments, the heating surface is a metal, such as stainless steel, or any other suitable steel and metal type having sufficient heat transfer characteristics. In other embodiments, the heating surface is made of any material having sufficient heat transfer characteristics that can be heated to the temperatures used in the methods described herein. For example, a ceramic surface may be used.

The heating surface may be indirectly heated, for example, by a heating medium, such as a heating medium selected from oil, water, or steam. In some embodiments, hot oil is the preferred heating medium. Alternatively or additionally, the heating surface may be directly heated. In some embodiments, the heating surface is heated electrically.

This heats the tobacco material as it is intermittently and repeatedly contacted with the heating surface. The temperature of the tobacco is significantly increased in view of the high temperature of the heating surface. In some embodiments, the temperature of the tobacco material is raised to a peak temperature of about 120 ℃ to about 230 ℃ as a result of the treatment process. In some embodiments, the peak temperature of the tobacco material is at least about 125 ℃, 130 ℃, 135 ℃, 140 ℃, 145 ℃, 150 ℃, 155 ℃, 160 ℃, 165 ℃, 170 ℃, 175 ℃, 180 ℃, 185 ℃, 190 ℃, 195 ℃, 200 ℃, 205 ℃, 210 ℃, 215 ℃ or at least about 220 ℃. In some embodiments, the peak temperature of tobacco is at most about 225 ℃, 220 ℃, 215 ℃, 210 ℃, 195 ℃, 190 ℃, 185 ℃, 180 ℃, 175 ℃, 170 ℃, 165 ℃, 160 ℃, 155 ℃, 150 ℃, 145 ℃, 140 ℃, 135 ℃, 130 ℃ or at most about 125 ℃. The temperature of the tobacco may be measured by suitable measuring means, such as infrared measurements or resistance thermometers.

In some embodiments, the tobacco material is heated under an inert atmosphere.

In some embodiments, an inert gas, such as nitrogen, saturated steam, carbon dioxide, or mixtures thereof, is added to the apparatus to control the oxygen content and thus the desired chemical reaction during processing.

In some embodiments, the intermittent contact of the tobacco material with the heated surface has a drying effect and reduces the moisture content of the tobacco material. In some embodiments, the treated tobacco material has a moisture content of 0% to about 10% Oven Volatiles (OV). In other words, the treated tobacco material has a moisture content of no greater than about 10% OV. In some embodiments, the moisture content of the treated tobacco material is no greater than 9.5%, 9%, 8.5%, 8%, 7.5%, 7%, 6.5%, 6%, 5.5%, 5%, 4.5%, 4%, 3.5%, 3%, 2.5%, 2%, 1.5%, 1%, or no greater than about 0.5% OV. In some embodiments, the treated tobacco material has a moisture content of no greater than about 2% OV.

In some embodiments, the tobacco material has a moisture content of at least about 5% OV immediately prior to the step of intermittently contacting the heated surface. In some embodiments, the moisture content of the tobacco material immediately prior to this step is at least about 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, or at least about 24% OV. In some embodiments, the moisture content of the tobacco material immediately prior to this step is no greater than about 25%, 24%, 23%, 22%, 21%, 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, or no greater than about 6% OV. In some embodiments, the moisture content of the tobacco material immediately prior to this step is at least about 5% to about 25% OV, or at least about 5% to about 20% OV. In some embodiments, the moisture content of the tobacco material immediately prior to this step is at least about 12% to about 16% OV.

Thus, in some embodiments, the initial moisture content of the tobacco material treated by intermittent contact with the heated surface means that the tobacco material has been dried. In some embodiments, the primary purpose of treating such tobacco by intermittent contact with a heating surface is not to further reduce the moisture content of the tobacco material, but to effect physical and chemical changes in the tobacco caused by burning (which is due to the high temperature of the brief contact with the heating surface). In some embodiments, this effect is achieved without, or substantially without, combustion of the tobacco material due to contact with the heating surface.

In some embodiments, the moisture content of the tobacco material can be adjusted by humidification during the step of intermittently contacting the tobacco material with the heated surface. Moisture may be introduced to the tobacco during processing in the form of water or steam. This can be sprayed onto the tobacco material while the tobacco material is in intermittent contact with the heated surface.

In some embodiments, this moisture introduction increases the moisture content of the tobacco material by 2% to 5% OV. In some embodiments, moisture is introduced at various points or locations throughout the process.

Since this humidification of the tobacco takes place during the treatment step, the moisture content is again reduced when the humidified tobacco contacts the heated surface. The method may include multiple humidifications to cause the moisture content of the tobacco material to fluctuate repeatedly up and down during the treatment.

In some embodiments, this step involves repeatedly and intermittently contacting the tobacco material with the one or more heated surfaces for a treatment period of at least about 1 minute to about 15 minutes. In some embodiments, the period of intermittent contact of the tobacco with the heating surface is at least about 1 minute, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or at least about 14 minutes. In some embodiments, the tobacco is contacted with the heated surface intermittently for a period of time of up to about 14 minutes, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or up to about 2 minutes. In some embodiments, the tobacco material is contacted with the heated surface for a total time of at least about 2 minutes to about 10 minutes, or at least about 2.5 minutes to about 5 minutes.

In some embodiments, the intermittent contact may involve direct and continuous contact of the tobacco with the heated surface for a period of up to about 5 seconds. In some embodiments, the average length of the direct and continuous contact periods is from about 0.1 seconds to about 3 seconds.

Reference herein to intermittent contact of the tobacco material with the heating surface means that any portion of the tobacco material is only temporarily in direct contact with the heating surface. In some embodiments, this means that the tobacco material moves relative to the heating surface to prevent the tobacco material from staying too long in a particular location in contact with the heating surface and/or to ensure that the same portion of the tobacco material does not come into direct contact with the heating surface too long. Prolonged contact of the same portion of tobacco material with the heated surface can cause combustion, which can have an adverse effect on the physical and chemical properties of the tobacco material and render the treated material less suitable for further use, for example, in tobacco industry products.

In some embodiments, the step of intermittently contacting the tobacco with the heated surface comprises agitating the tobacco material as it is processed. In some embodiments, a device is provided that includes a means for agitating tobacco material.

In some embodiments, it is preferred to agitate the tobacco material by tumbling the tobacco material. This may be achieved, for example, by picking up the tobacco material being processed, lifting it up and then dropping it down to cause a tumbling motion of the tobacco material.

In some embodiments, movement of the tobacco material can be caused by a mechanism such as one or more screws. In such an arrangement, the screw comprises a helicoid about the axis of rotation, wherein the helicoid is configured to pick up tobacco material. As the shaft rotates, the helicoids scoop up at least a portion of the tobacco material being processed. This tobacco material is then carried and lifted by the rotating helicoids until rotation of the screw allows it to fall (under gravity) off the screw. In some embodiments, the one or more screws may be positioned to move the tobacco material through the treatment chamber in addition to agitating the tobacco material. Such an arrangement allows the tobacco to be treated in a continuous manner. In some embodiments, the helicoids and/or screw shaft may be heated to provide a heated surface for treating tobacco. In the case of two screws moving the tobacco material, these screws may be arranged in parallel and arranged to contact and move all of the tobacco to be treated. In some embodiments, the screw may include additional paddles to aid in picking up and carrying the tobacco material. These paddles may also be heated surfaces for treating tobacco material.

In other embodiments, the tobacco material can be agitated by a rotating drum. The interior of the drum may be a chamber in which tobacco is processed. Tobacco is located within the drum and can be picked up and lifted from the bottom of the drum as the drum rotates. The pick-up of the tobacco material may be facilitated by a drum having an inner surface capable of maintaining contact with the tobacco material, for example by having a rough surface or projections, such as paddles that scoop up the tobacco material. As the drum rotates, tobacco in contact with the inner surface of the drum is lifted until rotation of the drum allows it to fall (under gravity) off the drum wall and back to the bottom of the drum. This can result in tumbling and mixing of the tobacco material. Irregularities on the inner surface of the drum may help to control the time that the tobacco material remains in contact with the drum wall. The irregular configuration may also serve to ensure that the tobacco material does not remain in contact with the drum wall as it falls (slides down the wall), thereby enhancing the tumbling motion of the tobacco material. The rotational speed also affects the tumbling motion, as does the direction of the axis of rotation. In some embodiments, the inner surface of the drum may be a heated surface for treating tobacco. The drum may rotate about a horizontal or substantially horizontal axis. In other embodiments, rotation about the inclined axis may maintain the tobacco in contact with the drum inner surface for a longer period of time, and also move the tobacco longitudinally. The longitudinal movement of the tobacco caused by the rotation of the drum may additionally or alternatively be achieved by providing appropriately positioned and/or angled projections on the inner surface of the drum.

In other embodiments, the tobacco material may be agitated by a stream of air. For example, tobacco material is picked up and moved by an air stream.

In some embodiments, the tobacco material is not agitated by the flow of air through the device. In some embodiments, the device for treating tobacco material does not include means for pumping air through the device to agitate the tobacco material.

In some embodiments, the step of intermittently contacting the tobacco with the heated surface is part of a continuous process. For example, tobacco material is continuously fed into the apparatus, treated, and then exits the apparatus as treated tobacco material. In an alternative embodiment, the method is a batch process, wherein a batch of tobacco raw material is fed into the apparatus, processed to produce a batch of treated tobacco material, which is removed prior to processing a new batch.

Additional processing steps

In some embodiments, the treated tobacco may be conditioned after being combined, shredded, expanded, and intermittently contacted with a heated surface. For example, in some embodiments, the treated tobacco material may be humidified. In some embodiments, this is achieved by exposing the treated tobacco material to water and/or steam. In some embodiments, the moisture content is increased above about 10% OV, or from about 10 to about 20% OV.

In some embodiments, after treatment, the treated tobacco may be cooled. In some embodiments, this may involve the use of a cooling belt where ambient or cooling air is passed through a layer of processed tobacco. In other embodiments, the tobacco may be cooled by any one or more of the following steps: standing, passing through a cooling cylinder (cooling cylinder), air lifting, cooling by means of a fluidized bed, and the like.

The flow diagram shown in fig. 1 summarizes an exemplary process for treating tobacco material. The tobacco material may optionally have been subjected to a pretreatment, such as a conventional Primary Manufacturing (PMD) process. For stems, this may include, for example, one or more of: conditioning (conditioning) of green stems (raw stem), followed by rolling, drying and mixing. In some embodiments, pretreatment of the leaves may include slicing, conditioning, casting (optional), shredding, drying, cooling, and mixing.

Optionally pretreated stalks are cut and/or expanded. Shredding and/or bulking can be performed using conventional methods and devices as discussed herein.

The cut and/or expanded stems are then combined with the leaves. This combining step may include some mixing or blending to achieve a partially homogeneous mixture of materials prior to further processing steps.

The combination of stems and leaves was then shredded. This can still be accomplished using conventional processes and equipment.

The cut combination of stems and leaves is then expanded. Expansion can be achieved using one or more conventional expansion processes and devices.

The intumescent material is then fed to a treatment device where it is treated by intermittent contact with a heated surface. During the treatment, the tobacco material may be agitated to cause intermittent contact with the heated surface.

Once the treatment of the tobacco material by intermittent contact with the heated surface has been completed, the treated tobacco material may optionally be subjected to conditioning. According to one possible embodiment, this conditioning involves adding water or steam to the treated tobacco material to increase its moisture content to around, for example, 14.5% OV.

The process parameters are sufficiently mild so that the treated tobacco material retains some or all of its physical properties. For example, the tobacco material remains sufficiently intact after processing for handling and/or processing for incorporation into tobacco-containing products, such as smoking articles. This enables the treated tobacco material to be operated according to standard processes in the same manner as conventional tobacco that has not been subjected to processing as described herein.

Device

A specific illustrative example of an apparatus suitable for performing the step of intermittently contacting a heated surface with tobacco material treated by the methods described herein is shown in fig. 2. In this embodiment, the apparatus 1 comprises two screws 2 in a twin-screw arrangement. This arrangement is believed to mean that any portion of the tobacco material can only be in contact with the heated surface for a period of about a few seconds at any one time due to the agitation or turbulence generated by the screw in the device.

Tobacco material 8 is processed in an apparatus 1 comprising a conveyor screw 2, the conveyor screw 2 comprising a helicoid 3 and a shaft 4, wherein the screw 2 moves the tobacco material through a processing chamber 7 of the apparatus 1. The screw 2 is rotated by a drive mechanism 11 including a motor and the shaft 4 of the screw 2 is rotated.

The combination of stems and lamina, which in some embodiments have been combined, shredded and expanded, enters the treatment chamber 7 via the tobacco inlet 5, and the rotating screw subsequently picks up the tobacco material, tumbles it and moves it through the treatment chamber towards the tobacco outlet 6.

More specifically, a mass of tobacco material 8 enters the treatment chamber 7 via the tobacco inlet 5. As the screw 2 rotates, tobacco material is picked up, some of which is in direct contact with the helicoid 3 and possibly also with the shaft 4 of the screw 2. The tobacco material is dragged, lifted and dropped by the screw 2 so that it tumbles while being conveyed through the treatment chamber 7. The tobacco lifted by the rotating screw then falls into the mass of tobacco material 8 conveyed through the chamber 7, and the mass is constantly mixed and moved so that different parts of the mass come into contact with the screw 2 at different times.

In the embodiment shown, the surfaces of the screws 2 are heated and they intermittently contact the tobacco material according to the method of treating tobacco.

The screw 2 has a metal surface which is heated by a heating medium supplied to the device 1 via a heating medium conduit 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating medium is hot oil heated to a desired temperature.

Only a portion of the tobacco material being processed is in direct contact with the heating surface at any one time. As the tobacco is conveyed, it is tumbled and mixed to provide agitation or turbulence of the tobacco material and the desired intermittent contact with the heated surface. Single contact times are considered to be no more than a few seconds at a time. The dynamics of the tobacco flow induced by the shape of the screw ensure uniform treatment of the entire pile of tobacco material.

In the illustrated apparatus, the process chamber may be divided into different temperature zones 9. These represent different sections of the screw and these can be heated separately. Thus, the device may be configured to have surfaces heated to different temperatures. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to control the drying and burning stages of the treatment by exposing the tobacco to heated surfaces having different temperatures at different points in the treatment process.

Use of treated tobacco

The tobacco treated according to the invention can be used in tobacco industry products. Tobacco industry products refer to any article manufactured in or marketed by the tobacco industry, typically including a) tobacco for cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pipes or cigarettes and other self-made products (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes); b) non-smoking products comprising tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes, such as snuff (snuff), snus (snus), hard tobacco and heat-not-burn (HnB) products; and c) other nicotine delivery systems such as inhalers, aerosol generating devices including electronic cigarettes, lozenges and chewing gums. This list is not intended to be exclusive, but merely illustrates a range of products manufactured and sold in the tobacco industry.

The treated tobacco material may be incorporated into a smoking article. The term "smoking article" as used herein includes smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos, whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes, and also heat-not-burn products.

The treated tobacco material can be used for homemade cigarette tobacco, homemade products and/or pipe tobacco.

The treated tobacco material can be incorporated into a smokeless tobacco product. "smokeless tobacco product" is used herein to mean any tobacco product that is not intended to be combusted. This includes any smokeless tobacco product that is designed to be placed in the mouth of a user for a limited time during which contact occurs between the user's saliva and the product.

The treated tobacco material can be blended with one or more tobacco materials prior to incorporation into a smoking article or smokeless tobacco product or for use in a homemade cigarette, homemade product, or pipe tobacco.

Example 1

The tobacco stems are processed to a shredding stage according to the conventional method. The cut rolled stems had a width of 0.21 mm and had a moisture content of 33% OV.

The leaves are conventionally processed to a conditioning stage to have a moisture content of 24% to 26% OV. The leaves were blended and carried with the feed solution.

The cut stems and leaves were combined and cut together to a cut width of 1 mm.

The material used for the process consists of 60% leaf and 40% unexpanded cut stems.

Subsequently, the mixture is transferred to a conventional expansion process which, after associated drying and rearrangement (re-ordering), gives an expanded dried product having a moisture content of from 13% to 15% OV.

This expanded blend is then transferred to a so-called "hot" process where it is intermittently contacted with a heated surface.

Cut and expanded stems and leaves were used as a feed and were processed by using the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

The process can be described as exposing tobacco particles to a hot metal surface for several seconds, then the individual particles "fall" back into the bulk material of the tobacco material being processed.

The residence time (and hence the treatment period) of the mass of tobacco particles in the device is from 1 to 5 minutes. The heated metal surface is heated by a heated jacket and a screw to bring the heated surface to the desired temperature with the aid of synthetic oil.

The values and parameters provided in table 1 below reflect the respective temperatures throughout the treatment process when the heating medium (oil) temperature was set to 230 ℃.

TABLE 1

Parameter(s)	Value of
		Residence time	180 seconds
Set point temperature	230℃
		Jacket temperature @ outlet (14)	217℃
Screw
	1 temperature @ outlet	221℃
Screw
	2 temperature @ outlet	221℃
Temperature sensor
	1	126℃
Temperature sensor
	2	130℃
Temperature sensor
	3	154℃
Temperature sensor
	4	168℃
Temperature sensor
	5	175℃
Temperature sensor
	6	178℃
Temperature sensor
	7	145℃
Temperature sensor
	8	146℃
Temperature sensor
	9	161℃
Temperature sensor
	10	169℃
Temperature sensor
	11	176℃
Temperature sensor
	12	182℃

Tobacco is treated by a process involving a residence time (or treatment period) of about 3 minutes for tobacco having a moisture content of about 14.5% OV and a throughput rate of tobacco material of about 35 kg/h.

The process can be divided into two distinct stages. Throughout the first stage, the tobacco particles lose their moisture. At a heating medium (oil) temperature of 230 ℃, the tobacco particles had a moisture content of 0% OV after about 2 minutes. The remainder of the process is the second phase and the effect is called "burning". Throughout the second stage, the main chemical change occurs.

The glowing process results in a reduction in nicotine content of the treated tobacco (e.g., greater than a 35% reduction at a heating medium temperature of 230 ℃) and a significant reduction in the total sugar and ammonia content of the tobacco (e.g., greater than a 60% reduction).

In addition, the glowing process also causes significant changes to the tobacco material throughout the process. It has been shown that these changes translate into changes in the organoleptic properties of the processed material, which are discernible in the treated tobacco, such as the smoke produced when burned in a cigarette. Professional smokers describe the sensory properties of such smoke in a very positive way, indicating that the tobacco treatment results in a treated material having beneficial and desirable properties. This involves both a reduction in some undesirable tobacco constituents and an improvement in organoleptic properties. These changes are also manifested as a darkening or browning of the color or appearance of the scorched tobacco.

What is more, due to the combined processing of stems and leaves, an extremely high consistency of the processed material is achieved in terms of color and grain size. This may for example make the combustion properties in the combustible product very consistent. The stalk portion of the processed blend is not actually visible in the final material, which is desirable in many products, including tobacco for pipes, for homemade cigarettes, or homemade products.

Furthermore, this combination of steps results in a product with a higher fill value than conventionally processed products, i.e. a tobacco volume improvement per mass.

The normalized fill value of the 60% leaf/40% stem blend was measured as 6.75 ml/g prior to the glowing process and resulted in a normalized fill value of 8.10 ml/g after glowing and associated rearrangement (re-ordering).

Example 2

The process was similar to that used in example 1, but used expanded stalks as the feed that was combined with the leaves before combined shredding.

The material used for the process consists of 60% leaf and 40% expanded cut stems.

This expanded stem has a moisture content of 22% to 24% OV.

The cut stems and leaves were combined and cut together to a cut width of 0.9 mm.

Subsequently, the mixture is transferred to a conventional expansion process which, after associated drying and rearrangement (re-ordering), gives an expanded product having a moisture content of from 14% to 15% OV.

The values and parameters provided in table 2 below reflect the respective temperatures throughout the treatment process when the heating medium (oil) temperature was set to 230 ℃ as in example 1.

TABLE 2

Parameter(s)	Value of
		Residence time	180 seconds
Set point temperature	230℃
		Jacket temperature @ outlet (14)	217℃
Screw
	1 temperature @ outlet	221℃
Screw
	2 temperature @ outlet	221℃
Temperature sensor
	1	128℃
Temperature sensor
	2	133℃
Temperature sensor
	3	155℃
Temperature sensor
	4	171℃
Temperature sensor
	5	176℃
Temperature sensor
	6	181℃
Temperature sensor
	7	148℃
Temperature sensor
	8	150℃
Temperature sensor
	9	162℃
Temperature sensor
	10	171℃
Temperature sensor
	11	178℃
Temperature sensor
	12	184℃

Tobacco is treated by a process involving a residence time (or treatment period) of about 3 minutes for tobacco having a moisture content of about 14.5% OV and a throughput rate of tobacco material of about 30 kg/h.

The glowing process results in a reduction in nicotine content of the treated tobacco (e.g., a greater than 40% reduction at a heating medium temperature of 230 ℃) and a significant reduction in the total sugar and ammonia content of the tobacco (e.g., a greater than 70% reduction).

The normalized fill value of the 60% leaf/40% stem blend was measured to be 7.95 ml/g prior to the glowing process and to give a normalized fill value of 9.60 ml/g after glowing and associated rearrangement (re-ordering).

To address the various problems and advance the art, the disclosure herein, in its entirety, illustrates by way of example various embodiments in which the claimed invention can be practiced and provides advantageous methods, devices, and treated tobacco materials and extracts therefrom. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are merely representative of embodiments and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented merely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be taken as limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, and the like. Moreover, this disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. A method of treating tobacco material, comprising:

combining pre-cut and/or pre-expanded stems with lamina to form an initial combination of stems and lamina;

shredding the initial combination of stems and leaves;

expanding the combination of stems and leaves; and

the expanded combination of stems and lamina is intermittently contacted with a heated surface to produce a treated tobacco material.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the initial combination of stems and leaves comprises at least about 5% leaves up to about 99% leaves by weight, and/or at least about 1% stems up to about 95% stems by weight.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the combination of the agitation and expansion of the blades is such that they intermittently contact the heated surface.

4. A method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the heating surface has a temperature of from at least about 100 ℃ to about 300 ℃ prior to contact with the tobacco material.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the temperature of the heating surface is at least about 120 ℃ to about 250 ℃ prior to contact with the tobacco material, or at least about 150 ℃ to about 300 ℃ prior to contact with the tobacco material.

6. A method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein contacting the expanded combination of stems and lamina with the heating surface heats the tobacco material to a peak temperature of from about 120 ℃ to about 230 ℃.

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heated surface is a heated metal surface.

8. A method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the treated tobacco material has a moisture content of from 0 to about 10% Oven Volatiles (OV).

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the expanded combination of stems and leaves has a moisture content of at least 5% OV prior to its intermittent contact with the heated surface.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the expanded combination of stems and leaves has a moisture content of from about 5% to about 25% OV, or from about 12 to about 16% OV prior to intermittent contact thereof with the heated surface.

11. A method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the expanded combination of stems and leaves is intermittently contacted with the heated surface for a period of time of from at least about 1 minute to about 15 minutes.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the expanded combination of stems and leaves is contacted intermittently with the heated surface for a period of time of from at least about 2 minutes to about 10 minutes.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the expanded combination of stems and leaves is intermittently contacted with the heated surface for a period of time of from at least about 2.5 minutes to about 5 minutes.

14. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of water and steam is added to the expanded combination of stems and leaves while it is in intermittent contact with the heated surface to increase its moisture content.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of water and steam is repeatedly added to the expanded combination of stems and leaves while it is in intermittent contact with the heated surface to increase its moisture content.

16. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method is a continuous process.

17. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the combination of expansion of the agitating stems and blades is by at least one of: a screw mechanism; a double screw mechanism; an air flow; and a drum.

18. A method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fill value of the treated tobacco is at least about 5% or at least about 15% greater than the fill value of the combination of stems and lamina immediately prior to the step of intermittently contacting the expanded combination of stems and lamina with the heated surface.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the fill value of the treated tobacco is from about 30% to about 50% greater than the fill value of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

20. A method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sugar content of the treated tobacco is from about 20% to about 95% less than the sugar content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

21. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the sugar content of the treated tobacco is from about 60% to about 90% less than the sugar content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

22. A method as in any of the preceding claims, wherein the nicotine content of the treated tobacco is from about 10% to about 80% less than the nicotine content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein the nicotine content of the treated tobacco is from about 35% to about 70% less than the nicotine content of the initial combination of stem and lamina.

24. A method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the ammonia content of the treated tobacco is from about 30% to about 99% less than the ammonia content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

25. A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the ammonia content of the treated tobacco is from about 50% to about 90% less than the ammonia content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

26. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cut combination of stems and leaves is expanded by exposing the cut stems and leaves to an expanding agent.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the swelling agent is selected from the group consisting of: liquid carbon dioxide, solid carbon dioxide, steam, liquid nitrogen, liquid short (C5 or C6) chain carbohydrates, or mixtures thereof.

28. An apparatus for performing the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a module for intermittently contacting the expanded combination of stems and leaves with a heated surface, the module comprising a heated surface for intermittently contacting the expanded combination of stems and leaves.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28, further comprising means for agitating the expanded combination of stems and blades.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the means for agitating the expanded combination of stems and blades comprises at least one of: a screw mechanism; a double screw mechanism; an air flow; and a drum.

31. An apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 28 through 30 wherein said heating surface has a temperature of at least about 100 ℃ to about 300 ℃ prior to contact with the tobacco material.

32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the temperature of said heated surface is at least about 120 ℃ to about 250 ℃ prior to contact with the expanded combination of stem and lamina or at least about 150 ℃ to about 300 ℃ prior to contact with the expanded combination of stem and lamina.

33. An apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 28 through 32 wherein contact of the expanded combination of stem and leaf with the heated surface heats the expanded combination of stem and leaf to a peak temperature of from about 120 ℃ to about 230 ℃.

34. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein the heated surface is a heated metal surface.

35. The device as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 34, wherein the heating surface is heated by a heating medium, the heating medium being water, oil, steam, electricity or a combination thereof.

36. A treated tobacco material obtained or obtainable by a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27.

37. A treated tobacco material as claimed in claim 36, wherein the treated tobacco material has a reduced content of one or more of the following compared to the content in the initial combination of stems and lamina: sugar, nicotine and ammonia.

38. A treated tobacco material as claimed in claim 37, wherein the sugar content of the treated tobacco is from about 20% to about 95%, or from about 60% to about 90%, less than the sugar content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

39. A treated tobacco material as claimed in claim 37 or claim 38, wherein the nicotine content of the treated tobacco material is from about 10% to about 80%, or from about 35% to about 70% less than the nicotine content of the initial combination of stem and lamina.

40. A treated tobacco material as claimed in any one of claims 37 to 39, wherein the ammonia content of the treated tobacco material is from about 30% to about 99%, or from about 50% to about 90%, less than the ammonia content of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

41. A treated tobacco material as claimed in any one of claims 36 to 40, wherein the treated tobacco has a fill value that is at least about 25% or at least about 30% higher than the fill value of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

42. A treated tobacco material as claimed in claim 41, wherein the fill value of the treated tobacco is from about 30% to about 50% higher than the fill value of the initial combination of stems and lamina.

43. A tobacco industry product comprising the treated tobacco material of any one of claims 36 to 42.

44. Use of the treated tobacco material of any one of claims 36 to 42 for the manufacture of tobacco industry products.