IE32990B1 - Process for preparing tobacco - Google Patents

Abstract

1,222,308. Puffing tobacco. R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO. 21 March, 1969 [10 April, 1968 (2)], No. 15117/69. Heading A2C. Tobacco is puffed to increase its filling capacity by contacting it with a sufficient quantity of a volatile organic liquid to impregnate it and thereafter passing a gas into contact with it, the gas being heated to a temperature of at least 30‹F. above the boiling point of the liquid at the prevailing pressure, whereby the tobacco is expanded and the liquid is separated therefrom in the vapour state. The liquid can be any organic liquid which is substantially inert to tobacco and which is volatile, preferably with a boiling point below that of water, and many such suitable liquids are specified. The tobacco, which may be in the form of whole leaves, stripped leaves, or cut filler, is impregnated for from a few minutes to 24 hours according to the impregnation temperature which is preferably below 170‹F. The hot gas is preferably steam or a mixture thereof with vapourized organic liquid, but air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide or any gas inert to tobacco and the organic impregnating liquid may be used. Preferably the tobacco is moistened before impregnation with the liquid. A suitable apparatus for carrying out the process is illustrated by means of a flow diagram and includes additionally an arrangement for recovering and reusing the organic liquid, and an humidity reconditioning stage for the expanded tobacco. [GB1222308A]