JP2017018116A - Smoking article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a smoking article in which discharge of all main flow smoke components which are not desirable, is significantly reduced.SOLUTION: A smoking article 10 comprises: a smoking material rod 11; and a filter 12 which is attached to one end of the rod. The filter comprises at least two sections, and is wrapped by a porous plug wrapper. A first chipping wrapper 14 is overlapped on a joint between the smoking material rod and the filter, and at least one other chipping wrapper 15 is disposed on the surrounding of the filter. A part of the porous plug wrapper is separated from the first chipping wrapper so as to be exposed between the first chipping wrapper and at least one other chipping wrapper, and is disposed individually from the first chipping wrapper. The chipping wrappers have a porosity smaller than that of the plug wrapper, generally. Although, if the chipping wrapper has a porosity larger than that of the plug wrapper, division chippings can maintain a function thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to smoking articles, and more particularly to smoking articles that individually reduce the mechanically measured yield of a particular component or group of components in mainstream smoke.

  Conventionally, a smoking article such as a cigarette includes a cylindrical tobacco rod made of tobacco or tobacco-based smoking material wrapped in a paper wrapper and may be provided with a filter unit. In its basic shape, the filter unit is a cylindrical element formed from a filter material such as cellulose acetate tow, and selectively functions as a smoke flow and filter function such as recesses and gaps and additives such as granular carbon. Includes denatured features. The tow may be wrapped with a plug wrapper layer that helps maintain the cylindrical shape and structure of the filter material. The filter unit is joined to the tobacco rod using a tipping paper, which is an outer paper layer wound around the filter unit and overlapping the seam between the filter unit and the tobacco rod. The chipping paper is glued in place.

  Cigarette smoke is a complex and dynamic mixture of over 5000 identified components, of which about 150 have been reported as undesirable. These components are present in the mainstream smoke (MS) that is inhaled by the smoker and are released as a sidestream smoke (SS) component between the smoke and smoke.

In 2001, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reduced exposure because smoking-related diseases are smoking-dependent and, according to epidemiological studies, smoking cessation reduces the risk of smoking-related diseases They report that the development of potential reduced-exposure products (PREP) may reduce smoking-related risks. IOM will use PREP to: (1) products that result in a significant reduction in exposure to one or more tobacco toxic substances; and (2) if a risk reduction claim is made, It is defined as a product that can reasonably be expected to reduce the risk of disease or other adverse health effects. (Stratton et al., 2001). To date, no flammable tobacco product has emerged that is said to meet the general requirements outlined by the IOM.

  Thus, there is a problem of providing a smoking article with a significantly reduced emission of all mainstream smoke components that are considered undesirable. However, individual measures to reduce a particular component often not only reduce other components, but in some cases increase the concentration of other components.

  It is also important to produce products that are acceptable to consumers. Many of the sensory stimuli of conventional smoking articles are based on MS components and other factors such as pressure drop and number of puffs. Several measures taken to reduce specific MS components have been found to provide smokers with a smoking experience that smokers are not satisfied with.

  In some embodiments of the present invention, a smoking article is provided that includes a smoking material rod and a filter attached to one end of the rod, the filter including at least three sections, and a porous plug wrapper. A first chipping wrapper overlying the seam between the smokable rod and the filter, a further at least one chipping wrapper is provided around the filter, and a portion of the porous plug wrapper is the first and the other Separately from the first chipping wrapper, being separated from the first chipping wrapper so as to be exposed between at least one further chipping wrapper, the chipping wrappers have a smaller porosity than the plug wrappers.

  In some embodiments, at least one filter section includes a fibrous filter material. At least one filter section may include a porous adsorbent. At least one filter section may include an ion exchange resin.

  In certain embodiments, the porous adsorbent contained in at least one filter section is carbon, which is a porous carbon having an engineered porous structure. The filter section may include about 20 mg to about 80 mg of porous adsorbent.

  In certain embodiments, the ion exchange resin contained in at least one filter section has a surface active amine. The filter section may include about 5 mg to about 40 mg of ion exchange resin.

  In some embodiments, the filter includes a tip end section that includes a fibrous filter material, a section that includes an ion exchange resin, and a section that includes a porous adsorbent adjacent to the smoking material rod.

  In some embodiments, the filter is longer than a conventional cigarette filter and has a length of about 30 mm to about 40 mm, preferably about 37 mm.

  In some embodiments, the total length including the smoking article filter and the smoking material rod is about 83 mm.

In some embodiments, the smoking article is about 21 mm smaller than the circumference of a conventional cigarette.
Has a circumference of.

  In some embodiments, the width of the gap between the first and at least one additional chipping wrapper is about 10 mm.

  In some embodiments, the smoking article further includes a ventilation hole formed in the chipping wrapper and / or the filter body.

In some embodiments, the smokable rod comprises one or more of the following: (a) tobacco treated to reduce the amount of nitrogenous compounds;
(B) tobacco from which polyphenols and / or peptides have been removed;
(C) A tobacco substitute sheet comprising a non-combustible inorganic filler, a binder and an aerosol generating means.

  Further, the smoking material may further include tobacco and / or dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET).

  In some further embodiments, the smoking material further comprises glycerol. The smoking material additionally or separately includes at least one flavorant.

  In some embodiments, the smoking material of the smoking article comprises blended tobacco, tobacco replacement sheets, DIET, leaf tobacco, glycerol and a concentrated flavoring agent.

  Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic illustration of a smoking article according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the internal structure of the filter of FIG. 1 in more detail. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a longitudinal section of a smoking article according to another embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows an overview of how carbon from highly active polymers is prepared. The ventilation flow measured by changing the ventilation system is shown.

  The present invention relates to a smoking article that includes a filter design with an enhanced ventilation system to provide a smoking article with a high toxicant reduction while maintaining consumer acceptability.

  In some embodiments, the reduced amount of toxic substances can be further improved by a special tobacco blend and / or a special adsorptive filter additive and filter combination. Furthermore, the overall format of any new smoking article can help balance the effectiveness of filter design and other means of reducing toxic substances, and can improve consumer acceptance of smoking articles.

  In standard or conventional cigarettes, the filter and tobacco rod are joined with a chipping wrapper that covers the entire length of the filter and the end of the adjacent tobacco rod. When ventilation is provided, ventilation takes the form of holes or channels formed in the tipping paper to draw ambient air into the filter or dilute the MS.

  In an embodiment of the invention, the chipping wrapper does not cover the entire filter. Instead, the tipping paper is divided and / or includes two or more strips. The first chipping wrapper covers the seam between the filter and the smokable rod, for example to attach the filter to the rod. At least one further chipping wrapper separates from and separates the first chipping wrapper from another part of the filter, thereby forming a gap between the first and at least one further chipping wrapper. This gap exposes an area of the filter surrounded by a material that is more porous than the chipping wrapper. This results in a section of the filter surrounded only by porous (plug wrapper) paper, increasing the diffusion of gas into and out of the area of the filter. For example, gases such as CO (carbon monoxide) and NO (nitrogen oxide) may diffuse out of the filter region. This so-called “split chipping” can also improve the control of the ventilation level at high flow rates.

  Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a smoking article 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, which includes a smoking material rod 11 and a filter 12. In one embodiment, the smokable rod 11 comprises a cylinder of smokable tobacco or tobacco-based material housed in a paper sleeve.

  The smoking material rod 11 is attached to the filter 12. In this illustrated embodiment, the first chipping wrapper 14 is located overlying the seam between the smokable rod 11 and the filter. This chipping wrapper 14 assists in attaching the rod 11 to the filter 12. A further chipping wrapper 15 surrounds the filter at the mouth end 13 of the filter. The chipping wrappers 14 and 15 are individually located apart from each other, and a gap 16 is provided therebetween. This gap 16 is a section of the filter that is not surrounded by a chipping wrapper. In the illustrated embodiment, this filter section of the gap 16 is surrounded by an exposed porous plug wrapper.

  The structure of the filter 12 is illustrated in detail in the exploded view of FIG. The filter includes three individual filter sections 21a, 21b, 21c. Each individual filter section 21a, 21b, 21c is preferably different. In order for each individual filter section 21a, 21b, 21c to maintain the desired structure, they are selectively encased individually in individual inner plug wrappers 22a, 22b, 22c.

  When the ends are in contact, the three individual wrapped filter sections 21a, 21b, 21c are then wrapped together with a single outer plug wrapper 23 that holds them as a single unit. It is. The outer plug wrapper 23 is made of a porous material, and at least some of the individual inner plug wrappers 22a, 22b, 22c may be porous.

  The filter 12 is attached to the tobacco rod 11 by a tobacco rod 11 and a first chipping wrapper 14 wound around the filter 12, and is located on the seam between them. The chipping wrapper is glued in place.

  A second separate chipping wrapper 15 is wound around the mouth end 13 of the filter 12 distal to the tobacco rod 11 and is away from the first chipping wrapper 14 leaving a gap 16 therebetween. . The outer plug wrapper 23 is exposed in the gap 16 and defines a ventilation area in the filter section of the smoking article 10. The porosity of this section of the filter is determined by the porosity of the outer plug wrapper 23 and any inner plug wrapper that surrounds the filter in that region. The chipping wrapper preferably provides a region of low porosity compared to the porosity of the paper surrounding the section of the filter aligned with the gap 16 between the chipping wrappers 14,15.

  In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the filter 12 has been described as including three separate sections 21a, 21b, 21c. However, it will be appreciated that providing more than three filter sections is within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to each individual filter section 21a, 21b, 21c being initially encased in a respective individual plug wrapper 22a, 22b, 22c; instead, the outer plug wrapper 23 is a filter. It may serve to keep all of the sections together in their preferred form, eg cylindrical.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the three filter sections 21a, 21b, 21c are not the same size. In the illustrated embodiment, the tip end section 21c is shorter than the central section 21b, which is shorter than the section 21a adjacent to the smokable rod. In a particular embodiment, the length of the tip end section 21c is 7 mm, the length of the central section 21b is 10 mm, and the length of the section 21a adjacent to the smokable rod is 20 mm.

  The first and second chipping wrappers 14, 15 are sized to partially expose the section 21a adjacent to the smokable rod and are positioned to expose. The second chipping wrapper 15 at the filter mouth end is wider than the first chipping wrapper 14. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the first chipping wrapper covers an area of 11 mm width and is located on the end of the smokable rod and on a portion of the adjacent filter section 21a. Specifically, the first chipping wrapper 14 may be located on a 5 mm smoking material rod and a 6 mm adjacent filter section 21a. The gap between the first chipping wrapper 14 and the second chipping wrapper 15 in the illustrated embodiment is 10 mm. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the second chipping wrapper covers a 21 mm wide area at the filter mouth end 12 and is adjacent to all of the filter section 21c on the mouth end side, the middle filter section 21b and the smoking material rod. It is located so as to cover all of a part (4 mm) of the filter section 21a. Thus, the gap 16 between the first and second chipping wrappers 14, 15 is aligned with a portion of the filter section 22 a adjacent to the smokable rod 11.

  Several variations are possible within the scope of the present invention from the smoking article 10 described above. For example, more than two separate chipping wrappers may be provided surrounding the filter and / or smokable rod, and these may be positioned to provide more than one gap. The size (width) of the wrappers and their position may be varied to provide gaps at different widths and at different positions. Furthermore, the number and size of the filter sections can be changed.

  FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a smoking article, where the filter 112 further includes a ventilation hole 131. The smoking article 110 includes the same members as the smoking article 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 except that the smoking article 110 includes a ventilation hole 131.

  The purpose of the vent is to allow air to enter the filter when the smoker inhales smoking articles. Air mixes with and dilutes mainstream smoke and other components drawn through the filter from the lit smoking material. There are a variety of techniques currently used to make ventilation holes. The chipping wrapper may be pre-drilled before being wound by a mechanical or electrostatic drilling device or laser beam. Alternatively, the holes may be created using an on-line system or an on-machine system using a laser beam after the smoking article has been assembled. In the latter case, the holes reach the filter by the focused laser beam, and thus pass through one or more sheets of paper (chipping wrapper and plug wrapper) wound on the filter and reach the filter material in the filter.

  Depending on the position of the holes along the length of the filter, the filtration and dilution effects can be altered, especially if the holes are arranged with reference to the individual members of the filter consisting of a plurality of segments. It has been found that in smoking articles having the “divided chipping” described above, this divided chipping improves ventilation level control when the flow rate is high.

  Ventilation flow measurements for three different ventilation systems are shown in FIG. Plot A shows data for test cigarettes where all filter ventilation is done with split chipping at 20 mm intervals. Plot B shows data for a commercially available control cigarette with on-machine laser (OML) ventilation in the filter. Plot C shows data for a test cigarette where a portion of the ventilation is made on the filter by split chipping (10 mm spacing) and partially by OML area.

Under ISO mechanical smoke absorption conditions, ie the average ISO flow rate at which the cigarette smokes at 17.5 cm ³ (or 1.050 L / min) per second, the filter ventilation is via the ventilation holes of the cigarette filter for the total puff capacity. Measured as the percentage of air flowing in, or the average cigarette flow rate. The resulting ventilation affects the ISO production of product tar, nicotine and CO. When a consumer smokes a cigarette, the consumer draws the cigarette at a higher puff volume and / or higher flow rate relative to ISO. Thus, consumers receive production from conventional cigarettes that exceeds the ISO machine smoking value. One reason for this increase in production is that the “filter ventilation” effect is reduced at suction rates that exceed ISO (shown by plot B in FIG. 5).

  In contrast, in a “split chipping” ventilation system (without additional ventilation holes), even if the amount of flow through the cigarette increases beyond the amount of ISO flow, the “ventilation effect” Does not decrease as much as expected. In fact, the flow versus pressure drop relationship through the “split chipping” region is almost linear, and as the flow in the cigarette rod increases, the flow through the “split chipping” increases at approximately the same rate. . Therefore, the “ventilation effect” is hardly lost even under stronger smoking (see plot A in FIG. 5).

  As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, split chipping is only effective in affecting the yield from human or machine smoking when the ventilation area is not occluded. This means that split chipping is not effective when using the Health Canada intensive smoking (machine) method.

  Since it is difficult to predict the exact ventilation level achieved with split chipping alone, several trial samples are made and the sample filter ventilation is “fine tuned” using an on-machine laser to achieve the desired ISO yield. (For example, used for plot C in FIG. 5). As is evident in this plot, this effect of split chipping is demonstrated using a combined ventilation system.

  In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the ventilation hole 131 is annularly positioned around the filter 112 by baking with a focused laser beam (on-machine laser). The ventilation holes extend through the chipping wrapper 115, the underlying plug wrapper 123 and any optional inner plug wrapper (not shown) and extend a small distance into the filter body.

  The ventilation holes are arranged as a row or a region around the filter at a position of about 11 to 16 mm from the suction end of the filter. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the ventilation holes 131 are provided 13 mm from the mouth end 113 of the filter 112. This means that the ventilation hole 131 is aligned with the middle filter section 121b.

  Ventilation holes made by lasers usually have a depth of about 1 to 2 mm, but the ventilation holes may extend into the body of the filter at a depth of more than 2 mm, for example a depth of 2 to 3.5 mm. And / or extend at a depth of at least 25% of the diameter of the filter or 25-50% of the diameter of the filter. In some embodiments, the smoking article includes at least one ventilation hole that extends into the filter through the chipping wrapper and any plug wrapper. The ventilation hole may extend at a depth such that air drawn through the ventilation hole enters the central region of the filter. Alternatively, one or more ventilation holes may be provided and arranged to regulate the passage of dilution air through the filter. For example, the ventilation holes may vary in depth and may be aligned with a predetermined filter portion.

  Conventional cigarettes usually contain cellulose acetate (CA) tow as a filter material. Cellulose acetate is usually treated with a plasticizer that binds adjacent fibers where they come into contact, improving the strength and structural integrity of the fibrous tow. Suitable plasticizers for this use include triacetin (glycerin triacetate), TEC (triethyl citrate) and PEG400 (low molecular weight polyethylene glycol). Plasticized cellulose acetate tow is known to improve the selective removal of semi-volatile components found in smoke, such as phenol, o-cresol, p-cresol and m-cresol. In some embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the filter sections includes cellulose acetate. In some embodiments, the mouth end filter section (illustrated as filter section 21c in FIG. 1) comprises or consists essentially of cellulose acetate tow, preferably plasticized cellulose acetate tow.

  Fibrous filter media can also reduce particulate phase components including tar and nicotine, but there is little selective reduction. Furthermore, cellulose acetate filters have little or no effect on volatile components, so increasing the filtration efficiency increases their yield ratio to tar and nicotine. However, the presence of the cellulose acetate filter section can increase the consumer acceptance of the smoking article of the present invention, which is especially true when the cellulose acetate filter section is located at the mouth end of the filter.

  To further improve the adsorption properties of the smoking article filter, a porous adsorbent agent may be included to remove some of the volatile components from the mainstream smoke. Activated carbon (AC) is a non-selective adsorbent that is widely used in cigarette filters and can reduce a wide range of volatile smoke components by a substantial percentage by physical adsorption.

  The adsorption properties of porous carbon can be improved by manipulating the porous surface of the carbon, thereby obtaining what is referred to as “high activated carbon” (HAC). Thus, in some embodiments of the invention, at least one section of the filter includes highly active carbon.

  The highly activated carbon may be incorporated into the cavity of the filter section of the smoking article or may be dispersed throughout the plug of filter material (such as cellulose acetate) ("Dalmatian" style). In some embodiments, the high activated carbon may be applied to the inner surface of the (inner) plug wrapper of the filter section, so that it is located between the plug wrapper and the plug of filter material.

  In some embodiments, the filter section adjacent to the smokable rod (as illustrated as section 21a in FIG. 1) comprises high activated carbon. In some embodiments, the filter section is filled with 20 to 80 mg, preferably about 50 mg of high activated charcoal.

  The high activated carbon may be derived from a polymer. For example, a porous carbon bead material derived from polystyrene may be used.

One possible type of high activated carbon that may be used in the smoking article of the present invention is a substance consisting essentially of polymer-derived carbon prepared by a unique process (Von Blucher and De Ruiter 2004; VonBlucher et el 2006; Bohringer and Fichtner 2008). Spheres and those available from Blucher GmbH (Germany).

  High activated carbon particles derived from these polymers have a different pore structure from the carbon commonly used in commercial cigarettes usually derived from coconut shells. As a result, the high activated carbon particles have excellent adsorption properties for a series of volatile smoke toxic substances. The polymer carbon performed well in both ISO and HCI smoking conditions and with cigarettes with standard and small circumferences. Limitations were also observed in the removal of acetaldehyde under higher smoking conditions.

The method used to prepare polymer derived carbon is shown in FIG. Polymer-derived activated carbon is prepared using a batch process in an indirectly heated rotary kiln under reduced pressure in an inert atmosphere. After preparation of the spherical polymer feedstock, excess fuming sulfuric acid is used to thermally stabilize the feedstock. Thereafter, the material is slowly heated to 500 ° C., thereby mainly releasing SO ₂ and H ₂ O to carbonize the polymer. The resulting carbon has an initial pore system in which typical adsorbents cannot adsorb. To create a porous system that can be adsorbed, the material is further heated to 900-1000 ° C. to activate the oxidant (water vapor). This achieves a pore system consisting mainly of pores having a pore size of 0.7 to 3 nm. Subsequent activation of CO ₂ results in the formation of larger mesopores mainly in the 3-80 nm range. Combining the activation process with water vapor and CO ₂ provides a flexible strategy for creating the desired pore properties.

  Since polymer-derived carbon is a synthetic material, it has a more distinct spherical shape as well as a more uniform particle size. The polymer-derived material is low in density and low in ash, reflecting the properties of the polymer feedstock as a synthetic product, compared to natural coconut shell as a starting material for the carbonization process.

  Most smoke components are more efficiently adsorbed by polymer-derived carbon than palm activated carbon under ISO conditions, with 80 to 80 smoke components other than folimaldehyde, acetaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and toluene (50-60% reduction) A reduction of about 95% was observed. In the cigarette using conventional palm carbon under HCI conditions, most smoke components were reduced by about 25 to 45% in addition to acetaldehyde (16%). In cigarettes containing polymer-derived carbon, in addition to acetaldehyde and HCN (15-30%), most smoke components were reduced by 60-90%.

  It is also possible to remove highly volatile aldehydes and toxic substances such as HCN from mainstream smoke by chemisorption. Amine functionalized resins offer the possibility of nucleophilic capture of aldehydes from mainstream smoke, and can also be used to remove HCN from mainstream smoke due to their weak basic properties.

  Thus, in some embodiments of the invention, at least one filter section comprises an ion exchange resin. The ion exchange resin has a surface activated amine and effectively binds to the selected vapor phase aldehyde component and hydrogen cyanide.

  The amine functionalized resin material may be incorporated into the cavity within the filter section of the smoking article, or may be dispersed throughout the plug (such as cellulose acetate) of the filter material (“Dalmatian” style). In some embodiments, the amine functionalized resin may be applied to the inner surface of the (inner) plug wrapper of the filter section, thereby positioning it between the plug wrapper and the filter material plug.

  In one possible configuration, the central filter section may be filled with 5-40 mg, preferably about 20 mg of amine functionalized resin.

  DIAION® CR20 is a commercially available amine-functionalized ion exchange resin bead (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation). It has polyamine groups as chelating ligands attached to a highly porous cross-linked polystyrene matrix. CR20 exhibits a large affinity for transition metal ions. Several different types can be present on the surface of the resin because the exact type of amine groups produced by functionalization cannot be precisely controlled.

It has been found that the commercial brand CR20 (hereinafter referred to as CR20C) has a unique odor when incorporated into a cigarette that is incompatible with the characteristics of tobacco smoke acceptable to conventional consumers. However, by changing the synthesis conditions by Mitsubishi, the intensity of this odor was greatly reduced, and the “low odor” brand of CR20 (hereinafter referred to as CR20L) was obtained. Unless otherwise stated, all results obtained in this study are with CR20L. This material had a bead diameter of 600 mm, a density of 0.64 g / cm ³ , a moisture content of 15% by weight, and a total exchange capacity of 0.92 meq / cm ³ . Other types of CR20, such as CR20D and CR20HD, are also manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and are also suitably used for smoking articles.

  Some CR20 beads are supplied in water, but it may be necessary to remove at least some of the water to be suitable for cigarette filter applications. In one aspect, the water is removed and the material is dried to 15% moisture or less. In another embodiment, higher moisture content may be tolerated in smoking article filters.

  Specifically, including CR20L, CR20 can be incorporated into a cigarette filter. Compared to conventional carbon-containing filters, CR20L has an excellent reduction effect on HCN, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.

  In some embodiments of the present invention, the smoking article is based on a novel format. This is partly to accommodate long filters according to some embodiments described herein. For example, in some embodiments, the smoking article includes three or more filter sections having a total length of about 37 mm, and the chipping length (ie, the distance from the tip of the smoking article to the farthest edge of the chipping wrapper) is: 42 mm. Conventional king size cigarettes typically have a filter with a length of 15 to 27 mm. Increasing the length of the filter of some smoking articles of the present invention increases the resistance time of the smoke within the filter and reduces the length of the smoking material rod to burn less smoking material Double smoke filtering effect is obtained.

In some embodiments, the filter length is at least 30 mm, 31 mm, 32
mm, 33 mm, 34 mm or at least 35 mm. Alternatively or additionally, the length of the filter may be less than 50 mm, 49 mm, 48 mm, 47 mm, 46 mm, 45 mm, 44 mm, 43 mm, 42 mm, 41 mm or 40 mm.

  To compensate for the shortening of the smokable rod length, the smokable rod may be wound using a slow burning paper wrapper. This allows the smoker to smoke a smoking article with the same number of puffs per smoking article as a conventional smoking rod.

  In another embodiment, the smoking article may be provided with a smoking material rod having the same or similar length as a conventional cigarette smoking material rod. This gives a longer smoking article than conventional cigarettes due to the length of the filter.

  In some embodiments, the smoking article has a circumference of 21 mm, referred to as “Demislim” compared to a standard “king size” 24.6 mm circumference. The smoking article has a standard “king size” length of 83 mm (including both smoking material rod and filter).

  In addition to the denaturation of smoking articles filters to increase the rate of reduction of toxic substances present in mainstream smoke, further techniques for smoking materials are used to supplement the filters or offset them as necessary. Also good.

  Described herein is a treated tobacco blend that has been treated by a method of removing protein and polyphenols from tobacco that has a beneficial effect on smoke toxicant yield. This tobacco treatment may be performed on chopped thermoset tobacco. Briefly, the tobacco blend is subjected to an aqueous extraction process and the extract is further filtered in two stages to remove polyphenols and soluble peptides. The remaining tobacco solids are treated with protease to remove insoluble protein. After washing and enzyme inactivation, the tobacco solids and the filtered aqueous extract are mixed again. This treatment results in a material referred to herein as blended tobacco (BTT), which reduces the yield of smoke phenolics, aromatic amines, HCN, and several other nitrogenous smoke components, The yield of formaldehyde and isoprene is increased. This blended tobacco does not need to be reconstituted into a sheet material and remains in the smoking material rod for inclusion in a smoking article using conventional cigarette manufacturing equipment while maintaining the original tobacco structure. It may be incorporated into.

  In some embodiments of the present invention, the smoking material comprises blended tobacco.

  The extracted tobacco material is strip tobacco, cut tobacco, chopped tobacco or ground tobacco. In a preferred embodiment, the tobacco is a cut tobacco. However, other forms of tobacco can be extracted using the methods described herein.

  The tobacco material may be mixed with a solvent for extraction to form a slurry. The solvent is added to the tobacco material in a ratio of 10: 1 to 50: 1, preferably 20: 1 to 40: 1, most preferably 25: 1 to 30: 1 by weight. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the solvent is added to the tobacco material in a ratio of 27: 1 by weight.

  The solvent may be an organic solution, but is preferably an aqueous solution or water. In the very early stages of the extraction process, the solvent is usually water, but may also contain an alcohol such as ethanol or methanol, or it may contain a surfactant. Other solvents can be used depending on the specific components extracted from the tobacco.

  The extraction is performed at 15 to 85 ° C, preferably 65 ° C. The slurry is preferably continuously stirred during extraction so that the tobacco is maintained in suspension. Extraction should take place from 15 minutes to 2 hours. In a preferred embodiment, the extraction is performed for about 20 minutes.

  During extraction, soluble tobacco components are removed from the tobacco material and dissolved in the solution. These tobacco components include nicotine, sugars, some proteins, amino acids, pectin, polyphenols and flavor components. Up to about 55% of the initial tobacco weight becomes soluble. It is important that the pectin in tobacco fibers remain cross-linked throughout the extraction and processing steps to maintain tobacco fiber structure. Thus, calcium may be added to the solvent used to extract tobacco and any solvent used in downstream processing procedures.

  After extraction, the filtrate (mother filtrate) can be recovered by discharging the slurry. On the other hand, insoluble tobacco residues are further extracted by backwashing while being transported to remove as much soluble components as possible from the tobacco.

  Fresh solvent is added to the tobacco and the filtrate (“washed filtrate”) is collected. The washing filtrate can be reused by adding it to the next tobacco residue moving on the belt at an upstream point. Collecting the washing filtrate and adding it again to the next tobacco residue may be repeated several times, preferably 3, 4 or 5 times. Thus, the final wash filtrate collected at the beginning of the belt is concentrated with soluble tobacco components that are removed from the tobacco residue as it travels the length of the filter. The final wash filtrate is reused by adding it to fresh tobacco to form a tobacco slurry that is ready for further extraction. For example, the final wash filtrate may be placed in a tobacco mixing tank where a tobacco slurry is formed prior to extraction. Thus, the extraction process is a continuous process of extracting new tobacco using the reused washing filtrate. Tobacco is extracted with fresh solvent only at the beginning of this extraction process. Once the extraction process begins, the new solvent is not used for extraction, and the solvent is composed solely of recycled wash filtrate.

  As extraction continues, the soluble tobacco component of the extract is thus further concentrated. These components include the components that were dissolved in the solution during the first extraction in the extraction tank (forming the mother filtrate) and the components that were dissolved in the solution during the secondary extraction on the horizontal belt filter (the washing filtrate was added). Formation).

  Thus, the final filtrate includes both the mother filtrate and the wash filtrate. In so doing, the tobacco residue obtained after filtration does not contain these components that are soluble in the solvent used for extraction. The extracted tobacco may be squeezed at the end of filtration to remove any excess liquid. The extracted tobacco coming out of the horizontal belt filter is thus typically dehydrated matte.

  Hereinafter, the final filtrate, referred to as the tobacco extract, may be subsequently processed to remove unwanted components in the final tobacco product. Undesirable components include proteins, polypeptides, amino acids, polyphenols, nitrate esters, amines, nitrosamines and pigment compounds. However, the concentrations of components considered desirable, such as sugar and nicotine, remain unaffected so that the flavor and smoking characteristics of the extracted tobacco are equivalent to those of the original material.

  In preferred embodiments, the tobacco extract is processed to remove proteins, polypeptides and / or amino acids. Up to 60% of the protein contained in the original tobacco material can be removed using insoluble adsorbents such as hydroxyapatite, or fuller earth minerals such as attapulgite or bentonite. The tobacco extract is preferably treated with bentonite to remove the polypeptide. Bentonite may be added to the extract in an amount of 2-4% of the weight of the initially extracted tobacco. Alternatively, the tobacco extract may be supplied to a tank containing a bentonite water slurry. A suitable slurry includes about 7 kg bentonite (amount per hour) in about 64 kg water, for example, 7.13 kg bentonite (amount per hour) in 64.18 kg water. In either case, the concentration of bentonite must be high enough to substantially reduce the protein content of the tobacco extract, but not so high as to absorb even nicotine. Bentonite treatment is also effective in removing pigment compounds found in tobacco extracts that tend to darken the concentrated extract if not removed. When sufficient bentonite is used for processing the extract, the amount of pigment compound is reduced, and a product that is not so dark can be obtained.

  After the bentonite treatment, the tobacco extract is purified from the slurry by centrifugation and / or filtration. The tobacco extract is further or alternatively treated to remove polyphenols.

  Polyvinyl polypyrrolidone (PVPP) is an insoluble adsorbent for polyphenols traditionally used in the brewing industry to remove polyphenols from beer. PVPP may be added to the extract in an amount of 5-10% of the weight of the initially extracted tobacco. This amount of PVPP can remove 50-90% of the polyphenols in solution. The optimum pH for removing polyphenols from tobacco extract by PVPP is believed to be about 3. Therefore, the efficiency of adsorption by PVPP can be enhanced by lowering the pH of the extract by adding an appropriate acid such as hydrochloric acid.

  Instead of using PVPP to adsorb polyphenols, one or more enzymes may be added to the tobacco extract to degrade the polyphenols. A preferred enzyme is laccase (urishiol oxidase). However, the present invention is not limited to a method of removing only proteins and / or polyphenols from tobacco. Alternative or additional enzymes, agents or adsorbents may be used to remove other undesirable tobacco components from the tobacco extract. Examples of additional undesirable tobacco components that may be removed from the extract include nitrate esters, amines and nitrosamines.

  If multiple components are to be removed from the tobacco extract, multiple tanks are placed in series, each containing a different enzyme, agent or adsorbent, so that all selected tobacco components are removed. . Alternatively, one tank may contain multiple enzymes, agents or adsorbents so that undesirable components are removed in one step. For example, a tank containing bentonite or PVPP may contain one or more additional enzymes, agents or adsorbents to remove not only protein or phenol from tobacco but also one or more additional undesirable components. Good.

  After processing the tobacco extract to remove selected undesirable components, the extract is preferably concentrated to a solids concentration of 20-50% by weight. Concentration to 10% solids can be achieved most efficiently using reverse osmosis. Further concentration to about 40% solids can be achieved using a falling film evaporator. Other concentration methods can also be used and are known to those skilled in the art. The concentrated tobacco extract may then be mixed again with the extracted tobacco.

  However, tobacco extracted in aqueous solution as described above is preferably further extracted to remove one or more additional undesirable components before being recombined with the concentrated tobacco extract. Further extraction of tobacco can be performed using enzymes that are specifically selected to remove selected components. In a preferred embodiment, the enzyme is a proteolytic enzyme for removing proteins from tobacco. The enzyme is preferably a bacterial or fungal enzyme, more preferably an enzyme commercially used in the food or detergent industry. The enzyme is selected from the group consisting of Savinase®, Neutrase®, Enzobake® and Alcalase®, all from Novozymes A / S. It is available. The proteolytic enzyme is preferably added to the tobacco in an amount of 0.1-5% by weight of the tobacco material. For example, Sabinase® may be added to tobacco in an amount of about 1% by weight. The tobacco may be reslurried with a solution of the selected enzyme. The ratio of water to tobacco should be 10: 1 to 50: 1 by weight, preferably 20: 1 to 40: 1, most preferably 25: 1 to 30: 1. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the ratio of water to tobacco is 27: 1 by weight.

  The pH of the tobacco / enzyme mixture should be a pH that promotes optimal enzyme activity. Therefore, it is convenient to supply the dehydrated mat tobacco to a tank whose pH is adjusted by adding a base such as sodium hydroxide. The pH adjusted tobacco is then fed into a tank that dispenses the enzyme for mixing with the selected enzyme. The tobacco / enzyme mixture may then be fed to a plug flow reactor where enzyme extraction takes place. Enzymatic extraction should be performed at a temperature that promotes optimal enzyme activity. Preferably, in order to avoid denaturation of the enzyme, for example, a narrow temperature range such as 30 to 40 ° C. may be adopted. The optimum working conditions when Savinase® is selected as the enzyme are pH 9-11 at 57 ° C. Enzymatic extraction should be performed for at least 45 minutes, and shorter times are considered insufficient for proteolytic enzymes to degrade tobacco proteins.

  Of course, if there are multiple components to be removed from tobacco, multiple enzyme extractions can be performed. These extractions may be performed sequentially or multiple enzymes may be added to the tobacco during a single processing step.

  It is also possible to include the enzyme at the very first stage of the processing step, instead of forming a separate extraction step thereafter.

  Following enzyme extraction, the insoluble tobacco residue may be washed with a salt solution, preferably a sodium chloride solution, to rinse out the enzyme. The salt solution rinsing may be performed in a continuous back flow manner.

  However, rinsing with an aqueous salt solution may not be sufficient to remove all of the enzyme from tobacco. The washed tobacco may be treated to inactivate any residual enzyme remaining in the tobacco after rinsing with an aqueous salt solution. This can be done by steaming the tobacco to the extent that it is sufficient to inactivate the enzyme but does not lose its fiber shape. In one embodiment, the steam treatment is performed at 98 ° C. for 4 minutes, but may be extended to 10 minutes if desired. Alternatively, the enzyme may be inactivated by heat treating the tobacco, for example, cooking or baking the tobacco. In another embodiment, the enzyme may be inactivated by chemical denaturation but requires a step of removing the drug from the tobacco.

  The treated tobacco may then be mixed again with the concentrated tobacco extract. By returning the treated extract to the tobacco after extraction, the water-soluble flavor component and nicotine of tobacco can be reliably retained in the final product. Thus, remixing results in a tobacco product that has the same physical shape and appearance, taste and smoking characteristics as the original material, but with significantly reduced levels of protein, polyphenols or other selected ingredients. It is done. The remixing can be performed by spraying the tobacco extract onto the tobacco. The amount of the original extract that is remixed with the treated tobacco depends on the amount lost during processing of the extract to remove selected components and also varies with the type of tobacco.

  The treated tobacco can be dried by standard drying processes either before, during or after remixing with the treated tobacco extract. The moisture content at the beginning of drying of the treated tobacco is typically about 70-80%. In a preferred embodiment, the moisture content after drying will be about 14%. A heated dryer such as an apron dryer may be used to reduce the initial moisture content of the tobacco to about 30%. A second heated dryer such as an air dryer may then be used to further reduce the moisture content to about 14%.

  The final dry product can then be processed into a final form such as a sheet and cut to form part or all of the cigarette filler. However, since as much as 30% of the original tobacco components are removed during the extraction process, the concentration of the remaining components per unit weight of tobacco increases compared to the raw material. These components include cellulose that produces harmful volatiles such as acetaldehyde and formaldehyde in smoke when burned with sugars and starch.

  Another way to reduce smoke toxic substance yield is to dilute the smoke with glycerol, which is called “tobacco replacement sheet” (TSS), for example containing a large proportion of glycerol up to 60% by weight You may form what is. Analysis of the mainstream smoke of cigarettes containing such TSS in the smoking material has shown that the yield of most measured components other than some volatile species is reduced.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the smoking material comprises a tobacco replacement sheet.

  Mixing tobacco replacement sheets (TSS) in the tobacco blend reduces the amount of tobacco in the cigarette and, as a result, reduces the overall likelihood that the cigarette will produce toxic substances. TSS also contains glycerol, so when heated, it releases glycerol into the smoke stream, which is also known as nicotine-free dry particulate matter (NFDPM). )) Is a factor in increasing the total amount of particulate smoke measured. Since most cigarettes are designed to meet specific NFDPM yield values, the incorporation of glycerol in the smoke stream effectively reduces the contribution of tobacco combustion products to the total NFDPM value. This process is called “dilution”. Mixing TSS with smoking articles reduces a wide range of smoke components, including both particulate and vapor phase toxicants. In vitro toxicity tests have shown that smoke particulate activity decreases in proportion to glycerol content. Human exposure to nicotine was reduced by an average of 18% as determined by filter studies and 14% for 24-hour urinary biomarkers. The exposure to smoke particulates decreased on average by 29% in the filter study and by almost the same amount, even based on urinary 4- (methylnitrosamino) -1- (3-pyridyl) -1-butanol concentration. These results show that the use of tobacco replacement sheets can reduce the exposure of smoke to several toxic substances.

  In some embodiments, the smoking article comprises a tobacco replacement sheet comprising a non-flammable inorganic filler material, a binder (such as an alginate-based binder) and an aerosol generating means.

  The tobacco substitute sheet advantageously comprises as its main components a non-flammable inorganic filler, a binder, and an aerosol generating means, and these three components together are at least 85% by weight of the tobacco substitute sheet material, preferably Comprises more than 90%, more preferably more than about 94% by weight of the total tobacco replacement sheet material. The three components may be 100% of the tobacco substitute material. The remaining components are preferably at least one of colorants, fibers such as wood pulp, and flavors. Other trace component materials are known to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the tobacco replacement sheet material is very simple in terms of its components.

  As used herein, the term “tobacco substitute sheet material” means a material that can be used in a smoking article. This does not necessarily mean that the material itself always maintains combustion. Tobacco replacement sheet material is usually made as a sheet and then cut. The tobacco replacement sheet material can then be mixed with other materials to create a smokable filler material.

  In some embodiments, the smoking article includes a paper-wrapped rod of smokable filler material, the smokable filler material comprising a non-flammable inorganic filler, an alginate-based binder, and an aerosol generating means. The smoking article has an aerosol transfer efficiency of greater than 4.0. As used herein, aerosol transfer efficiency is assessed by dividing the proportion of aerosol in the smoke by the proportion of aerosol in the smokable filler material. Preferably, the aerosol transfer efficiency is greater than 5, more preferably greater than 6.

  The smokable filler material used in the smoking article of the present invention may comprise a blend of up to 75% tobacco substitute material by weight.

  Preferably, the inorganic filler material comprises 60-90% of the final sheet material, more preferably more than 70%. The inorganic filler material advantageously occupies about 78% by weight of the final sheet material, but may have a higher concentration, for example 80%, 85%, or 90% by weight of the final sheet material. .

  In some embodiments, the non-flammable filler advantageously comprises a proportion of a material having an average particle size in the range of 500 μm to 75 μm. Preferably, the inorganic filler has an average particle size in the range of 400 μm to 100 μm, greater than 125 μm, preferably greater than 150 μm. The average particle size is advantageously about 170 μm, or may be in the range of 170 μm to 200 μm. This particle size in alternative tobacco products is in contrast to the particle size normally used for food grade inorganic filler materials, ie about 2-3 μm. The range of the particle diameter for each inorganic filler may be 1 μm to 1 mm (1000 μm) individually. The inorganic filler material may be pulverized, ground, or precipitated to the desired particle size.

Inorganic filler materials are nacre, alumina, diatomaceous earth, calcium carbonate (chalk), meteorite, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, zinc oxide, calcium sulfate (gypsum), ferric oxide, pumice, titanium dioxide, calcium aluminate Or one or more of the other insoluble aluminates or other inorganic filler materials. The density range of these materials is suitably in the range of 0.1 to 5.7 g / cm ³ . Advantageously, the filler material is less than 3 g / cm ³ , preferably less than 2.5 g / cm ³ , more preferably less than 2.0 g / cm ³ and even more preferably less than 1.5 g / cm ^3. . Inorganic fillers having a density of less than 1 g / cm ³ are desirable. By reducing the density of the inorganic filler, the density of the product can be reduced, thereby improving the ash characteristics.

  When using a combination of inorganic filler materials, one or more of the fillers are preferably of a small particle size and the other filler may be of a larger particle size, It is appropriate to set the ratio so as to achieve a desired average particle size. The static burning rate required for the final smoking article can be achieved by properly blending the tobacco and tobacco replacement sheet material in the smokable filler material.

  In some embodiments it is preferred that the inorganic filler material is not agglomerated. Inorganic filler materials require little pre-treatment prior to use and are probably particle classified. Preferably, the binder comprises in the range of about 5-13% by weight of the final filler material, more preferably less than 10% and even more preferably less than 8%. Advantageously, the binder comprises no more than about 7.5% of the final sheet material. When the binder is a mixture of an alginate binder and a non-alginate binder, the binder is from at least 50% alginate compound, preferably at least 60% alginate compound, more preferably at least 70%. It is preferably and advantageously composed of an alginate compound. If non-alginate binders are used, the required amount of binder mixture can be reduced appropriately. In response to a decrease in the amount of mixed binder, it is advantageous to increase the amount of alginate-based compound in the mixed binder. Suitable alginate-based binders include soluble alginate compounds such as ammonium alginate, sodium alginate, sodium calcium alginate, calcium ammonium alginate, potassium alginate, magnesium alginate, triethanolamine alginate and propylene glycol alginate. Other organic binders such as cellulose binders, rubbers or gels can also be used in combination with alginic acid binders. Suitable cellulose binders include cellulose and cellulose derivatives such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose or cellulose ether. Suitable gums include gum arabic, gati gum, tragacanth gum, karaya gum, locust bean gum, acacia gum, guar gum, quince seed gum or xanthan gum. Suitable gels include agar, agarose, carrageenan, fucoidan, and far selelain. Starch can also be used as an organic binder. Other suitable rubbers can be selected with reference to handbooks such as “Industrial Gums (Academic Press)” by E. Whistler. It is particularly preferred that the alginate binder occupies the majority of the binder. Alginic acid compounds are preferred because they do not affect the taste during combustion in the present invention.

  In some embodiments, the aerosol generating means is present in the range of 5-20% and contains less than 15%, greater than 7% and / or greater than 10%. In certain embodiments, the aerosol generating means is less than 13%. In various embodiments, the aerosol generating means is between 11% and 13% by weight of the final sheet material, about 11.25% or about 12.5%. Suitably, the amount of aerosol generating means is selected in combination with the amount of tobacco material present in the blend comprising the smokable filler material of the smoking article. For example, blends that contain a high percentage of sheet material and a low percentage of tobacco material require that the sheet material be filled with less aerosol generating means. Apart from this, a blend containing a low percentage of sheet material and a high percentage of tobacco material requires that the sheet material be filled with more aerosol generating means.

  Suitable aerosol generating means are selected from polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol, propylene glycol and triethylene glycol; esters such as triethyl citrate or triacetin; high boiling hydrocarbons or non-polyols such as glycol, sorbitol or lactic acid Examples include aerosol forming means. These aerosol generating means may be used in combination.

  Another function of the aerosol generating means is the plasticization of the sheet material. Additional suitable plasticizers include water. The sheet material may be appropriately aerated. Thereby, a sheet material having a cell structure is formed from the cast slurry.

  Advantageously, the aerosol generating means, or part of the means, is encapsulated, preferably microencapsulated or otherwise stabilized. In such a case, the amount of aerosol generating means may exceed a predetermined range.

  The smoking material advantageously includes a colorant that darkens the material and / or a flavoring that imparts a particular flavor. Suitable flavoring or coloring agents are subject to regulation by region, but include cocoa, licorice, caramel, chocolate, or candy. Finely ground, granulated, or finely homogenized tobacco may be used. Food coloring approved by the industry may be used, and examples thereof include E150a (caramel), E151 (brilliant black BN), E153 (vegetable carbon), and E155 (brown HT). Suitable flavoring agents include, for example, menthol and vanillin. Other casing materials may also be used as appropriate. Alternatively, the presence of meteorite or other inorganic filler material may darken the color of the tobacco replacement sheet material. Preferably, the colorant may comprise 0-10% by weight of the final tobacco replacement sheet material, up to 5-7%. Advantageously, the colorant is less than 7%, preferably less than 6%, more preferably less than 5% of the final tobacco replacement sheet material. Most preferably, less than 4%, less than 3% and less than 2% of the colorant is used. Cocoa may suitably occupy a range of 0-5% by weight of the final tobacco surrogate sheet material, and licorice may range 0-4%. When the colorant is, for example, cocoa or licorice, the minimum amount of cocoa to obtain a sheet of the desired color is about 3% by weight of the final replacement sheet material, and about 2% for licorice. Similarly, caramel may suitably account for 0 to 5% by weight of the final tobacco replacement sheet, preferably less than about 2%, more preferably about 1.5%. Other suitable colorants include molasses, malt extract, coffee extract, tea resinous material, carob pod, pruned extract or tobacco extract. Mixtures of these colorants can also be used.

  If permitted under local regulations, flavoring agents may also be added to alter the taste and flavor characteristics of the tobacco substitute material. Apart from that, when using food grade dyes, it is advantageous to account for 0.5% or less by weight of the final tobacco substitute sheet material. Alternatively, the colorant may be dusted into the sheet after the sheet is manufactured.

  For example, the addition of fibers such as cellulose fibers such as wood pulp, flax, hemp or bast can provide a sheet material having one or more properties of high strength, low density, or high fill value. If fibers are added, they may occupy a range of about 0.5-10% by weight of the final sheet material, preferably less than 5%, more preferably less than about 3%. The sheet material is advantageously free of cellulosic or other fiber materials.

  In some embodiments, the tobacco replacement sheet is advantageously a non-tobacco-containing sheet. Of course, if the blend contains a large amount of sheet material, for example an amount that accounts for more than 75% of the blend, then the blend will burn worse. This problem is overcome, for example, by mixing a small amount of particulate carbon up to 5-10% into the tobacco replacement sheet material. This carbon is preferably not an agglomerated carbonaceous material, that is, a carbon which has not been subjected to a pretreatment that is mixed with another material to form an agglomerate.

  In some embodiments, the tobacco replacement sheet material is blended with the tobacco material to provide a smokable material. The tobacco material component in the blend is preferably of high quality flake grade. Advantageously, most of the tobacco preparation is chopped tobacco. The tobacco material may include, for example, 20 to 100% expanded tobacco that has undergone a high expansion process such as DIET. The filling power of such materials is typically in the range of 6-9 cc / g (see British Patent 1,484,536 or US Pat. No. 4,340,073).

In some embodiments, the blend includes less than 30% of other blend components other than leaf pieces, including other cut components such as cut rolled stem (CRS).
Water treated stem (WTS), steam treated stem (STS), regenerated tobacco, or the like. Preferably, the other components constitute less than 20% of the final weight of the tobacco material, more preferably less than 10%, even more preferably less than 5%.

  In some embodiments, the smoking article of the present invention comprises tobacco material that has been treated with an aerosol generating means. Tobacco material may be treated with an aerosol generating means, but this is not essential for all blends of tobacco and sheet materials.

  The amount of aerosol generating means added to the tobacco is in the range of 2-6% by weight of the tobacco. Advantageously, the total amount of aerosol generating means of the blend of tobacco material and sheet material after treatment is 4-12% by weight of the smoking material, preferably less than 10% and more than 5% by dry weight. .

  In some embodiments, glycerol is added to smoking materials including tobacco replacement sheets. This reduces the amount of certain phenols. Glycerol may be added by weight (in addition to any glycerol that may be included in the tobacco replacement sheet). It is believed that a synergistic effect can be obtained by adding glycerol to TSS.

  In some embodiments, the blend may include a top flavor to improve its aroma and sensory performance.

  Yet another way to reduce the yield of smoke toxic substances in the smoking article of the present invention is to select tobacco blend components with low concentrations of undesirable smoke component precursors such as TSNA and metals. For example, the concentration of TSNA can be reduced by the use of certain (e.g., lighter) tobacco blends or by selecting the low nitrate content portion of the tobacco plant TSNA precursor. In some embodiments, the method includes using tobacco leaf blades. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with methods for adapting the blending process to provide tobacco blends having these desired properties.

The tobacco blend may also include expanded tobacco, which is a chopped tobacco that has been expanded to reduce the mass of tobacco burning in the cigarette. One method used is called dry-ice expanded tobacco (DIET). The tobacco is impregnated with liquid carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) in a pressure vessel and the pressure is reduced before the liquid CO ₂ is discharged, resulting in the formation of solid CO ₂ or dry ice in the tobacco cell structure. The tobacco is then heated and immediately forced to convert dry ice to gaseous CO ₂ , thereby forcing the chopped tobacco leaf structure to expand to a volume close to that of the uncured leaf. Expanded tobacco is widely used not only for commercial cigarettes but also for low ISO yields.

In one embodiment of the invention, the smoking material comprises a blend of 50% blended tobacco (BTT), 15% tobacco replacement sheet (TSS), 10% dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET) and 25% leaf blades. Further, 1% glycerol and 0.8% added concentrated flavor are added.

  The filter and smoking material technologies described above can be combined to provide a smoking article with a substantially reduced amount of smoking article smoke toxic material.

  In some embodiments, the smoking article according to the present invention, as defined herein, is at least 75%, preferably at least 90% of the main components of mainstream smoke (eg, as compared to conventional cigarettes). More preferably, at least 95% is reduced.

The so-called “major components” of MS described in connection with the present invention are smoke components that have been identified as undesired in the literature (eg The Scientific Basis of Tobacco Product Regulation): Report of a WHO Study Group (see 2007), WHO Technical Report Series 945, Geneva).

  The amount of reduction is preferably determined using the intensive smoking method with the vents open, so that the product is designed to meet ISO and the blockade of vents by the Health Canada Act eliminates the effect of split chipping. Is done.

  The yield reduction of the main component is preferably at least 5%, or at least 10% or more.

  The specifications of some examples of smoking articles according to embodiments of the present invention are shown in the table below. Here, two prototypes will be described, one of which has a tar delivery amount of 1 mg and the other of which has a tar delivery amount of 7 mg.

  Table 6 outlines the recognized mechanical smoking methods that were used to generate the smoke data.

  Table 7 includes the yield of 7 mg test product by both ISO and WG9 machine smoking methods and the ratio of WG9 to ISO. Table 8 provides corresponding information regarding the control / comparative cigarettes. The data in both tables shows that the WG9: ISO yield ratio of the control product tends to be greater than the ratio of the test product. This is because when the test product was smoked using the WG9 method (half vents and ST closed), the ventilation rate decreased as the cigarette puff volume (for the same puff time) increased. It is predicted. This therefore changes with flow rate and does not change with capacity. If neither the ventilation holes nor the split chipping ventilation are closed, the yield of the test product should decrease as the puff volume increases.

  Examples of smoke yield reductions absolute and NFDPM (tar) and nicotine “normalized” using the HCI smoking method are shown in Table 9. Note: In the HCI method, the use of split chipping technique does not contribute to the reduction of the smoke component yield obtained with the smoking article according to the present invention over the comparison / control.

  Examples of smoke yield reductions, absolute and “normalized” to NFDPM (tar) and nicotine using the WG9 smoking method are shown in Table 10. In the WG9 method, the use of the split chipping technique contributes to the reduction of the smoke component yield obtained with the smoking article according to the invention over the comparison / control.

  In order to address various issues and promote the present technology, the entirety of this disclosure illustrates various embodiments by way of example. In that embodiment, the claimed invention is put into practice and an excellent smoking article is provided. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are merely representative examples of embodiments, and are not exhaustive or exhaustive. These are merely presented to help understand and teach the claimed features. It should be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and other aspects of the disclosure are not intended to limit the present disclosure or its equivalents, as defined by the claims, Other embodiments may be utilized and modified without departing from the scope or concept of the disclosure. The various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, processes, means, etc. . The disclosure also includes other inventions that are not currently claimed but that may be claimed in the future.

  The above description and examples have been given merely to illustrate the invention and are not intended to be limiting. Since those skilled in the art will be able to contemplate modifications of the above embodiments that incorporate the spirit and essence of the present invention, the present invention is to be broadly construed to include all variations and equivalents that fall within the scope of the appended claims. There must be.

Claims (19)

  A smoking article rod and a filter attached to one end of the rod, the filter comprising at least two sections and encased in a porous plug wrapper, wherein the first chipping wrapper is Over the seam between the smokable rod and the filter, another at least one chipping wrapper is provided around the filter, and a portion of the porous plug wrapper is between the first and the at least one other chipping wrapper Away from the first chipping wrapper so as to be exposed in the smoking article, which is provided separately from the first chipping wrapper, these chipping wrappers having a lower porosity than the plug wrapper.   The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the at least one filter section includes a fibrous filter material.   The smoking article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one filter section contains a porous adsorbent.   The smoking article according to claim 3, wherein the porous adsorbent is carbon which is a porous carbon having an engineered porous structure / porous carbon beads derived from a synthetic source such as polystyrene.   The smoking article of claim 4, wherein the filter section comprises about 20 mg to about 80 mg of porous adsorbent.   6. A smoking article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one filter section comprises an ion exchange resin.   The smoking article according to claim 6, wherein the ion exchange resin has a surface active amine.   8. The smoking article of claim 7, wherein the filter section comprises about 5 mg to about 40 mg of ion exchange resin.   9. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter includes a mouth end section including a fibrous filter material, a section including an ion exchange resin, and a section adjacent to a smoking material rod including a porous adsorbent. The smoking article according to claim 1.   10. A smoking article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter has a length of about 30 mm to about 40 mm, preferably about 37 mm.   11. A smoking article according to any one of the preceding claims, having a length of about 83 mm and / or a circumference of about 21 mm.   The smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the width of the gap between the chipping wrappers is about 10 mm.   The smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a ventilation hole formed in the body of the chipping wrapper and / or the filter. Smoking rod
(A) tobacco treated to reduce the amount of nitrogenous compounds,
(B) tobacco from which polyphenols and / or peptides have been removed;
14. A smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising one or more of a tobacco replacement sheet comprising (c) a non-combustible inorganic filler, a binder and an aerosol generating means.   15. The smoking article according to claim 14, wherein the smoking material further includes leaf tobacco.   16. The smoking article according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the smoking material further includes dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET).   The smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the smoking material contains glycerol.   The smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the smoking material contains at least one flavorant.   19. A smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the smoking material comprises blended tobacco, tobacco replacement sheet, DIET, leaf tobacco, glycerol and concentrated flavoring agent.

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