LT5385B - Smoking article and smoking article filter - Google Patents

Abstract

Improved filters useful for tobacco products, such as cigarettes, and novel cigarettes having such filters are disclosed. The filters include adsorbents such as activated carbon which reduce amounts of one or more gas phase constituents of mainstream tobacco smoke. The adsorbents are treated with off-taste suppressants which reduce the off-taste associated with adsorbent containing filters and substantially restore the taste normally associated with tobacco smoke.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates mainly to improved filters useful for tobacco products, particularly cigarettes, and to novel cigarettes having such filters. In particular, the invention relates to filters containing adsorbents which reduce one or more of the allegedly undesirable gas phase constituents commonly found in the mainstream tobacco smoke stream.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, cigarettes consist of a paper roll of rolled tobacco filler, with or without tobacco, rolled into paper, and a filter attached to the end of a tube placed in the boom. Flammable smoke that passes through a filter is commonly referred to as "mainstream" smoke that contains constituents that are harmful to health, such as resin and gas or volatile phase. The mainstream stream of cigarette smoke contains certain components that are allegedly harmful to the smoker, including carbon monoxide, cyanic acid, aldehydes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrylaldehyde, propionic aldehyde and croton aldehyde, as well as alkene components such as 1,3-butene.

Commercially available cigarettes have filters that are designed to reduce harmful substances but are not effective in eliminating or reducing the gas phase constituents of the main flue gas stream. Such filters typically include one or more fiber tow plugs, typically cellulose acetate.

Filters are designed for the removal of gas-phase constituents along with harmful particles. These filters typically include adsorbent material such as activated carbon (also known as "carbon", "charcoal" or "activated charcoal") in the filter portion. Granulated carbon having a large surface area is recognized as an effective adsorbent for the removal of components such as aldehydes from the main smoke stream.

There are many ways to insert activated carbon into cigarette filters. These offers include carbon pellets distributed in cellulose acetate tow, paper fiber, or filter plug wrap, sometimes called "dalmatine" filters. Another way is to place a layer of carbon pellet or cartridge in the cavity between the two plugs of cellulose acetate tow in a so-called "plug-cavity-plug" or "triple filter" model. Examples of commercially available filters are Baumartner Fibertec (Switzerland): Caviflex, Dualcoal, Recessed Dualcoal, Sel-X-4 and Triple Filter, and Filtrona International Incorporated (Milton Keynes, United Kingdom): Active Acetate Dual, Active Charcoal Triple Solid, Active Myria White, Active Patch Mono, Adsorbent Coated Thread, Triple Granular and VPA Dual.

However, the commercial acceptance of carbon filters is limited to the off-taste of the main smoke stream of such filters. Cigarette smoke from carbon filters is perceived as having a taste defined as unpleasant, astringent, pungent and drying. Watch What's Happening to Charcoal Filters? Tobacco Reporter, Vol. 95, no. 3 (March 1968).

In the prior art, attempts have been made to address this problem by inserting various flavorings ("flavorings") into the main stream of smoke to compensate for or mask the extraneous taste of carbon. However, the presence of flavorings tends to reduce the ability of the adsorbent to remove unwanted gas phase constituents. Aromatizers are used as coatings on an adsorbent to reduce its gas removal efficiency by reducing the number of active areas for adsorption. Flavorings in tobacco or anywhere in a packet of cigarettes are known to tend to evaporate and migrate to activated carbon over time, where they adsorb, thereby deactivating the areas on which they are adsorbed. For this reason, the production of mentholated cigarettes containing carbon filters requires the addition of more menthol to compensate for carbon adsorption.

Therefore, there is a continuing need for a cigarette filter which significantly reduces the gas phase constituents in the main smoke stream without introducing the undesirable foreign taste usually associated with the activity of the gas phase adsorbent such as carbon. In addition, there is a need for a carbon filter cigarette that tastes similar to a non-carbon filter cigarette.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide filters for smoking articles, particularly tobacco cigarettes, which reduce the amount of one or more of the allegedly undesirable gas phase constituents commonly found in the main stream of smoke.

Another object of the present invention is to provide cigarettes having filters that use adsorbents, namely activated carbon, to reduce the gas phase constituents without inserting an undesirable foreign taste, as is usually the case with such adsorbents.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a carbon filter cigarette which has substantially the same taste as a non-carbon filter cigarette.

THE SUBSTANCE OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a filter-containing amount of adsorbent, preferably activated charcoal, and an off-taste suppressant formulation together with the adsorbent. The adsorbent can accumulate and thereby reduce the amount of at least one main gas phase component of the flue gas stream. The off-taste suppressant significantly reduces the off-taste characteristics resulting from adsorbent activity. The composition and amount of the off-taste suppressant used in the adsorbent should be selected such that increased gas phase removal will at the same time reduce, preferably substantially eliminate, the off-taste resulting from the adsorbent activity.

In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the smoking article is a tobacco cigarette having a filter which contains an activated carbon adsorbent for at least one constituent of the main gas phase of the flue gas stream! for a portion that utilizes an appropriate amount of a foreign taste suppressant selected from the group consisting of B, Χ-Β, AH-B or ΑΗ-Χ-Β molecules as defined in the "AH-B Theory of Sweetness" discussed below in the Detailed Description of the Invention . These molecules include, but are not limited to, polyols, glycols, sugars, sugar alcohols, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, amino acids, amino acid derivatives, di- and tripeptides, polypeptides, artificial sweeteners and mixtures thereof. The off-taste suppressant also includes an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal salt. The compositions and weight ranges of the anti-taste agent applied to the adsorbent can be selected to increase gas removal and reduce off-taste without preferably adding additional foreign flavorings to the main stream of smoke so that the cigarette tastes substantially like a filter cigarette.

One example of a useful off-taste suppressant is a combination of fructose and mannitol, preferably in a ratio of about 50:50 by weight. Even better, the off-taste suppressant is a combination of fructose, mannitol and sodium chloride in a ratio of about 46: 46: 8 by weight. Such a combination, when applied to a layer of activated carbon in the range of about 2 to 40% by weight of carbon and an off-taste suppressant, preferably in the range of about 5 to about 20-25% by weight, is useful for the purposes of the present invention.

In another aspect of the present invention, the filter may also comprise a chemosorbent for one or more of the allegedly undesirable gas phase constituents, preferably in admixture with the adsorbent. Preferred chemosorbents are amine derivatives of polystyrene. Particularly useful in the practice of the invention are mixtures of activated carbon and ion-exchange resins, such as polystyrene derivatives, with carbon-resin treated in a weight ratio of from about 25:75 to about 50:50, although other ratios may be used.

The filters of the present invention can reduce one or more of the allegedly undesirable volatile components of the mainstream smoke of a cigarette, including but not limited to aldehydes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrylaldehyde, propionic aldehyde and croton aldehyde.

This and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the invention, which includes illustrative embodiments and examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tobacco cigarette having a triple cork-stopper design;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tobacco cigarette having a four element filter construction according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a tobacco cigarette having a dual element filter;

FIG. 4 is a graph of extraneous taste reduction and overall acceptability for samples of Example 11 using data from Table 19;

FIG. 5 is a graph of extraneous taste reduction and overall acceptability for samples of Example 12 using data from Table 21;

FIG. 6 is a graph of extraneous taste reduction and overall acceptability for the specimens in Example 13 using data from Table 23;

FIG. 7 is a graph of extraneous taste reduction and overall acceptability for the samples in Example 15 using data from Table 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terms "adsorbent" and "chemosorbent" as used herein have their usual meanings as used in the art, but are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to any particular mode of operation in which the gas phase constituents in the main smoke stream are reduced. For example, according to conventional nomenclature, activated carbon is referred to herein as an "adsorbent", but activated carbon which reduces gas phase constituents by adsorption, absorption, chemosorption or otherwise is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. Similarly, according to conventional nomenclature, ion-exchange resins are referred to herein as "chemosorbents", but resins which reduce the gas-phase constituents by adsorption, absorption, chemosorption or otherwise are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.

The term "off-taste" as used herein refers to a taste sensation that is not characteristic of a smoking article. In the context of the present invention, "off-taste" more precisely refers to the sense of taste usually associated with smoke, which when passed through an adsorbent, such as activated carbon, is defined as unpleasant, astringent, pungent and drying. As used herein, the term "off-taste suppressant" refers to a substance that reduces the off-taste perceived by the smoker.

Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the carbon off-taste is the result of altered organoleptic characteristics of the main stream of smoke formed by adsorption of the gas phase constituents with activated carbon. The altered characteristic of the main smoke stream is believed to produce bitter-tasting "tones" that are not typically associated with tobacco smoke.

When referring to a smoker's perceived reduction or suppression of off-taste, those skilled in the art should appreciate that the term "smoker" may range from a professional smoker on the list of tobacco smokers with a strong sense of taste to a passive smoker with a less intense taste. . Both types of smokers can distinguish the taste of the cigarette of the present invention treated with a foreign taste suppressant from the untreated.

Activated carbon is the preferred adsorbent. However, it is contemplated that any adsorbent material capable of removing the gas phase constituents of the main flue gas stream may be used in the practice of the invention. Carbon polymers, process polymers, alumina, silica, clay and zeolite are some examples.

Any activated carbon material can be used in the invention, including carbon materials derived from coal, tobacco material, peat, wood pulp, coconut shells, kapok fiber, cotton fiber, cotton pile and the like. Activated carbon materials of any degree (surface area) can be used in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, the activated carbon materials have a degree of activation such that they absorb from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of butane (respectively, from about 25 to 125 weight percent of carbon tetrachloride). Even better, the activated carbon material absorbs about 60% by weight of carbon tetrachloride. Activated carbon of any mesh format is useful in the invention. However, larger mesh activated carbons can offer advantages in the manufacture of cigarettes. More preferred activated carbon is granulated coconut charcoal with a mesh size of about 18x40, such as coconut shell carbon obtained from Calgon Corporation as PCB, PCGB and GRC-11, and carbon obtained from PICA USA (Columbia, Ohio) as G278.

Unexpectedly, Applicants have found that an off-taste suppressant according to the present invention can, when used in critical amounts, substantially reduce the off-taste associated with carbon-containing cigarette filters without introducing significant additional off-flavors into the mainstream smoke stream such that the cigarette tastes the same as a non-carbon filter cigarette. In other words, the off-taste suppressant formulations of the present invention can substantially restore a smoker to a normal taste associated with tobacco-free carbon-based filters.

Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the "off-taste" suppressant formulations of the present invention work by interacting with the taste receptors on the tongue. Like most biological processes, taste results from the complex interaction of one or more compounds with the receptor. Because taste receptors can recognize both sweet and spicy taste sensations, interactions between different compounds can significantly alter or suppress the taste associated with a single compound.

Compounds that produce a sense of sweetness are thought to have similar structural characteristics as described in the "AH-B Theory of Sweetness". See R.S. Shallenberger and

T.E. Acree Molecular Theory of Sweet Taste, Nature (London) 216 (5114), 480p. (1967). Specifically, sweetness compounds have a proton donor moiety having an electrically negative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen, with added hydrogen. In AH-B theory of taste perception, "A" refers to an electrically negative atom. Accordingly, the proton donor moiety may be defined as "AH", where "H" represents a hydrogen atom. Examples of AH proton donors include hydroxyl groups, imines, amines, and methine groups. According to the "AH-B theory", the sweetness compounds also have an electrically negative center (i.e., proton acceptor) located about 3 A from the hydrogen of the AH group. The electrically negative center is represented by "B" in this theory and can be, for example, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom. The portion of the compound primarily responsible for sweetness production ("glucophore") is designated as AH-B.

The human tongue receptors contain proteins. The theory is that these proteins remain stable due to the intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the glutamate (or aspartate) carboxylate group and lysine epsilon-NH3 ⁺ . Watch TE Acree Molecular Theory of Sweet Taste - Amino Acids and Peptides, Proceeding of Joint Symposium on

Carbohydrate / Protein Interactions, Excelsior Springs, MO, Carbohydrate / Oilseeds Division, American Association of Cereal Chemists (1970). The carbonyl oxygen of the carboxylate and the protons of the NH ₃ ⁺ group are spaced about 3 A and are ideally located to serve as a receptor for the AH-B glucophore through hydrogen bonding.

An additional compound for molecular sweetness was determined after the development of "AH-B theory". It is believed that the lipophilic (hydrophobic) domains of the compound, if located at specific points in space relative to the AH-B moiety, may aid sweetness through interaction with the hydrophobic domains of the receptor. See R. Shallenberger and M. Lindley, "A Lipophilic-Hydrophobic Component in the Stereochemistry of Sweetness," Food Chem., Vol. 2, pp. 145-153, (1977). Thus, a theory is developed that there may be triple interaction with the ΑΗ-Χ-B taste receptors, where X represents the lipophilic domain of the sweet compound. The lipophilic region "X" can function to increase the lipid solubility of the compound in the receptor region to produce a more intense or prolonged sweetness. In addition, the lipophilic region X can help direct that portion of the sweetness molecule corresponding to AH-B in the proper direction inside the receptor.

Recently, it has been found that sweetness can be generated by the interaction of more than one molecule with taste receptors if compounds AH, B and X are presented separately as compound molecules. See I. Shinoda and H. Okai, "Sweetness and Bittemess Contributions of Structural Units of Aspartame and Some Analogues," by J. Agric. Food Chem., Vol. 33, pp. 792-795. (1985). In the scientific work of Shinoda and Okai it has been found that the pungent taste is produced by molecules which have ΑΗ-Χ parts but no B part. When, after the addition of the bitter ΑΗ-, compounds, the B-containing compounds are then placed on the tongue, the bitter taste associated with the ΑΗ-Χ compound is changed to a sweet taste sensation. Further, the application of the sharp ΑΗ-a compounds, followed by the placement on the tongue of the compounds containing the Χ-Β compounds, eliminates the bitter taste sensation.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, the off-taste suppressant compositions are compounds that contain B or Χ-Β moieties, either alone or as part of the AH-B and ΑΗ-Χ-B glucophores. In the case of the AH-B and ΑΗ-Χ-B glucophores, only the B or Β-Β blocks of these compounds are thought to bind to the acrid ΑΗ-Χ compounds in the taste receptors to eliminate or alter their associated acrid taste.

Non-limiting examples of ΑΗ-Χ-B and AH-B materials include polyols, glycols, sugars, sugar alcohols, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, amino acids, amino acid derivatives, di- and tripeptides, polypeptides, artificial sweeteners and mixtures thereof. Polyols include, for example, glycerol and propylene glycerol. Polysaccharides include cyclodextrins, dextrin hydrogenated oligosaccharides, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, polyglucose, and maltodextrin. Sugar alcohols include, for example, erythritol, inositol, glucitol, sorbose, mannitol, and xylitol. Sugar includes, for example, sucrose, fructose, glucose and honey in cereal syrup. Amino acids and amino acid derivatives include, for example, glycine and more preferred artificial sweeteners include aspartame

Non-limiting examples of Χ-Β and B materials include amides, alcohol derivatives, esters, and lactones. Amides include, for example, capsaicin and plant extracts. Alcohol derivatives include, for example, benzyl alcohol, ginger oil, guaiacol, santalol, linalool, and plant extracts containing these alcohol derivatives. Esters include, for example, ethyl propionate. Lactones include, for example, gamma-heptalactones.

It has been found that a mixture of mannitol and fructose, preferably in a weight ratio of from about 1: 3 to about 3: 1, more preferably in a weight ratio of about 1: 1, is particularly effective as an off-taste suppressant for activated carbon.

The off-taste suppressant formulations of the present invention may include salts that act to suppress acrid taste perception and may be used alone or preferably in combination with one or more of AH-Χ-Β, AH-B, Χ-Β or B. Non-limiting examples of salts of anti-taste preparations include alkali metal salts and alkaline earth metal salts such as sodium and lithium salts. Sodium chloride, sodium gluconate, monosodium glutamate, and glycine sodium are examples of the sodium salt that may be used in the present invention. Sodium halide salts are the preferred salts for suppressing foreign taste. Sodium chloride is the most suitable salt for a foreign taste suppressant.

Preferably, the salt suppresses the off-taste without giving a noticeable salty taste to the main stream of smoke. The salt may comprise from about 0.1 to about 5 percent, more preferably about 1 percent, by weight of the total activated carbon and the off-taste suppressant.

The optimum amount of the off-taste suppressant for any given amount of adsorbent may vary significantly depending on a number of factors, including the nature and structure of the adsorbent, the composition of the off-taste suppressant and the user's preference. The off-taste suppressant should be provided in an amount sufficient to substantially suppress, and preferably substantially eliminate, the off-taste of the adsorbent. Within the range, the percentage by weight of the off-taste suppressant used in the adsorbent should be selected so as to maintain a sufficient amount of activated carbon to achieve the desired reduction in unwanted gas phase constituents without introducing additional flavor tones to the main smoke stream. would be restored. It will be appreciated that one skilled in the art would be able to select the best weight percentages for any given off-taste suppressant based on a balance of these goals.

Referring to FIG. In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 1, a cigarette 10 having a tobacco rod 20 with a filter 30 that can be attached to a tobacco rod 20 by a circular paper is not shown. FIG. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the filter 30 is of the so-called plug-cavity-plug or triple filter type. The first particle filter element 34 at the end of the filter mouth and the second particle filter element 36 resting on the tobacco rod 20 are spaced to form a filter cavity 38 therebetween. The filter cavity 38 comprises a gas phase filtering material 40 which, according to the present invention, comprises an absorbent and a foreign taste suppressant formulation therefor. The triple filter comprising all three elements is limited to a conventional paper wrapper 32. Cigarette 10 can be of any length, including but not limited to 80mm, 84mm and 99mm.

Ventilation may be provided by one or more rows of circumferentially spaced apertures through annular paper, not shown. The holes may be located between the ends of the filter cavity 38 containing the adsorbent 40 at the beginning and downstream of the end flow. As is well known, ventilation reduces the amount of main smoke stream reaching the smoker by attenuating ambient air, and also increases filtration efficiency by reducing the rate of main smoke flow through the holes at the beginning of the flow, thereby increasing the flow time in the filter.

The filter elements 34 and 36 may be formed from any medium capable of filtering particles from the main smoke stream. Non-limiting examples of suitable media include film or fiber polyolefins and celluloses. Cellulose may include paper and cellulose acetate fiber Preferably, the filter elements 34 and 36 are plugs of cellulose acetate tow well known in the art. Filter elements 34 and 36 may include a plasticizer such as triacetin for fiber binding. The plasticizer can pull the material of the particles and further contribute to the efficiency of the tow by reducing the particles in the main smoke stream. The use of plasticizers, especially triacetin, as binder in filter tows is well known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment, the cigarette 10 is 84 mm long and the downstream tow 34 is 10 mm long. The cavity 38 formed between the tows 34 and 36 varies in length from about 3 mm to about 8 mm, preferably from about 5 mm to about 6 mm. In an embodiment where the cavity 38 is 5 mm long, the tow 36 is at the beginning of the flow 10 mm long. In another embodiment, cavity 38 is 6 mm long and tow 36 is 9 mm long at the beginning of the flow. Ventilation in the filter cavity 38 is provided through holes spaced

14.5 mm from downstream tow 34 at mouth end.

In another preferred embodiment, the cigarette 10 is 99 mm long and the downstream tow 34 is 10 mm long. The cavity 38 formed between the tows 34 and 36 varies in length from about 3 mm to about 8 mm, preferably from about 5 mm to about 6 mm. In an embodiment where cavity 38 is 5 mm long, tow 36 is 12 mm long at the beginning of the flow. In another embodiment, cavity 38 is 6 mm long and tow 36 is 11 mm long at the beginning of the flow. Ventilation in the filter cavity 38 is provided through holes spaced

14.5 mm from downstream tow 34 at mouth end.

In another aspect of the present invention, it is contemplated that chemosorbents may be used in combination with adsorbents treated with an off-taste suppressant to provide filters having enhanced gas reduction capacity. Chemosorbents include, but are not limited to, ion-exchange resins, preferably selected from polystyrenes and their derivatives. Preferred ion-exchange resins are macroporous beads functionalized with primary amino groups such as Purolite A-143 and Purolite A-109. Polyamide functionalized beads such as Rohm & Haas Amberlite IRA-95 and weak base functionalized beads such as Rohm & Haas Duolite A-7 may also be used. The preferred ion exchange resin is Purolite A-109, which is a primary amine functionalized polystyrene stitched with divinylbenzene in the form of macroporous spherical beads.

The amount of adsorbent should be selected to achieve the most effective gas phase reduction within the range of the smoking article. FIG. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, it is desirable that cavity 38 is completely filled with gas-phase filter material 40. More preferably, cavity 38 is filled with about 150 mg of activated carbon in embodiments having a 6 mm filter cavity and 125 mg in embodiments having a 5 mm cavity.

FIG. In the embodiment of the triple filter shown in Figure 1, the chemosorbent 38 in the filter cavity 38 may be in admixture with the adsorbent. Preferably, the chemosorbent is present in admixture with the adsorbent from about 25:75 to about 75:25 w / w.

When the adsorbent is in admixture with the chemosorbent material, significantly less adsorbent is present in the same size cavity. For example, a gas phase filtering agent consisting of 25% by weight of treated activated carbon and 75% by weight of ion exchange resin and filling a 6 mm cavity can contain only about 10 to about 31 mg of activated carbon due to the much lower resin density. Similarly, a 5mm cavity filled with a gas phase filtration agent consisting of 25% by weight of treated activated carbon and 75% by weight of an ion exchange resin can contain only about 8 to about 27 mg of activated carbon.

Although ion-exchange resins themselves have an undesirable characteristic foreign taste, it has been unexpectedly found that smoking articles having filters of the present invention that contain ion-exchange resins substantially reduce the foreign taste of the resin. Certain volatile constituents of ion-exchange resins, which give a characteristic off-taste, such as monomers and solvents, are believed to be adsorbed on activated carbon and thus removed from the main smoke stream. For this reason, in embodiments in which the ion exchange resin is disposed separately from and not in the mixture with the adsorbent, it is desirable to place the adsorbent downstream of the resin. As shown in FIG. In embodiment 2. FIG. The adsorbent 2 treated with an off-taste suppressant 40 is disposed downstream of the chemosorbent 42. The chemosorbent may be disposed in a cavity as in FIG. 2, or may be in the form of a dispersion in a fiber tow to form a "dalmatine" filter element.

There are many ways to apply a foreign taste suppressant to a sorbent, such as activated carbon. In one way, an aqueous or ethanol solution of the anti-taste suppressant is added to the activated carbon followed by evaporation without necessarily heating. In a second preferred embodiment, the aqueous solution of the foreign taste suppressant is sprayed onto the activated carbon without further drying step. A shielded mixer operating at about 150165 ° C for about 30-60 minutes of impregnation cycles may be used to coat about 400-1000 pounds of activated carbon with an off-taste suppressant. Advantageously, it has been found that this method can use a lower amount of foreign flavor suppressant preparation to suppress carbon off flavor compared to the evaporation method. It has been found that moisture from an off-taste suppressant can be usefully used to reduce static build-up during cigarette production and to pre-balance moisture in the activated carbon and tobacco column.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a triple cork-plug filter as shown in FIG. 1 having a cavity of 6 mm filled with a mixture of granulated coconut activated carbon at a mesh size of 18x40 mesh (PICA, USA) and an ion exchange resin Al09 (Purolite, USA). The activated carbon is treated with a 46: 46: 8% w / w mixture of mannitol, fructose and sodium chloride in a shielded spray coating composition. The off-taste suppressant compositions on the carbon contain 11% by weight of total activated carbon and off-taste suppressant. The mixture of treated activated carbon and ion-exchange resin comprises about 25% by weight of the treated activated carbon and about 75% by weight of the resin. When cavity 38 is 5 mm long and completely filled with the mixture, it will contain about 8 to about 27 mg of treated activated carbon and about 35 to about 60 mg of resin. When cavity 38 is 6 mm long and completely filled with the mixture, it will contain about 10 to about 31 mg of treated activated carbon and about 43 to about 70 mg of resin. In another preferred embodiment, the mixture of treated activated carbon and ion-exchange resin comprises about 50% by weight of the treated activated carbon and about 50% by weight of the resin. When cavity 38 is 5 mm long and completely filled with this mixture, it will contain from about 19 to about 66 mg of treated carbon and from about 23 to about 54 mg of resin. When cavity 38 is 6 mm long and completely filled with the mixture, this embodiment will contain from about 23 to about 78 mg of treated carbon and from about 28 to about 64 mg of resin. In both embodiments, a 10 mm length plug of plain fiber tow is positioned at the back of the filter near the mouth, and a row of vents in wrapping paper surrounds the filter about 14½ mm from the tip of the mouth.

It should be clear that the invention can be used in flavored smoking articles. Preferred flavor is menthol. When flavored cigarettes are needed, flavoring agents can be added, such as tobacco wrapping paper, cork wrapper and filter tow. The invention does not add any flavor to the filter tow.

Any smoking material may be used with the present invention. Examples of suitable smoking materials include, but are not limited to, smoky drying, Berlei, Turkish expanded tobacco and reconstituted tobacco. Other tobacco materials suitable for use in the present invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,890 to Gentry et al., Which is hereby incorporated by reference. Preferred tobacco is tobacco (TSNA) with a low specific amount of tobacco nitrosamine.

The wrapping paper and the wrapping paper used in the present invention can be any paper known in the art, including low conductivity sidewall paper and reduced heat resistance paper, such as those described in U.S. Patent Application Serial Nos. 20020074010 (Snaidr et al), 20020129824 (Hammersmith et al), 20020139381 (Peterson et al), 20020179105 (Zawadzki et al), 20020179106 (Zawadzki et al) and 20020185143 (Crooks et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,419 (Arzonico et al.), No. No. 5,878,753 (Peterson et al.), No. No. 5,878,754 (Peterson et al.), No. No. 6,129,087 (Wallace et al.) And no. 562371 127 (Snaidr et al.), Which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Advantageously, the filters of the present invention have been found to have the additional advantage of increasing the "freshness" of the cigarette. It is assumed that tobacco loses moisture over time, resulting in the release of gas-phase constituents, such as aldehydes, which give a cravingy, unpleasant or pungent taste to the mainstream smoke. See U.S. Pat. 2,063,014 (Allen). Previous suggestions to overcome the unwanted taste associated with tobacco, which has been held for a long time, include concealing the unwanted taste with flavoring agents. See U.S. Pat. 3,144,024 (Eichwald et al.). In contrast, the filters of the present invention can remove the gas phase constituents of the main smoke stream, thereby reducing the undesirable organoleptic perception of old tobacco without adding flavoring agents. In addition, the cigarettes of the present invention may have an extended useful life.

FIG. Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. In addition to the conventional particle filter element 34, which may include a fiber tow plug, the filter has a "dalmatine" filter element 52. The Dalmatine filter element 52 is a conventional particle filter material plug saturated with a gas phase adsorbent, preferably activated carbon beads. flavor suppressant. For example, the activated carbon beads may be dispersed in cellulose acetate tow or paper filter material as described in U.S. Pat. 6,257,242 JV (Stavridis), 5,622,190 (Arterbery et al), 5,568,819 (Gentry et al), 3,101,723 (Seligman et al), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention is not limited to the filter construction described above. Other filtering devices are contemplated to be suitable for use with the present invention, including but not limited to those described in European patent application no. 0 579 410 and U.S. Pat. 5,568,819 (Gentry et al), 5,365,951 (Arterbery et al), 5,067,499 (Baneijee et al), 4,881,556 (Clearman et al), 4,357,950 (Berger et al), 3,894,545 (Crellin and others), which are incorporated herein by reference. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that some modifications and changes to the embodiments described above are within the scope of the present invention.

The following non-limiting examples are provided to illustrate the use of the present invention.

EXAMPLES 1-10

The filter cavity lengths in Examples 1-7 and 10 are calculated based on the approximate density of the treated activated carbon samples. Under full fill condition, approximately 25 mg of treated activated carbon per millimeter length should be used.

Cigarettes for consideration in the following examples had a row of holes in the circumference along the length of the filter cavity between its ends at the beginning of the flow and downstream.

EXAMPLE

Activated coconut carbon was treated with various materials listed in Table 1. Activated coconut charcoal, grid size 18x40, supplied by Calgon Carbon Corporation (Pittsburg, PA), was used for all examples listed in this example.

Material Processing Source ** Application (% w / w) Application (mmole / carbon grams) 1-1 Glucosamine hydrochloride Catalog # G220-6; Aldrich 20.0 1.16 1-2 Glucose monohydrate Catalog # 49158; Fluka 18.7 1.16 1-3 Lactose monohydrate Catalog # 61339; Fluka 29.5 1.16 1-4 Maltose Catalog # 63419; Fluka 29.5 1.16 1-5 Sorbitol Catalog # S375-5; Aldrich 4.1 1.16 1-6 Mannitol Catalog # M-9647; Sigma 17.2 1.14 1-7 Fructose Catalog # 15760; Riedel-de Haen 17.2 1.15 1-8 Inositol Catalog # 16652; Aldrich 17.2 1.16 1-9 Tapioko dextrin Crystal Tex 627; National Starch 20.0 - 1-10 Erythritol Catalog # E-7500; Sigma 12.6 1.18 1-11 Non-coloring sweetener * Great Value Brand; WallMart 18.7 - 1-12 Sucharose Catalog # 84097; Fluka 28.2 1.15 1-13 Chitozano oligosaccharide lactate Catalog # 52,368-2; Aldrich 16.9 1-14 Maltodextrin Lodex-10; Mother Murphy’s 19.9 - 1-15 Hydroxypropyl-jS- cyclodextrin Catalog # 85,608-8; Aldrich 19.9

* Contains: glucose, maltodextrin and asparmate; - = not set; ** Aldrich = Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); National Starch. = National Starch (Bridgewater, NJ); Sigma Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); Riedel-de Haen = Fluka Riedel-de Haen (Milwaukee, WI); WallMart = WallMart Stores Incorporated (Bentonville, AR); Fluka = Fluka Chemical Corporation (Milwaukee, WI); Mother Murphy's = Mother Murphy's Laboratory Incorporated (Greensboro, NC).

The carbon material was treated according to the following general methodology. Each of the substances listed in Table 1 was dissolved in water. The resulting solution was applied to crude coal. Sufficient treatment material was added to the water to achieve end use as shown in Table 1. A water to carbon ratio of about 1.8: 1 was generally used. The wet carbon was then dried at about 105 ° C for about 12 hours.

millimeter cigarettes having non-ventilated filters similar to FIG. 1, were prepared as shown in Table 2. After drying, approximately 150 milligrams of various treated carbon were added to the cavities, which were approximately 6 mm long. Sample 1-C was filled with approximately 150 mg of crude carbon. These cigarettes were tested in comparison to a control cigarette (1-CTL, Table 2) with a single carbon-free cellulose acetate plug.

table

A cigarette Material Aldehyde micrograms / cigarette (% reduction relative to 1-CTL) Formaldehyde das Acetaldehyde das Acrylic das Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde 1-CTL * - 57.6 1187.8 152.5 100.3 25.3 1-C ** PCB 38.6 (33.0) 161.7 (86.4) 8.4 (94.5) 8.1 (91.9) 0.7 (97.2) 1-1C 1-1 39.0 (32.20) 769.6 (35.2) 39.2 (74.3) 44.0 (56.2) 2.6 (89.6) 1-2C 1-2 40.9 (28.9) 418.9 (64.7) 19.7 (87.1) 19.5 (80.5) 1.7 (93.4) 1-3C 1-3 47.4 (17.6) 1090.8 (8.2) 117.4 (23.1) 87.3 (12.9) 14 (44.6) 1-4C 1-4 47.7 (17.2) 1105.0 (7.0) 129.7 (15.0) 91.8 (8.5) 15.9 (37.3) 1-5C 1-5 39.9 (30.8) 393.6 (66.9) 21.2 (86.1) 19.6 (80.5) 1.6 (93.7) 1-6C 1-6 40.1 (30.3) 274.7 (76.9) 17.7 (88.4) 16.1 (84.0) 3.5 (86.1) 1-7C 1-7 36.5 (36.7) 164.2 (86.2) 8.3 (94.6) 7.8 (92.2) 1.8 (92.8) 1-8C 1-8 41.9 (27.2) 165.5 (86.1) 11.8 (92.3) 10.3 (89.7) 2.6 (89.7) 1-9C 1-9 56.9 (1.1) 917.3 (22.8) 103.2 (32.4) 69.4 (30.8) 18.1 (28.5) 1-10C 1-10 44.7 (22.3) 272.1 (77.1) 15.9 (89.6) 13.1 (86.9) 0.5 (97.9) 1-11C 1-11 42.9 (25.5) 444.8 (62.6) 30.2 (80.2) 27.5 (72.6) 2.2 (91.2) 1-12C 1-12 46.4 (19.5) 898.2 (24.4) 78.5 (48.5) 63.1 (37.0) 11.4 (55.0) 1-13C 1-13 46.3 (19.5) 729.4 (38.6) 73.6 (51.7) 55.7 (44.5) 15.0 (40.8) 1-14C 1-14 45.6 (20.8) 674.1 (43.3) 58.5 (61.6) 50.5 (49.7) 2.4 (90.4) 1-15C 1-15 46.0 (20.1) 740.0 (37.7) 76.4 (49.9) 59.4 (40.7) 4.1 (83.7)

PCB = Crude PCB (20x50 mesh) activated coconut shell carbon supplied by Calgon Carbon Corporation (Pittsburg, PA); * Aldehyde content is equal to the average of three tests; ** Aldehyde content is the average of two tests; - = not applicable.

Cigarettes were analyzed for total smoke carbonyl content. The total smoke carbonyl content and carbonyl reduction data are shown in Table 2. The types of cigarettes listed in Table 2 were smoked and evaluated for taste. PCB Carbon Type 1-C cigarettes have been found to have a chalky, nasty, pungent and drying taste. Cigarettes of the following grades: 1-1C to 1-8C, 1-10C and 1-15C have been found to have a suppressed carbon off-taste compared to grade 1-C. For cigarette grades 1-1C to 1-8C, 1-10C and 1-15C treatment suppressed approximately 30 to 50% of the carbon-based off-taste. Cigarettes 1-9C, 1-11C, 1-12C, 1-13C showed less than about 30% suppression of the carbon-based off-taste. The presence of the treated carbon in cigarettes 1-6C (mannitol) and 1-7C (fructose treatment) showed significant carbonyl removal efficiency and the highest suppression of the carbon-based off-taste. These results indicate that activated carbon treated with certain sugars and polyols is effective in reducing the undesirable gas phase constituents of the main smoke stream while suppressing the off-flavors associated with the activated carbon adsorbents.

EXAMPLE

Another test was conducted to determine the efficacy of various amino acids as extraneous taste suppressants for use in the present invention. Activated coconut shell carbon was treated with various materials listed in Table 3. PCB (20x50 mesh) activated coconut shell carbon supplied by Calgon Carbon Corporation (Pittsburg, PA) was used for all samples listed in this example.

table

Material Processing Source * Application (% w / w) Application (mmole / carbon grams) 2-1 Asparagine Catalog # A9,300-3; Aldrich 2-2 Glutamine Directory # G3126; Sigma 2-3 Glycine Catalog # G620-l; Aldrich

* Aldrich = Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); Sigma Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI)

Activated carbon was treated by the following common processes. Each treatment material in Table 3 was dissolved in water. The resulting solution was then used in crude coal. A sufficient amount of the material to be treated was added to the water to obtain end use as shown in Table 3.

Usually water and carbon in a ratio of about 2: 1 were used. The wet carbon was then dried at about 90 ° C for about 5 hours.

99-millimeter cigarettes having non-ventilated filters were made, similar to those shown in FIG. 1. After drying, approximately 150 milligrams of treated carbon were placed in cavities of approximately 6 mm. Sample 2-C was filled with approximately 150 mg of crude carbon. These cigarettes were tested as compared to a control cigarette (2-CTL, Table 4), which had a single carbon-free plug of cellulose acetate.

table

A cigarette Material Aldehyde micrograms / cigarette (% reduction relative to 2-CTL) Formaldehyde das Acetaldehyde das Acrylic das Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde 2-CTL - 46.0 1077.0 131.2 88.0 25.4 2-C * PCB 38.6 (16.0) 161.7 (85.0) 8.4 (93.6) 8.1 (90.8) 0.7 (97.2) 2-1C 2-1 40.1 (12.8) 140.9 (86.9) 7.3 94.4) 9.3 (89.4) 1.4 (94.5) 2-2C 2-2 33.8 (26.5) 184.7 (82.9) 7.3 (94.4) 9.8 (88.9) 1.9 (92.5) 2-3C 2-3 32.4 (29.5) 114.3 (89.4) 5.1 (96.1) 7.9 (91.0) ND

PCB = Crude PCB (20x50 mesh) activated coconut shell carbon supplied by Calgon Carbon Corporation (Pittsburg, PA); * Aldehyde content equals the average of two tests; - - not available; ND = not detected.

Cigarettes were analyzed for total smoke carbonyl content. The total smoke carbonyl content and carbonyl reduction data are shown in Table 4. The types of cigarettes listed in Table 4 were smoked and evaluated for taste. Untreated PCB carbon-containing type 2-C cigarettes have been found to have a chalky, unpleasant, pungent and drying taste. Cigarettes of types 2-1C to 2-2C and 2-3C were found to have a suppressed carbon off-taste compared to type 2-C. For cigarette grades 2-1C to 2-2C and 2-3C, the treatment suppressed approximately 20% of the carbon-based off-taste. These results indicate that when the amino acids are effective in reducing the observed carbon off-taste, the degree of inhibition is not as high as that indicated by the polyols and sugars described in Example 1.

EXAMPLE

In this example, PICACARB (12x40 mesh) activated anthracite carbon supplied by PICA USA (Columbia, OH) was treated with mannitol and fructose. 1.07 grams of mannitol (Catalog # 25,409-6; Aldrich Chemical Company; Milwaukee, WI) and 1.08 grams of fructose (Catalog # 15760; Riedel-de Haen; Milwaukee, WI) were dissolved in 25.33 grams of water. The solution was then used with 10.01 grams of PICACARB (12x40 mesh) activated anthracite carbon (PICA USA; Columbia, OH). The wet charcoal was then dried at about 90 ° C for about 12 hours.

84-millimeter cigarettes having non-ventilated filters were made, similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 1. After drying, approximately 150 milligrams of treated carbon was placed in a single cigarette cavity approximately 6 mm long (Type 3-1C cigarette, Table 5). Another cigarette, having a cavity of about 3 mm, was filled with about 75 milligrams of untreated PICACARB carbon (Cigarette type 3-C, Table 5). These cigarettes were tested as compared to a control cigarette (3-CTL, Table 5), which had a single, carbon-free plug of cellulose acetate.

table

Aldehyde micrograms / cigarette (% reduction relative to 3-CTF)

A cigarette Formaldehyde das Acetaldehyde das Acrylic das Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde 3-CTF 31.4 913.4 110.2 70.3 28.1 3-C 37.9 (-20.7) 709.8 (22.3) 52.2 (52.6) 40.8 (42.0) 7.1 (74.7) 3-1C 39.9 (-27.1) 626.5 (31.4) 43.5 (60.5) 36.7 (47.8) 7.2 (74.4)

The carbonyl content of the main smoke stream and the carbonyl reduction data are shown in Table 5. The taste properties of 3-C and 3-1C cigarettes were evaluated. Untreated anhydrite carbon 3-C cigarettes were found to have a chalky, unpleasant and drying taste. It was found that although the carbonyl content of Cigarettes 3-C and 3-1C was similar, the carbon off-taste was significantly suppressed in the Cigarette Example 3-1C compared to the Cigarette Model 3-C.

EXAMPLE

In this example, G278 (12x40 mesh) activated coconut shell charcoal, supplied by PICA USA (Columbia, OH), was treated with mannitol and fructose. 1.01 grams of mannitol (catalog # M-9647, Sigma Chemical Company; Milwaukee, WI) and 1.01 grams of fructose (catalog # 15760, Riedel-de Haen; Milwaukee, WI) were dissolved in 17.51 grams of water. The solution was then used with 10.01 grams of G278 coconut shell charcoal (PICA USA; Columbia, OH). The moist charcoal was then dried at about 90 ° C.

99-millimeter cigarettes having non-ventilated filters were made, similar to those shown in FIG. 1. After drying, approximately 180 milligrams of treated carbon were placed into cavities approximately 7 mm long (Cigarette Type 4-1C, Table 6). Similar cigarettes containing approximately 150 milligrams of untreated G278 carbon were produced (Cigarette Type 4-C, Table 6). These cigarettes were tested as compared to a control cigarette (4-CTL, Table 6) with a single carbon-free cellulose acetate plug.

table

Aldehyde per microgram / cigarette (% reduction over 4-CTL) *

A cigarette Formaldehyde das Acetaldehyde das Acrylic das Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde 4-CTL 51.1 993.6 134.8 84.5 19.8 4-C 39.0 (23.7) 200.5 (79.8) 13.6 (89.9) 12.4 (85.3) 0.7 (96.4) 4-1C 43.8 (14.4) 454.6 (54.5) 33.0 (75.5) 27.9 (67.0) 3.7 (81.2)

* Aldehyde content equals the average of two tests.

The carbonyl content of the main smoke stream and the carbonyl reduction data are presented in Table 6. The taste properties of 4-CTL, 4-C and 4-1C cigarettes were evaluated. Untreated G278 carbon-containing type 4-C cigarettes were found to have a chalky and drying taste. Also, for the 4-C type cigarette, the tobacco and menthol taste levels were significantly reduced compared to the control 4-CTL type cigarette. Cigarette type 4-1C was found to have a noticeably suppressed major off-taste. Unexpectedly, applicants found that a 4-1C type cigarette had an enhanced tobacco and menthol taste compared to a 4-C type sample.

EXAMPLE

Activated coconut shell carbon was treated with various materials shown in Table 7. In this example, activated coconut charcoal G278, grid size 18x40, supplied by PICA USA (Columbia, OH) was used for all examples provided.

The carbon material was treated according to the following general methodology. Each of the treatments in Table 7 was dissolved in water. The resulting solution was applied to crude coal. Sufficient treatment material was added to the water to achieve end use as shown in Table 7. A water to carbon ratio of about 1.8: 1 was generally used. The wet carbon was then dried at about 105 ° C for about 12 hours.

table

Material Processing Source * Application (% w / w) 5-1 Glycerol Directory # G153-1; Fisher 16.8 5-2 Glycerol Directory # G153-1; Fisher 9.3 5-3 Glycerol Directory #G 153-1; Fisher 2.4 5-4 Sorbitol Catalog # S375-5; Aldrich 28.7 5-5 Sorbitol Catalog # S375-5; Aldrich 16.8 5-6 Mannitol Catalog # M-9647; Sigma 28.8 5-7 Mannitol Catalog # M-9647; Sigma 16.9 5-8 Mannitol Catalog # M-9647; Sigma 4.9 5-9 Propylene glycol Product 15.2 5-10 Xylol Catalog # 85,158-2; Aldrich 15.0

* Aldrich = Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); Sigma = Sigma Chemical Company (Mihvaukee, WI); Fisher = Fisher Scientific (Fair Lawn, NJ).

84-millimeter cigarettes having non-ventilated filters similar to those of Figs. 1 is shown. After drying, about 100 milligrams of treated carbon was added to the cavities, which were approximately 4 mm long. Cigarette type 5-C was made using 50 mg of crude G278 carbon. These cigarettes were tested as compared to a control cigarette (5-CTL, Table 8), which had a single, carbon-free plug of cellulose acetate.

table

Aldehyde per microgram / cigarette (% reduction over 5-CTL) *

Cigar dad Material- ga Formaldehyde das Acetaldehyde das Acrylic das Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde 5-CTL - 22.6 701.8 64.0 58.4 26.7 5-C G278 19.1 (15.6) 332.2 (52.7) 19.6 (69.5) 19.2 (67.1) 10.1 (62.0) 5-1C 5-1 17.5 (22.4) 286.6 (59.2) 13.1 (79.5) 17.4 (70.3) 8.4 (68.4) 5-2C 5-2 18.7 (17.3) 193.4 (72.4) 9.5 (85.2) 11.3 (80.6) 5.6 (78.8) 5-3C 5-3 16.3 (27.9) 111.5 (84.1) 6.6 (89.7) 8.3 (85.8) 4.5 (83.1) 5-4C 5-4 24.4 (-8.1) 698.2 (0.5) 59.9 (6.5) 54.5 (6.7) 19.6 (26.3) 5-5C 5-5 19.4 (14.1) 365.7 (47.9) 21.0 (67.2) 22.6 (61.4) 8.7 (67.3) 5-6C 5-6 19.2 (15.0) 578.9 (17.5) 39.2 (38.7) 43.8 (24.9) 21.3 (20.2) 5-7C 5-7 18.8 (17.0) 361.4 (48.5) 18.9 (70.5) 22.8 (61.0) 13.1 (50.9) 5-8C 5-8 17.4 (22.8) 185.4 (73.6) 10.5 (83.5) 11.4 (80.5) 8.2 (69.3) 5-9C 5-9 19.9 (12.1) 298.2 (57.5) 15.0 (76.5) 14.6 (75.1) 5.9 (77.7) 5-10C 5-10 14.5 (35.6) 138.7 (80.2) 7.8 (87.8) 7.2 (87.7) 3.0 (88.8)

G278 = 50 milligrams / cigarette, G278 (grid 18x40) activated coconut shell charcoal, supplied by PICA USA (Columbia, OH); * Aldehyde content equals the average of two tests; - = not applicable.

Cigarettes were analyzed for total smoke carbonyl content. The total smoke carbonyl content and carbonyl reduction data are shown in Table 8. The types of cigarettes listed in Table 8 were smoked and evaluated for taste. The results are shown in Table 9 below. Untreated G278 carbon-containing 5-C type cigarettes were found to have a chalky, unpleasant, pungent and drying taste. It has been found that co-treatment with polyol significantly suppresses the off-taste of carbon to a level of inhibition depending on the amount and type of polyol added. See Table 9. Importantly, the treated carbon material used to make 5-7C (mannitol treatment) and 5-1 OC (xylitol treatment) cigarettes exhibited high carbonyl removal efficiency and maximum carbon off-taste suppression.

table

A cigarette Material Carbon Off-Taste Inhibition (%) 5-C G278 0 5-1C 5-1 40 5-2C 5-2 30th 5-3C 5-3 15th 5-5C 5-5 45 5-6C 5-6 75 5-7C 5-7 50 5-8C 5-8 20th 5-9C 5-9 35 5-10C 5-10 55

G278 = G278 (grid 18x40) activated coconut shell charcoal, supplied by PICA USA (Columbia, OH).

EXAMPLE

Activated coconut shell charcoal was treated with various materials as shown in Table 10. Activated coconut shell charcoal from PICA USA (Columbia, OH) was used for all samples in this sample.

table

Material # Processing * Application (grams of processing material / grams of carbon) 6-1 Fructose, mannitol 0.0919; 0.0923 6-2 Fructose, mannitol, sodium chloride 0.0926; 0.0930; 0.0117 6-3 Fructose, mannitol, sodium chloride 0.0919; 0.0924; 0.0530

* Fructose, Catalog # 14,092-9, Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); mannitol, Catalog # 25,409-6, Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); sodium chloride, no black, Morton International, Morton Salt (Chicago, IL).

The carbon material was treated in the following general order. The treatment material was water-soluble. The resulting solution was then applied to crude coal. Sufficient processing material was added to the water to obtain end use as shown in Table 10. A water to carbon ratio of approximately 1.7: 1 was generally used. The wet carbon was then dried at about 60 ° C for about 36 hours.

99 millimeter cigarettes having ventilated filters similar to those in Figs. 1 is shown. After drying, about 100 milligrams of treated carbon was added to the cavities, which were approximately 4 mm long. These cigarettes were tested as compared to a control cigarette (6-CTL, Table 11), which had a single, carbon-free plug of cellulose acetate.

Cigarettes were analyzed for total smoke carbonyl content. The total smoke carbonyl content and carbonyl reduction data are shown in Table 11.

table

Aldehyde micrograms / cigarette (% reduction relative to 6-CTL)

A cigarette Formaldehyde das Acetaldehyde das Acrylic das Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde 6-CTL 20.5 640.4 71.5 5.2 16.5 6-1C 18.1 (11.7) 302.5 (52.8) 18.3 (74.4) 20.1 (64.2) 8.5 (48.4) 6-2C 18.0 (12.2) 287.7 (55.1) 16.5 (76.8) 18.5 (67.1) 6.4 (60.9) 6-3C 21.0 (-2.6) 414.5 (35.3) 29.4 (58.9) 30.0 (46.7) 8.9 (45.8)

G278 = 50 milligrams / cigarette, G278 (grid 18x40) activated coconut shell charcoal, supplied by PICA USA (Columbia, OH); * Aldehyde content equals the average of two tests.

The types of cigarettes in Table 11 were smoked and their taste characteristics evaluated. Unexpectedly, the applicants discovered that the presence of sodium chloride in the treatment mixture significantly enhanced the suppression of carbon off-taste. It was found that a 6-2C type cigarette (fructose / mannitol / sodium chloride) was suppressed with 80% carbon off-taste while a 6-1C type cigarette (fructose / mannitol) was suppressed with 60% carbon off-taste.

EXAMPLE

These different off-taste suppressant compositions were analyzed using a blender, concentrated aqueous solutions of fructose (Krystar 300, Tate & Lyle, AEStaley Manufacturing Company; Decatur, IL) and mannitol (Mannitol, USP, Welco) spray-coated on samples G278 (according to 18x40) of activated coconut shell carbon supplied by PICA USA (Materials 7-1 and 7-2, Table 12 and Table 13). Aqueous solutions of fructose (Krystar 300, Tate & Lyle, AEStaley Manufacturing Company; Decatur, IL), mannitol (Mannitol, USP, Welco) and sodium chloride (canning and pickling salt, Morton Salt Company; Chicago, IL) were commonly used on G278 carbon (Material 7-3, Table 12 and Table 13).

table

Material Coal, pounds (kg) Fructose, in pounds (kg) Mannitol, in pounds (kg) NaCl in pounds (kg) Water, pounds (kg) 7-1 400 (181.6) 29.3 (13.3) 29.3 (13.3) - 58.7 (26.6) 7-2 400 (181.6) 21.8 (9.9) 21.8 (9.9) - 57 (25.9) 7-3 400 (181.6) 21.8 (9.9) 21.8 (9.9) 4.0 (1.8) 57 (25.9)

Carbon = G278 (Grid 18x40) Activated Coconut Shell Carbon, supplied by PICA USA (Columbia, OH); fructose = Krystar 300 (Tate & Lyle, A.E.Staley Manufacturing Company; Decatur, IL), mannitol = mannitol, USP (Welco); NaCl = sodium chloride, canning and pickling salt (Morton Salt; Chicago, IL); water = tap water; - = not applicable.

table

Material Activity (dry) Activity (as it is) Humidity (%) Density (as it is, grams / millimeter) 7-1 48.3 33.7 16.5 0.711 7-2 45.4 32.3 16.9 0.707 7-3 - 38.0 13.0 0.691

The moisture content was determined by mass loss by drying at 105 ° C for 4 hours; activity = CCU number = 2.55 x butane activity as determined by ASTM Method D5742-95 Standard Continuous Method for Determination of Butane Activity of Activated Carbon; density determined by ASTM Method D2854 Continue Method for Apparent Density of Activated Carbon; such as is = as prepared; dry = after drying at 105 ° C for 4 hours.

84 millimeter cigarettes having ventilated filters similar to those of Figs. 1 is shown. The cavities of these cigarettes were filled with treated carbon to produce samples 7-1C, 7-2C, 7-3C, and 7-4C (Table 14). Three additional sample cigarettes 7-1C, 7-2C, 7-3C were filled with crude carbon (Table 14). These cigarettes were tested as compared to a control cigarette (7-CTL, Table 14), which had a single, carbon-free plug of cellulose acetate.

Carbonyl removal data for the treated and untreated carbon species are shown in Table 14. A 7-C2 cigarette containing 50 mg of crude carbon (Table 14) gave an unpleasant bitter carbon off-taste, whereas a 7-C type cigarette containing 100 mg of fructose / mannitol / sodium chloride carbon (Table 14) , suppressed by about 80% carbon off-taste. Both types of 7-C2 and 7-3C cigarettes showed similar carbonyl removal efficiency as compared to control cigarette (7-CTL).

table

Cigar dad Material- ga Svo- ris ** Aldehyde micrograms / cigarette (% reduction relative to 7-CTL) * Formalde- slow Acetaldehyde das Acrylic- slow Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde 7-CTL * - 21.8 724.2 68.3 60.4 26.3 7-C1 G278 25th 21.6 (0.8) 526.7 (27.3) 37.3 (45.4) 35.7 (40.9) 16.5 (37.2) 7-C2 G278 50 19.1 (12.4) 332.2 (54.1) 19.6 (71.4) 19.2 (68.2) 10.1 (61.4) 7-C3 G278 75 18.6 (14.8) 201.9 (72.1) 11.3 (83.5) 11.3 (81.3) 5.8 (77.9) 7-1C 7-1 100 16.6 (23.7) 316.5 (56.3) 7.2 (89.5) 14.6 (75.8) 12.5 (52.3) 7-2C 7-2 100 16.8 (22.7) 267.3 (63.1) 6.1 (91.1) 13.2 (78.2) 12.1 (53.8) 7-3C * 7-3 100 18.1 (17.1) 305.7 (57.8) 16.1 (76.4) 16.5 (72.7) 7.2 (72.5) 7-4C * 7-3 125 16.9 (22.6) 232.5 (67.9) 12.2 (82.2) 12.9 (78.7) 6.5 (75.4)

G278 = G278 (grid 18x40) activated coconut shell charcoal, supplied by PICA USA (Columbia, OH); * Aldehyde content is equal to the average of three tests; - = not applicable; ** - mg of material per cigarette.

EXAMPLE

This is an example of how to prepare activated carbon for use in the invention. In this example, 8.3 pounds (3.8 kg) of fructose (Krystar 300, Tate & Lyle, AEStaley Manufacturing Company; Decatur, IL) and 8.3 pounds (3.8 kg) of mannitol (Mannitol, USP, Welco) were dissolved. 18.5 pounds (8.4 kg) of water. Using a stirrer, the aqueous solution is sprayed onto 150 pounds (68.1 kg) of G278 activated carbon (mesh 18x40, supplied by PICA USA; Columbia, OH). The carbon tetrachloride activity of the treated carbon after treatment was determined to be 38.3 (carbon tetrachloride content = 2.55 x butane activity as determined by ASTM Method D5742-95 (Standard Continued Method for Determination of Butane Activity of Activated Carbon)) .

EXAMPLE

Approximately 37.5 pounds (17 kg) of A109 resin (18x40 mesh, wet, Purolite USA, Bala Cynwyd, PA) was divided into five parts of approximately 7.5 pounds (3.4 kg). Each portion was washed four times with approximately 3 gallons (11.3 L) of water. The wet parts were mixed and dried in a conventional oven at 60 ° C for 24 hours. Karl Fischer titration determined that the solids should have a moisture content of 34.94%.

PICA USA was prepared with a 46: 46: 8 weight ratio of fructose, mannitol and sodium chloride in activated carbon treated with 1000 pounds (454 kg) of G278 activated carbon in aqueous solution of 54.5 pounds (24.7 kg) of fructose , 54.5 pounds (24.7 kg) of mannitol, 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of sodium chloride and 142.5 pounds (64.7 kg) of water. The carbon carbon tetrachloride activity after treatment was determined to be 35.1 (carbon tetrachloride content = 2.55 x butane activity as determined by ASTM Method D5742-95 (Standard Continuous Method for Determination of Butane Activity of Activated Carbon)). The treated carbon mixture has a 46: 46: 8 fructose / mannitol / sodium chloride mixture of 11% by weight.

84-millimeter cigarettes having non-ventilated filters similar to those of Figs. 1 is shown. Cigarettes were manufactured containing approximately 100 mg of gas phase filtering material, comprising various blends of treated carbon and resin, as shown in Table 15. In addition, two control cigarettes were prepared, one cavity filled with 125 g of treated carbon assigned a value of "10" for general acceptability and extraneous taste, and the other filter cavity was empty and indicated "0" for extraneous taste. The results of the taste assessment are shown in Table 15.

table

Sample # Carbon ¹ (mg) Tar (mg) Coal: Resin ² OA ³ OT ⁴ A 0.0 100.0 0: 100 8.0 5.0 B 25.0 75.0 25:75 13.3 4.5 C 50.0 50.0 50:50 11.1 6.9 D 75.0 25.0 75:25 9.1 8.8 E I. . . _ _ 87.5 , 2 ______ · ___ 12.5 82:14 7.5 j_ ... 3, 10.5

'Treated coal; ^ weight: weight ratio of treated carbon to resin; ³ OA = overall acceptability; OT - Off-taste compared to a control containing 125 mg of treated carbon.

During this study, it was observed that A109 resin gives a foreign taste to cigarettes. This foreign taste is probably due in part to the presence of traces of manufacturing chemicals, such as primary amines, in the resin. Resin washing, as described above, has been found to significantly reduce the foreign taste associated with the resin prior to use. Even after washing, cigarettes containing 100% A109 resin still had an off-taste similar to that of carbon when shown in Table 15. Expanding on the theory that this extraneous taste derives from the structure of the resin macropores, the profile of the organic constituents in the main smoke stream is similar to the state where it is theoretically claimed that activated carbon produces an extraneous taste.

The highest overall acceptability was obtained from cigarettes B and C containing 25% by weight and 50% by weight of treated carbon, respectively. Cigarettes B and C had greater overall acceptability than either the cigarette containing 100% resin or the 100% treated carbon control cigarette. The observed off-taste was the lowest in B cigarette. Cigarette B also caused a significant reduction in extraneous taste. The theory is that the presence of about 25-50% by weight of carbon in these cigarettes, in addition to reducing the gas phase constituents in the tobacco, reduces the trace amount of the manufacturing chemical introduced into the smoke from the resin. This example demonstrates synergism using carbon / resin mixtures.

Table 2 shows the gas phase removal data for each cigarette in Table 19, calculated as a% reduction relative to the control cigarette having an empty filter cavity.

table

Sample Formaldehyde ¹ Acetaldehyde das Acrylic- slow Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde OAxAc ² A 40.1 84.4 88.6 78.2 68.9 675 B 19.4 72.5 75.5 71.8 77.3 965 C 17.1 69.3 78.2 70.6 78.9 769 D 10.3 54.3 72.8 65.7 72.6 494 E 19.2 56.1 79.5 70.6 79.3 421 All data show% reduction compared to control cigarette with empty filter

cavity;

² OAxAc = total acceptability x% acetaldehyde reduction.

As can be seen in Table 16, A cigarette containing 100% resin gives the highest carbonyl removal efficiency. However, the usefulness of treating particulate gas phase material depends on its ability to suppress foreign taste as well as its ability to reduce gas phase constituents. The co-acceptability product and the gas phase removal ability of each cigarette provide one way to evaluate optimal blends of treated carbon and resin. According to this measurement, B and C cigarettes containing 25% by weight and 50% by weight of carbon, respectively, are most effective in the present invention.

Activated coconut shell charcoal was treated with various materials shown in Table 17. G278 (18x40 mesh) coconut shell carbon supplied by PICA USA (Columbia, OH) was used for all samples presented in this example. Using a stirrer, the aqueous solution is sprayed onto 150 pounds (68.1 kg) of G278 activated carbon (mesh 18x40, supplied by PICA USA; Columbia, OH).

The carbon material was treated in the following general order. The treatment material was water-soluble. The resulting solution was then applied to crude coal. Sufficient processing material was added to the water to obtain end use as shown in Table 17. Usually a water to carbon ratio of about 1.8: 1 was used. The wet carbon was then dried at about 60 ° C for about 8 hours.

table

Wood - Processing * Usage ga # (processing wood.

grams / grams of carbon)

9-1 Fructose, Mannitol, Glycine Sodium Hydrate 0.1025; 0.1020; 0.0167

9-2 Fructose, Mannitol, Monosodium Glutamate Monohydrate 0.1018; 0.1013; 0.0321

9-3 Fructose, Mannitol, Sodium Gluconate 0.1020; 0.1015; 0.0370

9-4 Fructose, Mannitol, Sodium Chloride 0.1023; 0.1018; 0.0101 * Fructose, Catalog 14,092-9, Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); mannitol, Catalog 25,409-6, Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); glycine sodium salt hydrate, Catalog 21,951-7, Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); monosodium glutamate monohydrate, catalog G283-4, Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); sodium gluconate, Catalog 18,633-3, Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, WI); sodium chloride, black, Morton International, Morton Salt (Chicago, IL).

99 millimeter cigarettes having ventilated filters similar to those in Figs. 1 is shown. After drying, approximately 150 milligrams of treated carbon were added to 6 millimeter cavities. These cigarettes were tested in comparison to a control cigarette (9-CTL, Table 17), which had a single, carbon-free plug of cellulose acetate.

Cigarettes were analyzed for total smoke carbonyl content. The total smoke carbonyl content and carbonyl reduction data are shown in Table 18.

table

Aldehyde micrograms / cigarette (% reduction relative to 9-CTL) *

Cigar Formaldehyde Acetaldehyde Acrylic- Propion Croton dad slow aldehyde aldehyde 9-CTL 24.2 717.0 70.6 64.0 31.5 9-1C 21.6 (10.9) 306.1 (57.3) 11.6 (83.6) 18.7 (70.7) 9.8 (68.8) 9-2C 17.2 (29.1) 317.4 (55.7) 16.2 (77.0) 22.3 (65.1) 9.5 (69.8) 9-3C * 25.4 (-4.9) 506.3 (29.4) 25.3 (64.2) 34.8 (45.6) 14.0 (55.6) 9-4C * 19.1 (21.0) 328.1 (54.2) 12.7 (82.0) 21.3 (66.7) 9.8 (68.8)

* Aldehyde content equals the average of two tests.

The types of cigarettes in Table 17 were smoked and their taste characteristics evaluated. Unexpectedly, the Applicants discovered that the treatment of carbon with blended sodium salt and sugar / polyol blends provided greater suppression of the carbon off-taste than with the sugar / polyol blends alone. Off-taste suppressants Table 17 lists the off-taste suppressant efficacy. In this way, 9-4C provided greater suppression of extraneous taste than 9-2C, which in turn provided greater suppression of extraneous taste than 9-1C. In this assay, suppression of extraneous taste by 9-3C was approximately equivalent to inhibition by 9-4C. In general, all cigarette samples 9-1C, 9-2C, 9-3C and 9-4C exhibited significant suppression of carbon off-taste.

- 16 EXAMPLES

It has been found that the use of a certain amount of an off-taste suppressant unexpectedly provides better carbon off-taste reduction while maintaining proper gas phase removal properties, as shown in the following examples. Unless otherwise stated, in the following examples, the treated carbon was prepared by dissolving the indicated amount of a foreign taste suppressant in 20 mL of water using 10 mg of activated carbon. After evaporation of the water, the treated carbon was dried at 60 ° C for 10 hours.

There were manually made 85 millimeters cigarettes fitted with s-cavity filters similar to those of Figs. 1 is shown. The filters have a 10 mm fiber tow plug at the end of the mouth, a 9 mm fiber tow plug at the end of the inlet stream and a 6 mm cavity between them. In each sample, the cavity was filled with 150 mg of activated carbon treated with an off-taste suppressant.

Cigarettes were smoked by a panel of three professional smokers and evaluated for carbon off-taste and overall acceptability. The carbon off-taste of each cigarette was scored on a scale of 0 to 10, with a control cigarette (G278) containing 150 grams of crude activated carbon on a scale of "10" and another control cigarette with an empty cavity on a scale of "0". The Smokers Panel also classified each cigarette for general acceptability on a scale of 1 to 10, with G278 corresponding to "1" and empty cavity corresponding to "10". Each cigarette was evaluated on the basis of the third, fourth and fifth retraction.

For each cigarette, the gas phase removal data was determined in the samples using a method similar to that used at Arista Laboratories (Richmond, VA). Cigarettes were machine smoked and mainstream smoke was accumulated in dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) aqueous solution. The resulting DNPH aldehyde derivatives were analyzed by HPLC to determine the amount of aldehyde collected. The gas phase reduction data in the examples are expressed as the percentage reduction of the constituents of the selected gas phase compared to the control cigarette having an empty cavity. In each example, the data represent the average of two measurements.

EXAMPLE

To determine the effect of fructose loading on carbon off-taste suppression, overall acceptability, and carbonyl reduction, cigarettes were made with variable amounts of fructose on activated carbon. As shown in Table 19, cigarettes were made with carbon material containing fructose charges ranging from about 2 wt% to about 40 wt%.

table

Sample Fructose,% by weight Fructose (g) ¹ OA ² Carbon OT ³ F-2 2 0.20 1.7 9.5 F-5 5 0.53 2.1 8.8 F-7 7th 0.75 2.5 8.5 F-10 10th 1.11 3.7 7.3 F-15 15th 1.77 4.3 6.7 F-20 20th 2.50 5.8 4.7 F-25 25th 3.33 5.5 3.8 F-30 30th 4.29 4.0 3.0 F-35 35 5.39 4.0 2.7 F-40 40 6.67 3.0 3.2

'Grams of fructose dissolved in 20 ml of water for each 10 g of activated carbon;

² General Acceptance (OA);

³ Carbon Off-Taste (Carbon OT).

For each sample, the overall acceptability was scored higher than the "1" for untreated carbon. From FIG. 4, which graphically depicts off-taste reduction data from Table 19, it is clear that carbon off-taste decreased as the fructose load was increased, gradually offsetting off-taste suppression at charges above about 20 wt%. Especially as shown in Figs. 4, which also graphically depicts the overall acceptability data from Table 19, the overall acceptability of these cigarettes increased with a fructose load of up to about 20 wt% and then began to decline with charges above about 20 wt%. There was usually an inverse relationship between carbon off-taste reduction and overall acceptability when the off-taste suppressant charge was increased.

Table 19 shows the gas phase removal data for each cigarette in Table 19, calculated as a% reduction relative to a control cigarette having an empty cavity.

table

Sample Formalde- slow Acetaldehyde das Acrylic- slow Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde OAxAc ² F-2 40/7 ¹ 91.7 96.7 93.5 95.8 153 F-5 34.2 83.9 91.9 89.0 91.1 182 F-7 41.6 82.7 91.9 88.8 89.4 207 F-10 27.2 72.4 88.6 82.5 81.2 266 F-15 33.9 72.0 89.9 84.0 83.5 312 F-20 31.3 54.6 86.0 71.7 72.9 319 F-25 26.0 26.9 74.2 41.3 43.2 148 F-30 19.0 7.9 57.0 13.0 2.9 31st F-35 24.8 15.8 61.7 16.1 -1.0 63 F-40 17.8 7.9 56.2 8.2 -17.0 24th

all data represent% reduction compared to control cigarette; ² OAxAc = total acceptability x% acetaldehyde reduction.

As shown in Table 20, the ability of the treated carbon to remove the gas phase constituents is rapidly reduced with a fructose charge above 15% by weight. This effect is likely due to carbon deactivation caused by increased blocking of its active zones. This finding is based on the fact that the treated carbon begins to sinter at a fructose charge of about 15 wt%, indicating that the surface of the activated carbon is thickly coated with fructose.

The following table shows the product overall acceptability and% aldehyde reduction for each cigarette. According to these measurements, the useful fructose loading range is between about 2% and about 25% by weight.

EXAMPLE

To determine the effect of mannitol loading on carbon off-taste suppression, overall acceptability, and carbonyl reduction, the cigarettes shown in Table 21 were manufactured with mannitol in an amount from about 2% to about 40% by weight.

table

Sample Mannitol,% by weight Mannitol (g) ¹ OA ² Carbon OT ' M-2 2 0.20 1.7 9.0 M-5 5 0.53 2.5 8.3 M-7 7th 0.75 3.5 7.7 M-10 10th 1.11 4.7 6.3 M-15 15th 1.77 5.3 5.2 M-20 20th 2.50 6.0 4.2 M-25 25th 3.33 5.7 4.2 M-30 30th 4.29 5.0 3.8 M-35 35 5.39 4.5 3.5 M-40 40 6.67 3.3 3.5

¹ gram of mannitol dissolved in 20 ml of water for each 10 grams of activated carbon;

² General Acceptance (OA);

³ Carbon Off-Taste (Carbon OT).

In each case, the overall acceptability was higher for treated carbon than for carbon containing cigarettes. As was the case with fructose, it is evident from Figs. 5, which graphically depicts off-taste reduction data from Table 21, that the carbon off-taste decreases as the fructose load increases, offsetting the off-taste suppression starting at 20 wt%. As shown in Figs. 5, which also graphically depicts overall acceptability data from Table 21, the overall acceptability increased with the mannitol loading to about 20 wt% and then began to decrease with the charges above about 20 wt%.

Table 2 shows the gas phase removal data for each cigarette from Table 21, calculated as a% reduction relative to a control cigarette having an empty cavity.

table

Sample Formalde- slow Acetaldehyde das Acrylic- slow Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde OAxAc ² M-2 4 ^ 00 90.6 95.3 94.2 94.0 151 M-5 45.1 82.8 93.8 89.1 87.7 207 M-7 42.5 80.7 95.1 88.9 87.0 282 M-10 40.1 75.1 95.1 85.1 81.9 350 M-15 42.7 67.3 93.8 78.3 74.2 359 M-20 50.5 62.6 94.4 76.0 73.1 376 M-25 40.2 33.4 87.6 53.2 48.3 189 M-30 37.2 28.4 83.1 44.4 39.5 142 M-35 4.8 10.4 -11.6 22.4 58.7 47 M-40 13.8 11.0 17.8 30.5 62.4 37

All data show% reduction compared to control cigarette with empty cavity; ² OAxAc = total acceptability x% acetaldehyde reduction.

As shown in Table 22, the ability of the treated carbon to remove the gas phase constituents is rapidly reduced with a mannitol charge above 20% by weight. Since mannitol becomes visible as a white coating on the activated carbon particles at about 15% by weight, it is believed that the activated carbon gradually becomes deactivated at the maximum charge of mannitol.

The following table shows the product overall acceptability and% aldehyde reduction for each cigarette. According to these measurements, useful limits for mannitol loading are between about 5% and about 20% by weight.

EXAMPLE

Off-taste suppressants containing 50/50 weight percent of mannitol and fructose were investigated to determine the effect of the charge on carbon off-taste suppression, general acceptability, and carbonyl reduction. As shown in Table 23, the treated carbon materials were prepared with 50/50% by weight blends of mannitol and fructose, varying the blend charges from about 2% to about 40% by weight.

table

Sample 50:50 M:% by weight of F * Mannitol (g) ² Fructose (g) ³ ~ OA ^ Carbon OT ⁵ MF-2 2 0.10 0.10 1.8 8.8 MF-5 5 0.26 0.26 2.7 8.2 MF-7 7th 0.37 0.37 3.7 7.3 MF-10 10th 0.55 0.55 5.0 6.0 MF-15 15th 0.88 0.88 5.7 5.2 MF-20 20th 1.25 1.25 6.5 3.7 MF-25 25th 1.67 1.67 5.5 4.5 MF-30 30th 2.14 2.14 5.2 4.3 MF-35 35 2.69 2.69 4.3 3.5 MF-40 r ;; -: - 40 3.33 3.33 3.5 3.8

50:50, by weight, of a mixture of mannitol and fructose;

² grams of mannitol dissolved in 20 ml of water for each 10 grams of activated carbon;

³ grams of fructose dissolved in 20 ml of water for each 10 grams of activated carbon;

⁴ General Acceptance (OA);

⁵ Carbon Off-Taste (Carbon OT).

As can be seen from Table 23, substantial suppression of extraneous taste was determined for each 50:50 wt% loading of the mannitol / fructose mixture. In addition, the overall acceptability of each cigarette containing treated carbon was higher than that of untreated carbon. As is evident from Figs. 6, which graphically shows off-taste reduction data from Table 23, showed that there was a greater reduction in off-taste carbon when the fructose load increased with gradual equalization of off-taste suppression at charges above 15 wt%. As also shown in Figs. 6, the overall acceptability increased with a charge up to about 20 wt% and then began to decrease with charges above about 20 wt%.

Unexpectedly, a synergistic effect was found with a 50/50% w / w mixture of mannitol and fructose compared to either mannitol or fructose alone. With a loading of a mixture of mannitol and fructose of from 2 wt% to 20 wt%, there was greater overall acceptability and greater suppression of the carbon off-taste than either mannitol or fructose alone.

Table 2 shows the gas phase removal data for each cigarette from Table 23, calculated as a% reduction relative to a control cigarette having an empty cavity.

table

Sample Formalde- slow Acetaldehyde das Acrylic- slow Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde OAxAc ² MF-2 38.8 ¹ 85.6 93.2 91.6 94.0 157 MF-5 35.3 78.5 91.0 86.9 88.5 209 MF-7 33.2 84.8 91.2 92.6 94.0 311 MF-10 31.0 76.5 87.9 87.6 90.6 383 MF-15 18.1 56.4 70.4 72.4 81.0 319 MF-20 16.6 40.3 62.0 59.9 74.2 262 MF-25 4.2 17.8 12.6 34.8 78.2 98 MF-30 -6.5 -3.0 -41.3 3.4 55.8 -15 MF-35 -3.3 -3.9 -41.8 -3.1 35.8 -17 MF-40 -23.9 -14.9 -62.5 -14.6 18.1 -52

All data show% reduction compared to control cigarette with empty cavity; ² OAxAc = total acceptability x% acetaldehyde reduction.

The following table shows the product overall acceptability and% aldehyde reduction for each cigarette. According to these measurements, a useful loading range of 50:50% by weight of a mixture of maniol and fructose is between about 5% and about 20% by weight.

EXAMPLE

To further investigate the synergistic effect of a mixture of mannitol and fructose, a by-product of suppressive taste suppressants, a cigarette having a variable weight ratio of mannitol to fructose was manufactured. As shown in Table 24, the treated carbon materials were prepared with 20% wt / wt blends of mixtures, varying in the ratio of mannitol to fructose from 10:90 to 90:10 (w / w).

table

Sample M: F mass ratio ¹ Mannitol (g) Fructose (g) OA ⁴ Carbon OT MF-10-90 10:90 0.25 2.25 5.3 5.0 MF-25-75 25:75 0.66 1.88 6.0 4.8 MF-50-50 50:50 1.25 1.25 7.3 3.8 MF-75-25 75:25 1.88 0.63 6.2 4.7 MF-90-10 90:10 2.25 0.25 5.3 4.7

¹ Mannitol to fructose ratio (w / w); total carbon loading 20% by weight;

² grams of mannitol dissolved in 20 ml of water for each 10 grams of activated carbon;

³ grams of fructose dissolved in 20 ml of water for each 10 grams of activated carbon;

⁴ General Acceptance (OA);

⁵ Carbon Off-Taste (Carbon OT).

As can be seen from Table 25, substantial suppression of extraneous taste was found for each ratio of mannitol to fructose. In addition, the overall acceptability of each cigarette containing treated carbon was higher than that of untreated carbon. The greatest reduction in carbon off-taste and the highest overall acceptability was found to occur at a ratio of mannitol to fructose of 50:50 w / w.

Table 2 shows the gas phase removal data for each cigarette from Table 25, calculated as a% reduction relative to a control cigarette having an empty cavity.

table

Sample Formalde- slow Acetaldehyde das Acrylic- slow Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde OAxAc ² MF-10-90 35.8 * 61.8 79.6 80.8 85.6 330 MF-25-75 23.5 49.0 68.9 70.1 75.3 294 MF-50-50 23.0 52.5 69.7 73.1 87.4 385 MF-75-25 15.7 50.8 65.0 69.3 82.1 314 MF-90-10 24.0 53.8 65.5 71.1 86.8 287

¹ All data show% reduction compared to control cigarette;

² OAxAc = total acceptability x% acetaldehyde reduction.

The following table shows the product overall acceptability and% aldehyde reduction for each cigarette. Since each of these cigarettes exhibits excellent properties of overall acceptability and gas phase removal, a cigarette having a ratio of mannitol to fructose of about 50:50 w / w is most useful in the present invention.

EXAMPLE

The effects of sodium chloride on carbon off-taste suppression, general acceptability and carbonyl reduction were studied. By-products of supernatant suppressants consisting of a mixture of mannitol, fructose and sodium chloride 46: 46: 8 wt. As shown in Table 27, the treated carbon materials were prepared with this mixture of mannitol, fructose and sodium chloride, varying the charge from about 2% to about 40% by weight of the mixture.

table

Sample M: F: N% by weight ' Mannitol (g) ² Fructose (g) ^J NaCl (g) ⁴ OA ³ Carbon OT ⁶ MFN-2 2 0.09 0.09 0.02 2.3 8.7 MFN-5 5 0.24 0.24 0.04 2.8 7.8 MFN-7 7th 0.35 0.35 0.06 3.7 7.2 MFN-10 10th 0.54 0.54 0.10 5.3 5.7 MFN-15 15th 0.81 0.81 0.15 6.7 4.3 MFN-20 20th 1.15 1.15 0.21 7.7 3.8 MFN-25 25th 1.53 1.53 0.28 7.5 3.0 MFN-30 30th 1.96 1.96 0.36 6.2 3.5 MFN-35 35 2.47 2.47 0.45 4.8 3.7 MFN-40 TT7— "7" 40 3.05 3.05 0.56 3.0 3.5

² grams of mannitol dissolved in 20 ml of water for each 10 grams of activated carbon;

³ grams of fructose dissolved in 20 ml of water for each 10 grams of activated carbon;

⁴ grams of sodium chloride dissolved in 20 ml of water for each 10 grams of activated carbon;

'General Acceptance (OA);

'Carbon off-taste (carbon OT).

As can be seen from Table 27, substantial suppression of extraneous taste was determined for each 46: 46: 8 (w / w) charge of the mannitol, fructose and sodium chloride mixture. In addition, the overall acceptability of each cigarette containing treated carbon was higher than that of untreated carbon. There was a greater reduction in carbon off-taste with the mannitol, fructose and sodium chloride mixture 46: 46: 8 (w / w) than with the mannitol / fructose 50:50 (w / w) batches from 2 wt% to 15 wt%. In addition, the overall acceptability was generally much higher for mannitol, fructose and sodium chloride mixtures 46: 46: 8 (w / w) than for 50:50 (w / w) mannitol and fructose mixtures.

As is evident from Figs. 7, which graphically depicts off-taste reduction data from Table 27, that there was a greater reduction in off-taste carbon when the off-taste suppressor charge increased, gradually offsetting off-taste suppression at charges above 15 wt%. As also shown in Figs. 7, the overall acceptability increased with a charge up to about 20 wt% and then began to decrease with charges above about 20 wt%.

Table 2 shows the gas phase removal data for each cigarette from Table 27, calculated as a% reduction relative to a control cigarette having an empty cavity.

table

Sample Formalde- slow Acetaldehyde das Acrylic- slow Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde OAxAc ² MFN-2 3L6 ¹ 90.2 93.6 95.6 96.4 210 MFN-5 21.4 81.5 87.4 90.4 92.3 231 MFN-7 39.2 84.5 91.7 92.4 92.6 310 MFN-10 28.7 76.1 82.4 87.4 95.0 406 MFN-15 19.8 64.9 74.3 80.0 91.2 433 MFN-20 25.8 51.7 66.6 70.2 85.7 396 MFN-25 10.3 25.4 37.4 42.5 72.6 191 MFN-30 -2.9 1.7 -56.6 6.6 75.2 10th MFN-35 -0.6 -2.2 -68.6 -0.8 60.7 -11 MFN-40 -2.6 1.8 -58.6 0.7 49.5 5.5

All data show% reduction compared to control cigarette; ² OAxAc - total acceptability x% acetaldehyde reduction.

The following table shows the product overall acceptability and% aldehyde reduction for each cigarette. According to these measurements, a useful mixture of mannitol, fructose and sodium chloride 46: 46: 8% by weight has a loading range between about 2% and about 25% by weight. This treatment is most effective at loads of about 7 to 20% by weight. As noted herein, the 46: 46: 8 wt.% Mannitol, fructose, and sodium chloride blend is superior to other foreign taste suppressants described herein.

EXAMPLE

In this example, G278 (18x40 mesh) activated coconut shell carbon supplied to PICA USA (Columbia, OH) was treated with mannitol, fructose, and sodium chloride in a large-scale spray process. 54.5 pounds (24.7 kg) of fructose (Krystar 300, Tate & Lyle, AEStaley Manufacturing Company; Decatur, IL), 54.5 pounds (24.7 kg) of mannitol (Mannitol, USP, Welco) and 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of sodium chloride (evaporated granular salt, Morton Salt Company; Chicago, IL) was dissolved in 142.5 lbs (64.7 kg) of water. A 1000 pound (454 kg) G278 Activated Coconut Shell Carbon (PICA USA; Columbia, OH) was used to coat a shield mixer. After the spray treatment, there was no drying step of the treated coal. The total load of activated charcoal on the anti-taste was approximately 11% by weight.

84-millimeter cigarettes with filters similar to those shown in FIG. 1. 150 milligrams of spray-treated carbon were placed into 6 mm cavities to produce a sample of Cigarette GX-061. GX-061 was compared to MFN-11 to determine the effect of spray treatment on carbon off-taste suppression, general acceptability, and gas phase carbonyl reduction. The activated carbon of the cigarette MFN-11 was treated by the laboratory method described above, not by spraying, using an identical off-taste suppressant and a charge as GX-061.

The results of the panel analysis are shown in Table 29.

table

Sample M: F: N% by weight OA ¹ Carbon OT ² MFN11 46: 46: 8 5.3 5.7 GX-061 46: 46: 8 6.8 4.0

¹ General Acceptance (OA);

² Carbon Off-Taste (Carbon OT).

As can be seen from Table 29, greater suppression of extraneous taste was found in the spray-treated sample than in the laboratory-treated sample. In addition, the overall acceptability of the spray-treated sample was higher than that of the solution-treated sample, although both samples had the same mannitol-fructose-sodium chloride charges. The theory is advanced that an anti-taste agent tends to remain on the outer surface of the carbon beads when sprayed and thus has a slightly greater ability to suppress foreign taste compared to laboratory-prepared samples where the anti-taste agent is likely to penetrate activated carbon to some degree. pores.

The table shows gas phase removal data as a% reduction when compared to a control cigarette having an empty cavity.

table

Sample Formalde- slow Acetaldehyde das Acrylic- slow Propion aldehyde Croton aldehyde OAxAc ² MFN11 28.7 76.1 82.4 87.4 95.0 405.92 GX-061 30.6 66.6 82.4 78.9 82.3 455.32

¹ OAxAc = total acceptability x% acetaldehyde reduction.

As can be seen from Table 30, there is some variability in the carbonyl removal data between the laboratory treated sample MFN11 and the spray treated sample GX-061. While a laboratory-based carbon cigarette shows slightly higher acetyldehyde reduction, the spray-carbonated cigarette test performs higher when acetaldehyde reduction and overall acceptability are treated together. In this measurement, the GX-061 cigarette is the most useful cigarette of the invention according to the present invention.

While it is contemplated that the present invention may be used to manufacture carbon filter cigarettes having a taste similar to a carbonless cigarette, it is concluded that extraneous taste suppressants which also impart odor to the main stream of smoke should be considered within the scope of the present invention, however, the "hidden" carbon off-taste in providing the aroma to the main stream of smoke is not an effective carbon off-taste reduction mechanism of the present invention as demonstrated by the examples above. For example, Example 12 shows a 37% reduction in carbon off-taste compared to a raw carbon cigarette at a 10 wt% mannitol charge. Given that smokers with pungent sensations did not detect even trace amounts of mannitol in the main smoke stream at 10% loading and until the mannitol loading reached 15% by weight, it is obvious that the aroma of the main smoke stream was not a cause of extraneous taste suppression. In addition, in Examples 11-13 and 15, the carbon off-taste reduction gradually decayed with the off-taste suppressant loading above about 20-25% by weight, as shown in Figs. 4-7.

While the amount of the off-taste suppressant used in the practice of the invention may be such that some smokers will experience an additional sweet taste, it is understood that the off-taste suppressant compositions of the present invention operate by a mechanism independent of the amount of sweetness added to the main smoke stream. Anyone can control the presence and amount of sweetness in the mainstream smoke stream by selecting appropriate off-taste suppressant formulations and batches in accordance with the preferences of target users. In this regard, it is concluded that the threshold for detection of off-taste suppressants in the main smoke stream may be higher in some smokers. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the off-taste suppressants do not impart a detectable taste to the main smoke stream.

After reading the above description, some modifications and improvements may be contemplated by those skilled in the art. It is concluded that all such modifications and improvements have been omitted for brevity and clarity but are in fact within the scope of the definition below.

Claims (50)

1. A tobacco cigarette having a filter comprising an adsorbent for at least one constituent of the main gas phase of the flue gas and an off-taste suppressant which reduces the off-taste due to the presence of this adsorbent without functioning as a flavoring agent which adds an additional flavor to the main smoke. traffic. 2. A cigarette according to claim 1 wherein said adsorbent comprises activated carbon. 3. A cigarette according to claim 2, wherein said off-taste suppressant formulation comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of sugars, oligosaccharide polysaccharide, polyol amino acid oligopeptide, and alkaline earth metal salts and combinations thereof. A cigarette according to claim 3 wherein said formulation comprises fructose. 5. A cigarette according to claim 3 wherein said preparation comprises mannitol. 6. A cigarette according to claim 3 comprising fructose and mannitol. A cigarette preparation according to claim 3, comprising fructose and mannitol in a ratio wherein said extraneous taste is suppressed in that said extraneous taste is suppressed in that said extraneous taste is suppressed in a ratio of about 1: 1 by weight. 8. A cigarette according to claim 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the composition of said foreign suppressant preparation comprises an alkali metal halide salt. 9. A cigarette according to claim 8 wherein said alkaline halide salt is sodium chloride. 10. A cigarette according to claim 8, wherein said alkaline halide salt comprises no more than 5% by weight of activated carbon and an off-taste suppressant. 11. A cigarette according to claim 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein said off-taste suppressant comprises from about 2 to about 40 percent by weight of the total activated carbon and off-taste suppressant. 12. A cigarette according to claim 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein said off-taste suppressant comprises from about 5 to about 25 percent by weight of the total activated carbon and off-taste suppressant. 13. A cigarette according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 further comprising a chemosorbent ion exchange resin. 14. The cigarette of claim 8 further comprising a chemosorbent ion exchange resin. 15. A cigarette according to claim 14, wherein said ion exchange resin is a substituted amino polystyrene derivative. 16. A cigarette according to claim 15 wherein said resin and said carbon form a mixture. 17. The cigarette filter of claim 16, wherein said carbon to said ion exchange resin has a weight ratio of from about 1: 3 to about 3: 1. 18. A tobacco cigarette having a filter, characterized in that the filter comprises an upstream fiber filter element and a downstream fiber filter element, said upstream and downstream filter elements defining a space between themselves, said filter further comprising granular activated carbon in said cavity. and a composition on said activated carbon comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of sugars, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, polyols, oligopeptides and a polypeptide amino acid, and further comprising at least one salt selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal salts and their combinations. 19. A cigarette according to claim 18 wherein said composition comprises fructose, mannitol and an alkali metal halide salt. 20. A cigarette according to claim 19 wherein the alkali halide salt is sodium chloride. 21. A cigarette according to claim 18 wherein said composition comprises a ratio of fructose to mannitol by weight of about 1: 1. 22. A cigarette according to claim 18 wherein said composition comprises a weight ratio of fructose to mannitol to sodium chloride of about 46: 46: 8. 23. The cigarette of claim 18, wherein said salt comprises from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the total activated carbon and said composition. 24. The cigarette of claim 18, wherein said composition comprises from about 2 to about 40 percent by weight of the total activated carbon and said composition. 25. A cigarette according to claim 18 wherein said composition comprises from about 5 to about 25 percent by weight of the total activated carbon and said composition. 26. A cigarette according to claim 18, 19, 20, 2, 22, 23, 24 or 25, further comprising an ion exchange resin in admixture with said activated carbon. 27. A tobacco cigarette having a filter, wherein the filter comprises: a. an adsorbent for at least one gas phase component of the main flue gas stream; b. an off-taste suppressant which reduces the off-taste resulting from the presence of said adsorbent, said off-taste suppressant comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of sugars, an oligosaccharide polysaccharide, a polyol amino acid oligopeptide, and a alkaline earth metal salt thereof; and c. a chemosorbent for at least one gas phase component of the main flue gas stream. 28. A cigarette according to claim 27 wherein said adsorbent is activated carbon. 29. The cigarette of claim 28 wherein said off-taste suppressant comprises from about 2 to about 40 percent by weight of the total activated carbon and off-taste suppressant. 30. The cigarette of claim 29 wherein said off-taste suppressant comprises from about 5 to about 25 percent by weight of the total activated carbon and off-taste suppressant. 31. A cigarette according to claim 28 wherein said off-taste suppressant comprises fructose and mannitol. 32. The cigarette of claim 31, wherein said off-taste suppressant further comprises sodium chloride. 33. The cigarette of claim 31 wherein the ratio of fructose to mannitol is from about 1: 3 to about 3: 1 by weight. 34. A cigarette according to claim 28 wherein said off-taste suppressant comprises an alkali metal halide salt. 35. The cigarette of claim 34 wherein said alkaline halide salt comprises from about 0.1 to about 5 percent by weight of the total activated carbon and the off-taste suppressant. 36. The cigarette of claim 28, wherein said chemosorbent is an ion exchange resin. 37. The cigarette of claim 36, wherein said ion exchange resin is a substituted amino polystyrene derivative. 38. The cigarette of claim 36, wherein said ion-exchange resin comprises from about 25 to about 75 percent by weight of the total ion-exchange resin and activated carbon. 39. The cigarette of claim 36 wherein said ion exchange resin comprises about 50% by weight of the total resin and activated carbon. 40. A cigarette according to claim 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 or 39, wherein the chemorsorbent is in admixture with said activated carbon. 41. A cigarette comprising a multi-component filter consisting of a downstream fiber filter element and a downstream fiber filter element, said upstream and downstream filter elements defining a cavity between themselves; and a cavity filter material comprising activated carbon and ion exchange resin in a weight ratio of from about 1: 3 to about 3: 1; said activated carbon having an off-taste suppressant comprising fructose and mannitol in a weight ratio of from about 1: 3 to about 3: 1 and further comprising sodium chloride, wherein the off-taste suppressant comprises from about 2 to about 40 percent of the total activated carbon. the mass of the carbon and the off-taste suppressant. 42. A tobacco cigarette filter having the filter comprising an activated carbon adsorbent for at least one constituent of the main gas phase of the flue gas and an off-taste suppressant on said activated carbon which reduces the off-taste resulting from the presence of said adsorbent. the off-taste suppressant preparation comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of B, Χ-Β, AH-B or ΑΗ-Χ-Β moieties. 43. A cigarette according to claim 42, wherein the off-taste suppressant formulation comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of AH-B or ΑΗ-Χ-Β moieties. 44. The cigarette of claim 43, wherein said components having AH-B or ΑΗ-Χ-Β moieties are selected from the group consisting of sugars, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, polyols, amino acids, oligopeptides, polypeptides, and combinations thereof. 45. A cigarette according to claim 44, wherein the off-taste suppressant comprises fructose. 46. A cigarette according to claim 44, wherein the off-taste suppressant is mannitol. 47. A cigarette according to claim 44, wherein the off-taste suppressant comprises fructose and mannitol. 48. The cigarette of claim 42, wherein the foreign flavor suppressant composition further comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and combinations thereof. 49. A cigarette according to claim 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 or 48, wherein said filter further comprises a chemorsorbent selected from the group consisting of ion exchange resins in admixture with activated carbon adsorbent. 50. The cigarette of claim 49, wherein said activated carbon and said ion-exchange resin are from about 1: 3 to about 3: 1 by weight carbon to resin. REFERENCE Improved filters useful for tobacco products such as cigarettes and new cigarettes containing such filters have been described. Filters contain adsorbents, such as activated carbon, that reduce the amount of one or more gas phase constituents of the main tobacco smoke stream. Adsorbents are treated with off-taste suppressants which reduce the off-taste associated with adsorbents on the filters and substantially restore the taste normally associated with tobacco smoking.