RU2618411C9 - Tobacco smoke filter - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: tobacco industry.

SUBSTANCE: filter or filter element for tobacco smoke contains: material filtering tobacco smoke, including paper; and an additive.

EFFECT: enhanced taste and aroma.

16 cl

Description

The present invention relates to filters for tobacco smoke (for example, for cigarettes) and to their manufacture.

Cellulose acetate, widely used around the world, dominates the materials used in tobacco smoke filters. It is also known to use paper as a filter material in filters, for example, for cigarettes. Paper has a number of advantages compared to cellulose acetate due to its better biodegradability, higher filtration efficiency at a given pressure drop and lower cost of this material. Despite these advantages, the use of paper filters is modest and is usually limited to highly specialized applications. The main reason why paper filters did not arouse widespread interest in the market is that they have an adverse effect on the taste of cigarettes. It is believed that the so-called “paper smack” often gives cigarette smoke a sharper, drier feel.

Therefore, it is highly desirable to weaken this “paper smack” and create the sensation of smoking cigarettes with paper filters, which is comparable to the sensation of cigarettes with filters made from cellulose acetate. In addition, discarded paper butts can decompose much faster than cigarette butts with cellulose acetate filters, resulting in a significant improvement in the environment. However, any measures to weaken the paper flavor should also lead to a smoking sensation that is comparable to that of a traditional cigarette with a cellulose acetate filter. Previous attempts to solve the problem of “paper taste” (for example, by adding special flavors such as menthol) did not lead to such a result.

An additional limitation of the use of paper filters is their reduced ability to retain toxic phenolic compounds, such as phenol, cresols, catechol and resorcinol, found in the volatile and semi-volatile phases of cigarette smoke, compared to cellulose acetate filters, and therefore higher relative yields of phenolic compounds from cigarettes with paper filters. This is due to the known selectivity of cellulose acetate filters with respect to phenolic compounds, and not to any inherent disadvantages of paper filters. However, it is still desirable, of course, to increase the ability of paper filters to hold phenol to such an extent that the smoker is not exposed to higher levels of phenolic compounds when smoking a paper filter cigarette compared to a cigarette with a cellulose acetate filter.

Thus, it is desirable to create a filter for a cigarette that has the advantages of a paper filter (biodegradability, etc.) without the adverse effect of a paper flavor and / or with the ability to retain phenolic compounds at least similar to that of a cellulose acetate filter.

According to the present invention, in a first aspect, there is provided a filter or filter element for tobacco smoke, comprising: tobacco smoke filter material including paper; and a taste and aroma enhancing additive (for example, selected from Group 11 or Group 21 of the European Union Chemical Groupings List) listed in Appendix 1 to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1565/2000 (Commission Regulation (EC) No.1565 / 2000) and / or in the database of the European Union Flavor Information System ("FLAVIS"). The specified filter or filter element may contain one or more flavor and aromatic additives.

As used herein, the term “flavor and aroma enhancing additive” means an additive that reduces the adverse effect of a “paper aftertaste” on a cigarette and / or reduces the smoker's sensation of a sharper, drier smoke effect from a paper filter cigarette compared to a known cigarette with a cellulose acetate filter. That is, the taste of a cigarette with a paper filter containing an additive enhancing the taste and aroma should be within the normal variability of taste from cigarette to cigarette associated with the commercial brand of cellulose acetate filter cigarettes. Numerous attempts have been made to determine the categories of flavoring substances according to their chemical characteristics so that they are distributed among groups of structurally related compounds. To this end, the European Union has compiled a list of 34 chemical groups of flavoring substances, and these groups are given in Appendix 1 to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1565/2000 and / or in the database of the European Union's Information System on Flavoring Materials (“FLAVIS”). The present invention provides for the use of flavoring and aromatic additives from Group 11 and / or Group 21 of this list.

The flavor and flavor enhancing additive may be an alicyclic lactone (for example, an alicyclic lactone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₃ -C ₂₀ alicyclic lactone); aromatic lactone (for example, an aromatic lactone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₆ -C ₂₀ aromatic lactone); aromatic ketone (for example, an aromatic ketone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₆ -C ₂₀ aromatic ketone); or secondary alcohol or its ester. The flavor and flavor enhancer may be a lactone, which is a phthalide, for example an alkyl phthalide, for example a (C ₁ -C ₆ branched or straight chain alkyl) phthalide. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) has compiled a list of substances recognized as harmless (GRAS) and assigned each of these substances numbers (known as FEMA GRAS numbers). The flavor and aromatic enhancing agent is preferably of the FEMA GRAS number (assigned to it). The flavor and flavor enhancing additive may be a lactone (Group 11) which has a FEMA GRAS number, for example χ-valerolactone (assigned FEMA GRAS number FEMA 3103), χ-hexalactone (FEMA 2556), δ-hexalactone (FEMA 3167) , χ-heptalactone (FEMA 2539), χ-octalactone (FEMA 2796), δ-octalactone (FEMA 3214), 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone (FEMA 3293), 5-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid δ-lactone (FEMA 3744), 4,4-dibutyl-χ-butyrolactone (FEMA 2372), mentholactone (FEMA 3764), dehydromentofurolactone (FEMA 3755), 3-butylidenephthalide (FEMA 3333), 3-n-butylphthalide (FEMA 3334) and Lactone (FEMA 3803). The taste and aroma enhancing additive may be sedanenolide. The taste and aroma enhancing additive may be an integral part of the mixture (for example, an integral part of an undivided mixture, such as a plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut oil), which contains a taste and aroma enhancing additive, for example essential oil, which contains an additive that enhances the taste and aroma. A mixture (for example, an undivided mixture, such as a plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut butter) that contains a taste and aroma enhancing additive may contain one or more flavor and aroma enhancing additives. For example, a taste and aroma enhancing additive (or additives) may be administered in the form of celery seed oil (for example, celery seed essential oil). Celery seed essential oil contains sedanenolide and 3-butylphthalide. Celery seed oil is known as a flavoring agent for cigarettes, but the use of celery seed oil in paper filter cigarettes has not been proposed previously. Preferably, the mixture (for example, an undivided mixture, such as plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut butter), which contains a flavor and aromatic additive, is FEMA GRAS number, for example, bark butter (FEMA 3747).

Preferably, the flavor and aroma enhancing additive is present in the filter or filter element in an amount that is up to 1% by weight (w / w) of the weight of paper in the filter or filter element.

The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to the invention can have a circumference of 14 to 28 mm, for example 16 to 26 mm, for example 16 to 17 mm, or 24 to 25 mm. The tobacco smoke filter of the invention may have a length of 10 to 40 mm, for example 15 to 35 mm, for example 20 to 30 mm. The tobacco smoke filter element of the invention may have a length of 5 to 30 mm, for example 6 to 20 mm, for example 8 to 15 mm, for example 10 to 12 mm.

The paper can be any paper (in any form) that is traditionally used in filters or filter elements. The paper may be, for example, filter paper, aperture paper, crepe paper, etc. The paper may be in the form of a paper tape, for example, assembled in the transverse direction in the form of a rod and fixed in the form of a rod. The fiber of the paper tape may be 100% natural fiber (e.g. wood fiber), 100% synthetic fiber, or a mixture of these two types of fibers (for aperture paper, the paper is preferably 100% natural fiber). When the paper tape contains synthetic fiber, then binding agents (e.g. plasticizers) can be added to increase the hardness of the finished filter or filter element (rod). The paper may be in the form of a longitudinally corrugated or fibrillated paper tape, for example, assembled in the transverse direction in the form of a rod and fixed in the form of a rod, as described, for example, in GB 2075328. The filter or filter element may be (or include) a rod (for example , cylindrical rod) of filter material comprising paper (e.g., formed from paper) (e.g., paper tape). The filter or filter element may comprise tobacco smoke filter material, including paper and one or more additional filter materials. The filter or filter element may comprise tobacco smoke filter material in the form of a coherent tape containing paper (for example, formed from materials including paper), and a second filter material, as well as possibly one or more additional filter materials. The filter or filter element may be (or include) a rod comprising a coherent tape (for example, formed from a coherent tape). The second and any additional filtering materials may be, for example, a cellulose fiber tow, (additional) paper (e.g. paper other than paper in a filter or filter element), a non-woven fabric made from natural and / or synthetic fibers, a tow of other fibers, for example polypropylene, etc.

In one embodiment, a tobacco smoke filter (or filter element) comprising tobacco smoke filtering material including paper has a structure identical to or similar to that of a filter sold under the trademark MYRIA (Filtrona International Limited), and further comprises taste and aroma enhancer. In another example, a tobacco smoke filter (or filter element) containing tobacco smoke filtering material including paper has a structure identical to or similar to that of the filter sold under the trademark PURACEL (Filtrona International Limited), and further comprises an additive enhancing taste and aroma. In yet another example, a tobacco smoke filter (or filter element) containing tobacco smoke filtering material including paper has a structure identical to or similar to that of a filter sold under the trademark CREST (Filtrona International Limited), and further comprises an additive, enhancing taste and aroma.

The filter or filter element (rod) may be wrapped with a wrapping material, for example a wrapping material of breathable paper. The filters or filter elements of the invention can be wrapped in a standard wrapper for filter materials and can be ventilated in any standard way.

The flavor and flavor enhancing additive can be localized on or in the filter or filter element (for example, it can be localized on or impregnated in paper and / or wrapping material, if present, and / or on a second or additional filtering material, if he is present). If more than one flavor and aroma enhancing additive is present, then the additives may be present at the same location (for example, both / all on paper) or at different locations (one flavor and aroma enhancing additive, on paper, one on an additional filter medium and etc.).

Applicants have unexpectedly discovered that the introduction of an additive or additives that enhance the taste and aroma, as defined above [for example, in the form of essential oil from celery seeds (oil from celery seeds)], in a filter or filter element [or in a cigarette with a paper filter, as described below] can solve the problem of “paper taste” sensation and create a cigarette with organoleptic characteristics similar to the organoleptic characteristics of cigarettes with cellulose acetate filters.

The filter or filter element may further comprise an additional additive that selectively reduces the levels of one or more phenolic compounds found in the volatile and / or semi-volatile phases of cigarette smoke. As used herein, the term “additional additive that selectively reduces the levels of one or more phenolic compounds found in the volatile and / or semi-volatile phases of cigarette smoke” means an additive that proportionally reduces the yield of one or more phenolic compounds (for example, proportionally reduces the levels of one or more from phenol, cresol, catechol or resorcinol) in cigarette smoke to a greater extent than most compounds in smoke (for example, tar). The filter or filter element may contain more than one additional additive that selectively reduces the levels of one or more phenolic compounds found in the volatile and / or semi-volatile phases of cigarette smoke.

Preferably, the additional additive that selectively lowers the levels of one or more phenolic compounds found in the volatile and / or semi-volatile phases of cigarette smoke is polyethylene glycol (e.g. PEG200, PEG300, PEG400) or methoxypolyethylene glycol (e.g. mPEG350). Preferably, an additional additive that selectively reduces the levels of one or more phenolic compounds found in the volatile and / or semi-volatile phases of cigarette smoke is present in the filter or filter element in an amount up to 20% by weight (w / w) of the paper weight in the filter or filter element. For example, an additional additive that selectively lowers the levels of one or more phenolic compounds may be present in an amount that is from 1 to 19% by weight (for example, from 5 to 17% by weight) of the weight of the paper in the filter or filter element. If more than one additional additive (which selectively reduces the levels of one or more phenolic compounds found in the volatile and / or semi-volatile phases of cigarette smoke) is present in the filter or filter element, then preferably the total number of additional additives (which selectively reduce the levels of one or more phenolic compounds) is up to 20% by weight (w / w) of the weight of paper in the filter or filter element.

An additional additive that selectively reduces the levels of one or more phenolic compounds can be localized on or in the filter or filter element (for example, it can be localized on or impregnated in paper and / or wrapping material and / or a second or additional filter material, if he is present). If more than one additional additive is present, then the additives may be present at the same location (for example, both / all on paper) or at different locations (one additive on paper, one on additional filter media, etc.).

The inventors have unexpectedly discovered that polyethylene glycols (e.g., PEG200, PEG300 and PEG400) and methoxy-polyethylene glycols (e.g., mPEG 350) are among the most effective additives for selectively lowering phenol levels in tobacco smoke. Unexpectedly, the inventors also found that their use in combination with a filter or filter element that contains paper and a taste and aroma enhancing additive, or additives discussed herein, can provide a filter cigarette that has a yield of phenolic compounds, comparable to the yield of a traditional cellulose acetate filter cigarette (i.e., more selective filtration than a traditional paper filter cigarette) and the desired attenuation of the paper flavor.

The filter element according to the invention can be used as a segment of a double, triple or other multi-component (multi-segment) filter. Double or other multicomponent filters are known in the art.

For example, a double, triple or other multicomponent filter contains granular additive (s) such as activated carbon, silica gels, zeolites, ion exchange resins or sepiolite. Preferably, the granular additive is not contained in the filter element of the invention (i.e., contained in one of the other segments of the multicomponent filter). For example, the filter element of the invention forms a segment at the mouth end of a two-segment filter, and a segment at the tobacco end of a two-segment filter contains a granular additive.

The filters of the invention can be used in machine-made cigarettes (e.g., cigarettes manufactured and packaged on an industrial scale). The filters of the invention can also be used as a filter mouthpiece for use with an individually rolled cigarette (for example, a hand-rolled cigarette), or a self-rolled cigarette or a homemade product.

In a filter cigarette according to the invention, the filter according to the invention (or a filter including a filter element according to the invention) is connected at one end to a piece of tobacco rod. The filter can, for example, be connected to a piece of tobacco rod by attaching a rim (which captures only the adjacent ends of the [wrapped] filter and a piece of tobacco rod, leaving most of the filter wrap material loose) or by attaching a solid mouthpiece wrap (which captures the entire length of the filter and adjacent end of the tobacco rod). Any filter or cigarette with a filter according to the invention may not have ventilation, or may be provided (a) by ventilation methods known in the art, for example by using pre-perforated or breathable wrapping material and / or laser perforation of the wrapping material and the rim. The finished filter cigarette may have any circumference that smoking products traditionally have (for example, it may have a circumference of from about 14 to about 28 mm).

The present invention also provides a filter cigarette including a filter or a tobacco smoke filter element of the invention, as disclosed above.

Filters or filter elements according to the invention can be made in the form of continuous rods, as is known in this field. This continuous rod, when it continuously exits the production machine, is cut into pieces of finite length for subsequent use. It can be cut into individual filters or filter elements, as defined or described above, each of which is then attached to an individual piece of tobacco rod to form a filter cigarette. Most often, however, the rod continuously exiting the machine is first cut into pieces of double length or length of greater multiplicity (usually four or six times length) for subsequent use. When first cut into pieces of four-fold lengths or lengths of greater multiplicity, then they are then cut into pieces of two-fold lengths to assemble a filter cigarette, in which the double-length filter rod is laid and connected (using a rim or a solid mouthpiece wrapper) between a pair of pieces of tobacco rods, then cut strictly in the middle to obtain two individual filter cigarettes. The present invention encompasses (for example, double and greater multiples) filter rods of multiple lengths (and / or filter element rods), including a plurality of filter rods (filter element rods), for example, connected end to end.

The filter or filter element may contain an additional flavoring agent (in addition to the flavoring and aroma additive (s) selected from Group 11 or Group 21 of the European Union Chemical Group List given in Appendix 1 to the Commission Regulation ( EU) No. 1565/2000 and / or in the database of the European Union Flavoring Information System ("FLAVIS")), for example menthol.

According to the present invention, in a further aspect, there is provided a filter cigarette, comprising: a filter or a filter element including paper; and a segment of a tobacco rod, where the filter cigarette further comprises a taste and aroma enhancing additive (for example, selected from Group 11 or Group 21 of the European Union Chemical Group List in Appendix 1 to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 and / or in the database of the Information System for Flavors of the European Union ("FLAVIS")). The filter cigarette may contain one or more flavoring and aromatic additives.

The flavor and flavor enhancing additive may be an alicyclic lactone (for example, an alicyclic lactone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₃ -C ₂₀ alicyclic lactone); aromatic lactone (for example, an aromatic lactone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₆ -C ₂₀ aromatic lactone); aromatic ketone (for example, an aromatic ketone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₆ -C ₂₀ aromatic ketone); or secondary alcohol or its ester. The flavor and flavor enhancer may be a lactone, which is a phthalide, for example an alkyl phthalide, for example a (C ₁ -C ₆ branched or straight chain alkyl) phthalide. The flavor and flavor enhancing additive may be a lactone (Group 11) which has a FEMA GRAS number, for example χ-valerolactone (assigned FEMA GRAS number FEMA 3103), χ-hexalactone (FEMA 2556), δ-hexalactone (FEMA 3167) , χ-heptalactone (FEMA 2539), χ-octalactone (FEMA 2796), δ-octalactone (FEMA 3214), 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone (FEMA 3293), 5-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid δ-lactone (FEMA 3744), 4,4-dibutyl-χ-butyrolactone (FEMA 2372), mentholactone (FEMA 3764), dehydromentofurolactone (FEMA 3755), 3-butylidenephthalide (FEMA 3333), 3-n-butylphthalide (FEMA 3334) and Lactone (FEMA 3803). The taste and aroma enhancing additive may be sedanenolide. The taste and aroma enhancing additive may be an integral part of the mixture (for example, an integral part of an undivided mixture, such as a plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut oil), which contains a taste and aroma enhancing additive, for example essential oil, which contains an additive that enhances the taste and aroma. A mixture (for example, an undivided mixture, such as a plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut butter) that contains a taste and aroma enhancing additive may contain one or more flavor and aroma enhancing additives. For example, a taste and aroma enhancing additive (or additives) may be administered in the form of celery seed oil (for example, celery seed essential oil). Celery seed essential oil contains sedanenolide and 3-butylphthalide. Preferably, the mixture (for example, an undivided mixture, such as plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut butter), which contains a flavor and aromatic additive, is FEMA GRAS number, for example, bark butter (FEMA 3747).

The taste and aroma enhancing additive can be localized on or in the filter or filter element (for example, it can be localized on or impregnated in paper and / or wrapping material, if present, and / or a second or additional filtering material, if it is present). If more than one flavor and aroma enhancing additive is present, then the additives may be present at the same location (for example, both / all on paper) or in different locations (one flavor and aroma enhancing additive on paper, one on an additional filter media, tobacco, etc.).

The filter cigarette may further comprise an additional additive that selectively reduces the levels of one or more phenolic compounds found in the volatile and / or semi-volatile phases of cigarette smoke, as defined and described herein. An additional additive that selectively reduces the levels of one or more phenolic compounds can be localized on or in the filter or filter element [for example, it can be localized on or impregnated in paper and / or filter wrapping material, if present, and / or a second or additional filter material, if present], and / or localized on or in tobacco, and / or on or in the wrapper material of the tobacco rod.

According to the present invention, in another aspect, the use of an additive enhancing the taste and aroma selected from Group 11 or Group 21 of the List of chemical groups of the European Union given in Appendix 1 to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1565/2000 and / or in the Information Database European Union flavoring systems ("FLAVIS"), in a filter, filter element or filter cigarette, or in the manufacture of a filter, filter element or filter cigarette. The filter, filter element or filter cigarette may include paper (for example, they may include tobacco smoke filter material including paper). A filter including paper may be, for example, a filter having a structure identical to or similar to that of filters sold under the MYRIA trademark, or filters sold under the PURACEL trademark, or filters sold under the CREST trademark. According to this aspect of the present invention, the use of an additive or additives enhancing (their) taste and aroma, as defined herein above [for example, in the form of celery seed essential oil (celery seed oil)], in a filter or filter element including paper , or in the manufacture of a filter or filter element comprising paper [or in a cigarette with a paper filter, as described here], can weaken the sensation of “paper smack” (as demonstrated, for example, by the results of tests using a paired comparison organ olepticheskih characteristics known in the art) and / or may provide a cigarette with organoleptic characteristics similar cigarette with cellulose acetate filter (as demonstrated, for example, test results by pairwise comparison organoleptic characteristics known in the art).

The flavor and flavor enhancing additive may be an alicyclic lactone (for example, an alicyclic lactone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₃ -C ₂₀ alicyclic lactone); aromatic lactone (for example, an aromatic lactone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₆ -C ₂₀ aromatic lactone); aromatic ketone (for example, an aromatic ketone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₆ -C ₂₀ aromatic ketone); or secondary alcohol or its ester. The flavor and flavor enhancer may be a lactone, which is a phthalide, for example an alkyl phthalide, for example a (C ₁ -C ₆ branched or straight chain alkyl) phthalide. The flavor and flavor enhancing additive may be a lactone (Group 11) which has a FEMA GRAS number, for example χ-valerolactone (assigned FEMA GRAS number FEMA 3103), χ-hexalactone (FEMA 2556), δ-hexalactone (FEMA 3167) , χ-heptalactone (FEMA 2539), χ-octalactone (FEMA 2796), δ-octalactone (FEMA 3214), 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone (FEMA 3293), 5-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid δ-lactone (FEMA 3744), 4,4-dibutyl-χ-butyrolactone (FEMA 2372), mentholactone (FEMA 3764), dehydromentofurolactone (FEMA 3755), 3-butylidenephthalide (FEMA 3333), 3-n-butylphthalide (FEMA 3334) and Lactone (FEMA 3803). The taste and aroma enhancing additive may be sedanenolide. The taste and aroma enhancing additive may be an integral part of the mixture (for example, as part of an undivided mixture, such as a plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut oil), which contains a taste and aroma enhancing additive, for example essential oil, which contains an additive that enhances the taste and aroma. A mixture (for example, an undivided mixture, such as a plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut butter) that contains a taste and aroma enhancing additive may contain one or more flavor and aroma enhancing additives. For example, a taste and aroma enhancing additive (or additives) may be administered in the form of celery seed oil (for example, celery seed essential oil). Celery seed essential oil contains sedanenolide and 3-butylphthalide. Preferably, the mixture (for example, an undivided mixture, such as plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut butter), which contains a flavor and aromatic additive, is FEMA GRAS number, for example, bark butter (FEMA 3747).

Applicants also unexpectedly found that a taste and aroma enhancing additive (or additives) selected from Group 11 or Group 21 of the European Union Chemical Group List in Appendix 1 to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1565/2000 and / or in the database The European Union’s Flavoring Information System (“FLAVIS”), can provide an improved flavor when used in (or c) smoking products that do not burn but heat tobacco.

Numerous smoking articles that do not burn but heat tobacco are known. Although such smoking articles typically have a cellulose acetate filter, they tend to give a poorer taste than traditional cigarettes with cellulose acetate filters. The inventors of the present invention unexpectedly found that the inclusion of specific specific additives in the cellulose acetate filters used in smoking articles that do not burn but heat tobacco results in an improvement in the organoleptic characteristics of these smoking articles.

According to the present invention, in another aspect, there is provided a filter or filter element (for example, for a smoking article that heats tobacco), comprising: tobacco smoke filter material; and a taste and aroma enhancing additive selected from Group 11 or Group 21 of the List of Chemical Groups of the European Union, as set out in Appendix 1 to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1565/2000 and / or in the database of the European Union Flavoring Information System (" FLAVIS "). As used herein, the term “smoking article that heats tobacco” excludes smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars, the use of which includes burning tobacco.

According to this invention, in another aspect, the use of an additive enhancing the taste and aroma selected from Group 11 or Group 21 of the List of chemical groups of the European Union given in Appendix 1 to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1565/2000 and / or in the Information Database European Union flavoring systems (“FLAVIS”), in a filter or filter element for a smoking article that heats tobacco, or in the manufacture of a filter or filter element for a smoking article that heats tobacco, or in a smoking article, which heats the tobacco or in the manufacture of a smoking article, which heats the tobacco.

The flavor and flavor enhancing additive may be an alicyclic lactone (for example, an alicyclic lactone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₃ -C ₂₀ alicyclic lactone); aromatic lactone (for example, an aromatic lactone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₆ -C ₂₀ aromatic lactone); aromatic ketone (for example, an aromatic ketone having up to 20 carbon atoms, for example a C ₆ -C ₂₀ aromatic ketone); or secondary alcohol or its ester. The flavor and flavor enhancer may be a lactone, which is a phthalide, for example an alkyl phthalide, for example a (C ₁ -C ₆ branched or straight chain alkyl) phthalide. The flavor and flavor enhancing additive may be a lactone (Group 11) which has a FEMA GRAS number, for example χ-valerolactone (assigned FEMA GRAS number FEMA 3103), χ-hexalactone (FEMA 2556), δ-hexalactone (FEMA 3167) , χ-heptalactone (FEMA 2539), χ-octalactone (FEMA 2796), δ-octalactone (FEMA 3214), 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone (FEMA 3293), 5-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid δ-lactone (FEMA 3744), 4,4-dibutyl-χ-butyrolactone (FEMA 2372), mentholactone (FEMA 3764), dehydromentofurolactone (FEMA 3755), 3-butylidenephthalide (FEMA 3333), 3-n-butylphthalide (FEMA 3334) and Lactone (FEMA 3803). The taste and aroma enhancing additive may be sedanenolide. The taste and aroma enhancing additive may be an integral part of the mixture (for example, an integral part of an undivided mixture, such as a plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut oil), which contains a taste and aroma enhancing additive, for example essential oil, which contains an additive that enhances the taste and aroma. A mixture (for example, an undivided mixture, such as a plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut butter) that contains a taste and aroma enhancing additive may contain one or more flavor and aroma enhancing additives. For example, a taste and aroma enhancing additive (or additives) may be administered in the form of celery seed oil (for example, celery seed essential oil). Celery seed essential oil contains sedanenolide and 3-butylphthalide. Preferably, the mixture (for example, an undivided mixture, such as plant extract, or vegetable oil, or plant seed oil, or peanut butter), which contains a flavor and aromatic additive, is FEMA GRAS number, for example, bark butter (FEMA 3747).

The present invention is further illustrated by the Examples below.

EXAMPLE 1

Samples of paper filters (having a length of 15 mm and a circumference of 24.50 mm) were made from a cylindrical paper rod formed from a non-aperture porous tape of 100% wood fiber according to the method described in GB 2075328 A.

The paper is formed on a machine with an inclined mesh of fibers with a length of 2.5 to 6 mm, and in the finished form it has a density (before corrugation) of 15 to 35 grams per square meter (the method described in GB 2075328). A flavoring solution containing the first additive, namely a taste and aroma enhancing additive, in the form of celery seed essential oil [an inseparable mixture of compounds containing taste and aroma enhancing additives, sedanenolide and 3-butylphthalide] is applied to continuously advancing finished paper ( before corrugation) by conventional methods of applying flavoring substances to paper (for example, using a printing wheel, etc.). An additional additive in the form of polyethylene glycol is applied to the paper also by methods known in the art. The finished paper tape advancing in the longitudinal direction (onto which the additives are applied) is then fed in the longitudinal direction between the interacting rollers having ribs located around the circumference, and then is continuously collected (while simultaneously moving in the longitudinal direction in the form of a paper tape) in the transverse direction into the shape of the rod. The continuously produced rod is continuously cut across to the final segments to obtain a filter or filter rod product by methods that are also known in the art.

The assembly of cigarette samples was carried out using filter samples made as described above. The yield of phenol, o-, m- and p-cresol (collectively called mono-hydroxyphenols) was then measured for all samples under smoking conditions in accordance with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) rules. The resin yields of the sample cigarettes were also measured to evaluate phenol / resin ratios. The yields were compared with a control cigarette (of equal size, but containing a conventional cellulose acetate filter), also under smoking conditions in accordance with ISO rules.

It was found that filter samples of the invention that contain a paper filter selectively reduce phenol levels, and it has also been found that with respect to the exposure of the phenolic compounds mentioned above, they are comparable to a cigarette with a cellulose acetate filter.

EXAMPLE 2

Taste testing (using methods known in the art) has demonstrated that when an additive enhancing taste and aroma is included, according to one aspect of the present invention, the adverse effect of a “paper aftertaste” on a cigarette's taste is reduced and even nullified.

Organoleptic testing was carried out with the help of an expert group of trained expert smokers. Samples of industrial cigarettes from one leading brand were purchased in one batch at a retail store. Cigarettes of this brand have a whole cellulose acetate filter (“monoacetate”), and these cigarettes are hereinafter referred to as “control” cigarettes (“C”).

Filters were removed from the cigarettes of the first group and replaced with paper filters of machine-made having equivalent resin retention. Cigarettes with these filters are referred to below as cigarettes with unmodified paper filters (“P”).

Filters were also removed from the cigarettes of the second group and replaced with machine-made paper filters having equivalent resin retention (as in group P). A measured amount of a flavoring solution containing an additive enhancing the taste and aroma (for example, containing an additive enhancing the taste and aroma in the form of an essential oil from celery seeds) was injected into each paper filter and the cigarettes were aged for about 3-4 weeks. Cigarettes with these filters are referred to below as cigarettes with modified paper filters ("P +").

Testing by pairwise comparison of organoleptic characteristics (known in the art) was then carried out using a group of experts. An expert group compared cigarettes with unmodified paper filters (“P”) to cigarettes with control monoacetate filters (“C”), and cigarettes with modified paper filters (“P +”) were compared with “C”.

The members of the expert group concluded that “P” is drier with a lower tobacco and overall taste and aroma than “C”. It was expected. However, the members of the expert group concluded that the characteristics of the P + filters (containing an additive enhancing the taste and aroma according to one aspect of the present invention) are within the normal range from pack to pack of C cigarettes, i.e. the influence of the “paper aftertaste” on the taste of the cigarette was significantly reduced.

EXAMPLE 3

We tested smoking products that do not burn, but heat tobacco. A measured amount of a flavoring solution containing an additive enhancing the taste and aroma (for example, containing an additive enhancing the taste and aroma in the form of an essential oil from celery seeds) was injected into a filter from a cellulose acetate of a smoking article that heats rather than burns tobacco. An expert group of smokers confirmed that this led to superior organoleptic characteristics compared to the unmodified version of the same product.

Claims (16)

1. A filter or filter element for tobacco smoke, comprising: tobacco smoke filter material including paper; and a taste and aroma enhancing agent selected from alicyclic lactone, aromatic lactone, aromatic ketone, secondary alcohol or ester thereof, phthalide, χ-valerolactone, χ-hexalactone, δ-hexalactone, χ-heptalactone, χ-octalactone, δ octalactone, 4-hydroxy - 3-pentenoic acid lactone, 5-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid δ-lactone, 4,4-dibutyl - χ-butyrolactone, mentholactone, dehydromentofurolactone, 3-butylidenephthalide, 3-n-butylphthalide, whiskey lactone or sedanenolide. 2. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to claim 1, where the additive enhancing the taste and aroma is contained in the form of an undivided mixture of compounds containing the additive enhancing the taste and aroma. 3. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to claim 2, where the undivided mixture of compounds containing an additive that enhances taste and aroma, is an essential oil. 4. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to any one of paragraphs. 2 or 3, where the undivided mixture of compounds containing an additive enhancing taste and aroma is an essential oil from celery seeds or an oil from bark of massoi. 5. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to claim 1, where the paper is a filter paper, aperture paper or crepe paper. 6. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to claim 1, where the paper is a paper tape collected in the transverse direction in the shape of a rod and fixed in the form of a rod. 7. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to claim 1, where the material filtering tobacco smoke is a cylindrical rod of filter material. 8. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to claim 1, where the material filtering tobacco smoke includes paper and one or more additional filter materials. 9. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to claim 1, further comprising an additional additive that selectively lowers the levels of one or more phenolic compounds found in the volatile and / or semi-volatile phases of cigarette smoke. 10. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to claim 9, where the additional additive is a polyethylene glycol or methoxypolyethylene glycol. 11. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to claim 9 or 10, where the additional additive is present in an amount that is up to 20% by weight (wt./mass.) Of the mass of paper in the filter or filter element. 12. The filter or filter element for tobacco smoke according to claim 1, wrapped in a wrapping material. 13. A filter cigarette containing a filter according to any one of paragraphs. 1-12 or a filter including a filter element according to any one of paragraphs. 1-12, connected to a piece of tobacco rod. 14. A filter rod of multiple lengths containing a plurality of filters or filter elements according to any one of paragraphs. 1-12. 15. The filter rod is a multiple length according to claim 14, wherein said filters or filter elements are connected together end to end. 16. A filter cigarette comprising: a filter or a filter element including paper; and a piece of tobacco rod; wherein said filter cigarette further comprises a taste and aroma enhancing agent selected from alicyclic lactone, aromatic lactone, aromatic ketone, secondary alcohol or ester thereof, phthalide, χ-valerolactone, χ-hexalactone, δ-hexalactone, χ-heptalactone, χ-octalactone, δ-octalactone, 4-hydroxy - 3-pentenoic acid lactone, 5-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid δ-lactone, 4,4-dibutyl - χ-butyrolactone, mentholactone, dehydromentofurolactone, 3-butylidenephthalide, 3- n-butylphthalide, whiskey-lactone or sedanenolide.