RU2802648C2 - Tobacco composition - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: smoking.

SUBSTANCE: tobacco composition contains a tobacco component in an amount of from 60 to 90 wt.% of the tobacco composition, a filler component in an amount of from 0 to 20 wt.% of the tobacco composition, and an aerosol generating agent in an amount of from 10 to 20 wt.% of the tobacco composition. This tobacco composition also contains nicotine. At the same time, the tobacco component contains tobacco reconstituted by the paper method in an amount of from 70 to 100 wt.% of the tobacco component.

EFFECT: invention makes it possible to exclude abrupt jumps in nicotine release.

18 cl, 5 dwg, 5 tbl

Description

Field of technology to which the invention relates

The present invention relates to a tobacco composition intended, in particular, for use in a tobacco heating product (THP).

State of the art

Products such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to create alternatives to this type of tobacco burning product by creating products that release certain compounds without combustion. Examples of such products are so-called heat-not-burn products, also known as “tobacco heating products” or tobacco heating devices, which release compounds by heating rather than burning the material. Such material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products or combinations thereof, such as a combination mixture, which may or may not contain nicotine.

Devices are known that heat, without ignition or combustion, a smoke-emitting material to volatilize at least one component of the smoke-emitting material, typically to produce an aerosol that can be inhaled. Such devices are sometimes described as "heat-not-burn" devices, or "tobacco heating products" (THPs), or "tobacco heating devices", or other similar names. A wide variety of design solutions are known for converting at least one component of a smoke-emitting material into a volatile state.

Disclosure of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tobacco composition comprising a tobacco component in an amount of 60 to 90% by weight of the tobacco composition, a filler component in an amount of 0 to 20% by weight of the tobacco composition, and an aerosol generating agent in an amount of 10 to 20% by weight of the tobacco composition. tobacco composition;

wherein this tobacco composition has a nicotine content of from 0.5 to 1.5 wt.% of the tobacco composition; And

wherein the tobacco component contains paper-reconstituted tobacco in an amount from 70 to 100 wt.% of the tobacco component.

In embodiments of the present invention, the tobacco component may comprise a component selected from sheet tobacco, extruded tobacco, strip tobacco, and mixtures thereof, in an amount of from 0 to 30% by weight of the tobacco component.

In the embodiments of this invention, the agent generator aerosol may contain an agent selected from sorbiti, glycerol, propylene glycol, triathilenlycol, lactic acid, diacetin, triacinin, diacettrieclycol, triathylenticitrate, ethylmiristate, isopropilmiristate, methylsterataate, dimtyldodecandiois, dimettilateral -dimelitetrait. di -Kicadium and their mixtures.

In embodiments of this invention, the aerosol generating agent may contain glycerin and propylene glycol.

In embodiments of the present invention, the tobacco component may comprise leaf tobacco in an amount of from 10 to 30% by weight of the tobacco composition.

In embodiments of the present invention, the tobacco component may comprise extruded tobacco in an amount of from 10 to 30% by weight of the tobacco composition.

In embodiments of this invention, the tobacco component may comprise ribbon tobacco in an amount of from 10 to 30% by weight of the tobacco composition.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for generating an inhalable aerosol, the device comprising the tobacco composition described herein and a heating means capable of volatizing the components during use to form an aerosol.

In embodiments of the present invention, the heating means is an electrical heating means.

In embodiments of the present invention, the electric heating means is a resistive electric heating element.

In embodiments of the present invention, such a device is a tobacco heating product.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a smoking article for use with a device for heating a smoke-emitting material, the smoking article comprising:

a smoke-emitting material containing the tobacco composition described herein; And

a mouthpiece attached to one end of a smoke-producing material.

In embodiments of this invention, the mouthpiece includes a hollow tube.

In embodiments of the present invention, the smoking article between the smoke-emitting material and the mouthpiece comprises an aerosol cooling element for cooling the volatilized smoke-emitting material generated when the smoke-emitting material is heated.

In embodiments of the present invention, the smoking article includes a spacer between the smoke-emitting material and the aerosol cooling element.

In embodiments of the present invention, the spacer is a hollow spacer tube.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge for use with a device for heating a smoke-producing material, the cartridge comprising a smoke-producing material that contains a tobacco composition as described herein.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, presented solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of drawings

Figure 1 shows a flow diagram of a process for producing paper-reconstituted tobacco.

Figure 2 is a flow diagram of a process for producing extruded tobacco.

Figure 3 shows a device for producing extruded tobacco.

Figure 4 depicts one embodiment of a smoking article containing the tobacco composition described herein.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of a smoking article containing a tobacco composition described herein and containing an aerosol cooling element.

Carrying out the invention

In the tobacco compositions described herein, the tobacco component comprises paper-reconstituted tobacco. The tobacco component may also comprise sheet tobacco, extruded tobacco and/or strip tobacco.

In the tobacco compositions described herein, the tobacco composition may contain a filler component. The filler component is typically a non-tobacco component, that is, a component that does not include tobacco-derived ingredients. The filler component may be a non-tobacco fiber such as wood fiber or cellulose or wheat fiber. The filler component may also be an inorganic material such as chalk, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium carbonate. The filler component may also be a molded non-tobacco material or an extruded non-tobacco material. The filler component may be present in an amount from 0 to 20% by weight of the tobacco composition or in an amount from 1 to 10% by weight of the composition. In some embodiments, there is no filler component.

In the tobacco compositions described herein, the tobacco composition contains an aerosol generating agent. As used herein, an "aerosol generating agent" is an agent that supports the formation of an aerosol. The aerosol generating agent may support aerosol formation by promoting initial vaporization and/or condensation of gas into respirable solid and/or liquid aerosol particles. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent can improve the delivery of flavors from the aerosol-forming material.

In general, any suitable aerosol generating agent or agents may be included in the aerosol-forming material of the invention. Suitable aerosol generating agents include, but are not limited to, polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol, glycerol and glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; non-polyhydric alcohols such as monohydric alcohols, high boiling hydrocarbons, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as diacetin, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate or myristates including ethyl myristate and isopropyl myristate, and esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids, such as methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. Glycerin may be present in an amount of from 10 to 20% by weight of the tobacco composition, for example, from 13 to 16% by weight of the composition or from 14 to 15% by weight of the composition. Propylene glycol, if present, may be present in an amount of from 0.1 to 0.3 wt.% of the composition.

The aerosol generating agent may be included in any component, for example, any tobacco component, tobacco composition, and/or filler component, if present. Alternatively or in addition, the aerosol generating agent may be added separately to the tobacco composition. In any case, the total amount of aerosol generating agent should be in the tobacco composition as specified herein.

The tobacco compositions described herein contain nicotine. The nicotine content is from 0.5 to 1.5 wt.% of the tobacco composition and can be, for example, from 0.8 to 1.2 wt.% of the tobacco composition. In embodiments of the present invention, the nicotine content may range from 0.8 to 1.0% by weight of the tobacco composition. It was surprisingly discovered that when nicotine is used in a heating tobacco product at too high a level, inhalation of such an aerosol can cause a harsh sensation.

For the avoidance of doubt, in the compositions described herein where amounts are given as percentages by weight, unless otherwise clearly stated, they refer to dry matter weight. Thus, any water that may be present in the tobacco composition or any component thereof is completely ignored for purposes of determining weight percentage. The water content of the tobacco compositions described herein may vary and may range, for example, from 5 to 15% by weight. The water content of the tobacco compositions described herein may vary depending, for example, on the temperature, pressure and humidity conditions under which the compositions are stored. Water content can be determined by Karl-Fisher analysis or gas chromatography as described herein.

On the other hand, to avoid ambiguity, even when the aerosol generating agent is a component that is in the liquid phase, such as glycerin or propylene glycol, any components other than water are taken into account when calculating the mass of the tobacco composition. However, when the aerosol generating agent is provided in the tobacco component of the tobacco composition or in the filler component (if present) of the tobacco composition, instead of or in addition to being added to the tobacco composition separately, the aerosol generating agent is not counted in the weight of the tobacco component or component excipient, but is included in the mass of the "aerosol generating agent" in the form of mass percent, as specified herein. All other ingredients present in the tobacco component are included in the mass of the tobacco component, even those of non-tobacco origin (eg, non-tobacco fibers in the case of paper-reconstituted tobacco).

In one embodiment, the tobacco composition contains a tobacco component specified herein and an aerosol generating agent specified herein. In one embodiment, the tobacco composition consists essentially of a tobacco component as defined herein and an aerosol generating agent as defined herein. In one embodiment, the tobacco composition consists of a tobacco component specified herein and an aerosol generating agent specified herein.

Tobacco reconstituted using the paper method.

Paper-reconstituted tobacco is present in the tobacco component of the tobacco compositions described herein in an amount of from 70 to 100% by weight of the tobacco component. In embodiments of the present invention, paper-reconstituted tobacco is present in an amount of from 80 to 100% by weight or from 90 to 100% by weight of the tobacco component. In one further embodiment, the tobacco component consists or essentially consists of paper-reconstituted tobacco.

Paper-reconstituted tobacco refers to tobacco material formed by a process in which the raw tobacco is subjected to solvent extraction to produce a soluble extract and a residue containing fibrous material, and then the extract (usually after concentration and optionally further processing) is recombined with fibrous material from the residue (usually after purification of the fibrous material and, optionally, adding a portion of non-tobacco fibers) by depositing such extract onto the fibrous material. This recombining method is similar to how paper is made.

The paper-reconstituted tobacco may be any type of paper-reconstituted tobacco known in the art. In one preferred embodiment, paper-reconstituted tobacco is made from raw materials containing one or more of tobacco strips, midribs, and whole leaf tobacco. In one further embodiment, paper-reconstituted tobacco is made from raw materials consisting of tobacco strips and/or whole leaf tobacco and tobacco midribs. However, in other embodiments, as an option or in addition, it is possible to use tobacco pharmaceuticals, fines and screenings in the raw material.

Paper-reconstituted tobacco for use in the tobacco compositions described herein can be prepared by methods known to those skilled in the art to be suitable for producing paper-reconstituted tobacco.

In some embodiments, paper-reconstituted tobacco can be prepared as follows.

Referring to Figure 1, the first step is to mix the tobacco mass, such as leaf, strips, tobacco stem, tobacco, tobacco fines and/or screenings (in some embodiments, leaf, strips and stem), with an aqueous solvent (for example, water, aqueous and water-miscible solvents such as ethanol). Distilled water, demineralized water or tap water can be used. The tobacco suspension in the solvent is mixed, for example, by shaking or shaking to increase the rate of extraction of the soluble component of the fibrous fraction of tobacco. Mixing is typically carried out for a period of between half an hour and up to 6 hours. Mixing may be provided in a mixing device that includes a container and a mixing blade. The amount of solvent in the slurry can vary widely, from about 75 to 99 wt.% of the slurry depending on the tobacco mass, the type of solvent, mixing equipment (particularly the type of paddle) and the temperature of the slurry. A typical slurry temperature range is from 10°C to about 100°C.

The soluble component of the tobacco mass is separated from the insoluble fibrous fraction of tobacco, for example, by pressing using a pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical press, or by filtration.

After separation, the fibrous fraction of tobacco is typically mechanically refined to produce a pulp. Suitable cleaning units may typically be disc cleaning units or conical cleaning units. This fibrous mass is then formed into a base web containing the tobacco fibrous mass at a papermaking station, such as a long-mesh paper machine. It is usually placed on a flat mesh conveyor belt, from where excess water is removed by gravity and suction. At this stage, non-tobacco fiber such as cellulose, wheat fiber or wood fiber may be included in the tobacco-derived fiber fraction.

The soluble fraction of the raw tobacco raw material is concentrated using any known type of concentrator, such as a film evaporator or a vacuum evaporator. After concentration, aerosol-generating agents (such as those described herein), sauce components such as cocoa, licorice, and acids such as malic acid or flavoring agents (such as those described herein) may be added to and mixed with the concentrated soluble tobacco component. ).

Next, the concentrated soluble tobacco component, optionally containing aerosol generating agents and/or sauce components and/or flavoring agents, is recombined with the dried tobacco fiber sheet to form reconstituted tobacco. The concentrated soluble component can be added to the fiber web in various ways, such as spraying, coating, saturation, sizing.

Finally, the reconstituted tobacco is dried. If necessary, it can be cut into strips or rolled and then cut into coils or shredded into cut pieces.

As used herein, the terms “flavor” and “flavor” refer to materials that, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste or aroma in a product for adult consumers. These may include extracts (eg, licorice, hydrangea, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, mint, aniseed, cinnamon, greens, wintergreen, cherry, berries, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch , whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, crotonwood, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey extract, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, cumin, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, allspice, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee or mint oil from any species of plants of the genus Mentha), flavor enhancers, bitter receptor blockers, activators or stimulants of the active sites of organoleptic receptors, sugar and/or sugar substitutes (such as sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol or mannitol) and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals or breath fresheners. They may be synthetic, imitation or natural ingredients, or mixtures thereof. They may be in any suitable form, such as oil, liquid or powder.

Examples of paper-reconstituted tobacco that can be used in the present invention are presented in the following Table 1.

Table 1

Paper-recovered tobacco Type Ingredient Component content range PR-1 P2-2 Short % High % Mass% Mass% Tobacco Virginian 50 80 78 50 Burley 0 20 - 17 Oriental 0 15 - eleven Other 0 15 - - TOTAL 78 78 - - Fiber Wood pulp 0 10 7 7 - - Aerosol generating agent Glycerol 10 20 15 15 - - Saucing/flavoring agent - 0 5 - - Total 100 100 Humidity (water) 5 15 9 9

Leaf tobacco.

The tobacco compositions described herein may optionally include tobacco leaf. If included, leaf tobacco may be present, for example, in an amount of 10 to 30% by weight or 10 to 20% by weight of the tobacco component.

The leaf tobacco that can be used in the tobacco compositions described herein can be any suitable tobacco, such as individual brands or blends, cut flap or whole leaf, including flue-cured Virginia and/or Burley and/or Oriental.

Leaf tobacco may include ingredients such as aerosol generating agents (specified herein), sauce components (specified herein) and flavoring agents (specified herein).

Extruded tobacco.

The tobacco compositions described herein may optionally include extruded tobacco. If included, the extruded tobacco may be present, for example, in an amount of from 10 to 30% by weight or from 10 to 20% by weight of the tobacco component.

Extruded tobacco that can be used in the tobacco compositions described herein can be prepared by methods known to those skilled in the art as suitable for producing extruded tobacco.

In some embodiments, extruded tobacco can be prepared as follows.

The tobacco mass may include Virginia (flue-cured) tobacco, burley tobacco and/or oriental tobacco. Tobacco mass can be represented by tobacco waste from midribs, tobacco pharmaceuticals, fines and screenings.

Additional components may include non-tobacco fiber such as straw fiber or wheat fiber; binders such as cellulose or modified cellulose such as hydroxypropylcellulose and carboxymethylcellulose; and sauce components, for example, acids such as malic acid.

As shown in Figure 2, the tobacco mass and all additional components are mixed in a mixing hopper and transferred by a metering screw and a screw conveyor to the extruder, where they are mixed with water, at which point an aerosol generating agent can also be added. After extrusion is completed, the extruded tobacco is cooled on a cooling belt conveyor.

This extruder is shown schematically in figure 3. In figure 3, the tobacco mass (and all additional components) is added to the tobacco supply zone 1 and transferred through a screw inside the casing 2 to the extrusion head 3, equipped with a set of 4 tools and a hydraulic cylinder 5. To position 6 water is introduced, and at 7 an aerosol-generating agent such as glycerin is introduced. Temperature sensors 8, 9 and pressure sensors 10, 11 and 12 are provided along the screw casing 2. The extruded tobacco product is removed in the discharge zone 13.

Examples of extruded tobacco that can be used in the present invention are presented in the following Table 2.

table 2

Extruded tobacco Type Ingredient Component content range EX-1 EX-2 Short % High % Mass% Mass% Tobacco Virginian 40 80 42 68 Burley 0 20 10 10 Oriental 0 15 7 7 Other 0 15 - - TOTAL 59 85 Fiber Cellulose 0 thirty 25 0 Binding agent CMC 1 2 2 2 Aerosol generating agent Glycerol 10 20 14 13 Saucing/flavoring agent - 0 5 0 0 Total 100 100 Humidity (water) 5 15 9 9

The filler component of the tobacco composition may use a material similar to that described above in this section, but made using only non-tobacco fibers, such as wheat fiber or wood fiber.

Ribbon tobacco

The tobacco compositions described herein may optionally include ribbon tobacco. If included, the ribbon tobacco may be present, for example, in an amount of from 10 to 30% by weight or from 10 to 20% by weight of the tobacco component.

Strip tobacco that can be used in the tobacco compositions described herein can be prepared by methods known to those skilled in the art as suitable for producing strip tobacco.

The tobacco strip may contain tobacco or tobacco extract (or both), a filler, an aerosol generating agent (as defined herein), and a binder.

Filler, as already discussed in this section, as an ingredient in ribbon tobacco is different from the filler component that may be present in the tobacco compositions described herein, however, similar materials may be used for the filler component.

Ribbon tobacco containing tobacco extract can be prepared as follows.

The tobacco extract may be prepared by a process comprising treating the tobacco with a solvent, and may further comprise other processing steps (such as concentration). Such an extract can be obtained by processing any suitable tobacco, such as individual brands or blends, cut flaps or whole leaves, including Virginia and/or Burley and/or Oriental tobaccos.

In some embodiments, the tobacco extract may be produced by a process comprising treating the tobacco with water. In some embodiments, treating tobacco with water to form a tobacco extract may comprise adding water to the tobacco, separating the resulting liquid water-based extract from the insoluble fraction of the tobacco feedstock, and optionally removing excess water. Any suitable filtration methods may be used, such as centrifugal solids filtration or vacuum fluidized bed filtration. Any suitable evaporative concentration methods may be used, such as vacuum rotary evaporation, vacuum falling film evaporation, or rising film evaporation. Techniques including spray drying or freeze drying can also be used to remove/reduce water content. Such methods are known to those skilled in the art of filtration and evaporative concentration. The pH of tobacco extract can be adjusted to a value between 6 and 10.5.

In some embodiments, the tobacco extract may be produced by a process comprising extraction with a supercritical fluid, such as supercritical carbon dioxide. In some other embodiments, the tobacco extract may be produced by a process comprising solvent extraction, which may contain a polyhydric alcohol or other suitable high boiling point liquids. In some cases, the extraction solvent may contain glycerin and/or propylene glycol (and optionally water).

In some embodiments, tobacco extract can be produced by a process including steam distillation.

In some embodiments, the tobacco extract may be prepared by a process comprising the steps of removing or reducing the concentration of certain substances. For example, tobacco extract may be treated with bentonite to reduce protein content and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone to reduce polyphenol content.

In some embodiments, the tobacco extract may be prepared by a method comprising the steps of adding or increasing the concentration of one or more substances. In some of these embodiments, for example, aerosol generating agents and/or flavoring agents may be added.

Filler may be necessary to give the ribbon tobacco material a dry consistency, which means that the material can be further processed (grinding, blending, rolling, profiling, molding, etc.). The filler may contain one or more inorganic filler materials, which include, but are not limited to, chalk, perlite, vermiculite, diatomite, fumed silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium carbonate, and suitable inorganic sorbents such as molecular sieves. Chalk is especially suitable. In some cases, the filler may contain one or more organic filler materials, which include, but are not limited to, wood pulp, cellulose, and cellulose derivatives.

In some embodiments, the filler may act in the ribbon tobacco as a sorbent and/or carrier for other substances. In some embodiments, it can act as a structure to adsorb other substances before releasing them when heated. In some embodiments, it may function as a sorbent and/or carrier for an aerosol generating agent (as defined herein).

The binder may contain one or more of alginate, cellulose or modified cellulose, starch or modified starch, gelatin and natural or synthetic gum.

Suitable binders include, but are not limited to, alginate salts containing any suitable cations; cellulose or modified cellulose such as hydroxypropylcellulose and carboxymethylcellulose; starches or modified starches; polysaccharides such as pectinate salts containing any suitable cations such as sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium pectate; xanthan gum, guar gum or any other suitable natural gum; and their mixtures. In some embodiments, the binder contains, consists of, or consists essentially of one or more alginate salts selected from sodium alginate, calcium alginate, potassium alginate, or ammonium alginate.

Ribbon tobacco may further include additional ingredients such as flavoring agents (specified here) and sauce components (specified here).

The ribbon tobacco may further include thermally conductive particles. They can improve the heat transfer rate when used in ribbon tobacco.

In some embodiments, the ribbon tobacco may further contain another tobacco material in addition to the tobacco extract, such as finely ground tobacco, tobacco fiber, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco midribs, and/or reconstituted tobacco.

The tobacco strip may be made from a suspension, wherein the suspension contains components of an aerosol generating material and water. In some embodiments, such a suspension is extruded or cast and then dried to form an aerosol generating material. In other embodiments, the suspension may be sprayed and then dried to form an aerosol generating material. In some embodiments, the method of making an aerosol generating material further comprises the initial step of making a suspension.

The components of the ribbon tobacco may be added in any suitable order to form a suspension. In some embodiments, the suspension may be mixed during and/or after application of its components, and in these embodiments may be mixed for any suitable period of time. The length of time that the suspension is mixed will depend on its composition and volume and, accordingly, may vary. In some embodiments, the slurry may be mixed in accordance with the need to render the slurry composition substantially homogeneous and to provide the slurry with the fluidity and viscosity properties required for casting.

In some embodiments, a method for making a suspension may comprise the steps of (1) mixing an aerosol generating agent and a binder, (2) adding water and mixing, (3) adding an excipient and mixing, (4) adding tobacco extract and mixing to form a uniform suspension. Mixing after adding tobacco extract will typically be high shear mixing. In embodiments in which the binder is a solid, step (1) creates a dispersion/suspension of the binder in the aerosol generating agent.

In some embodiments, a method for making a suspension may comprise the steps of (1) adding a binder to water and mixing, (2) adding an aerosol generating agent and mixing, (3) adding an excipient and mixing, and (4) adding tobacco granules, finely ground tobacco, or tobacco extract. and thorough mixing to form a homogeneous suspension.

The suspension can be cast as a sheet on a pattern plate or as a strip in a strip making machine. The suspension can then be dried using any suitable drying method. In some embodiments, the suspension can be dried at room temperature (ie, about 20-25°C). In some embodiments, the slurry may be heated to achieve a drying effect. In some embodiments, the suspension may be dried in an atmosphere of warm air (ie, in an oven). In some embodiments, the plate or belt on which the wet slurry is deposited may be heated to provide a drying effect. In those embodiments where the suspension is heated, it may be dried at any suitable temperature for any suitable time interval.

The cast sheet may be removed from the pattern plate or removed from the tobacco strip machine by any suitable method. In some cases, the sheet and slab/tape are separated by simply applying force. In some cases, the sheet can be removed using an object that allows access to the space between the structure and the slab, such as a knife or blade (“squeegee”). Alternatively or in addition, the structure can be removed by increasing the temperature of the contact point between the structure and the slab. In some such embodiments, the structure may be separated from the slab using steam, which in addition to increasing the temperature of the contact point between the structure and the slab causes water to be absorbed into the tobacco strip, facilitating its removal.

The following is an example of a tobacco strip containing tobacco extract.

Tobacco extract.

Seven loads of whole leaf burley tobacco (4.5 kg per load) were extracted with 80 kg water (reverse osmosis quality) at 60°C for 25 - 30 minutes with gentle stirring. The resulting mixture was filtered and centrifuged, and the resulting combined extracts (480 L) were concentrated using an evaporative concentration method to a solids content of 41.1% (in this context, "solids content" refers to the non-aqueous fraction of the aqueous extract). The extract had a nicotine content of 3.37% (wet weight) and a density of 1.21 g/cm ³ .

Ribbon tobacco

Water (756 g - reverse osmosis purification) was placed in a high shear mixer. While stirring, sodium alginate powder (15.01 g) was slowly added to ensure uniform mixing and complete hydration to a smooth, viscous liquid. Glycerol (24.99 g) was added to a high shear mixer with continuous stirring. Chalk (156.99 g) was then added using slow powder flow and continuous high shear mixing. Finally, tobacco extract (61.26 g, prepared as above) was added under continuous high shear mixing until a smooth, free-flowing suspension was formed.

Once a homogeneous, free-flowing suspension had formed, the material was ready to be cast into a sheet.

Next, the suspension was poured onto a 2 mm thick stainless steel model plate using a casting knife. This ensured a constant layer thickness of the suspension, which was then dried. Drying can be accomplished by air drying at ambient conditions for about 24 hours or in an oven at about 45-55°C for 0.5-5 hours (the minimum time used to reduce the loss of volatile components). The dried sheet was then removed from the stove and conditioned at 22°C and 60% relative humidity (RH) for 48 hours. In some cases, the dried sheet was separated from the model plate using a doctor blade.

The resulting cast tobacco material had a nicotine content of 6.7 mg/g (WWB), 7.15 mg/g (DWB), glycerol content of 90.3 mg/g (WWB), 96.4 mg/g (DWB) and moisture 6.3%.

A tobacco-containing ribbon typically contains tobacco powder, a binder such as modified cellulose such as hydroxypropyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), an organic filler such as wood pulp, and an inorganic filler such as chalk. Ribbon tobacco containing tobacco can be prepared as follows.

Organic filler such as wood fiber is pre-treated to meet desired parameters such as fiber length, curl, bend angle, etc.

The tobacco (leaf and vein) is ground into a powder with a particle size of <200 µm, e.g. <100 µm. It is added to a hydrated binder, organic filler such as wood fiber and glycerin. Optionally, an inorganic filler such as chalk is added.

The resulting slurry is then poured, for example, onto an endless steel casting belt and dried into sheet material, which can be further shredded or wound into spools.

Examples of tobacco-containing ribbon tobacco that can be used in the present invention are presented in the following Table 3.

Table 3

Sample Glycerol (%) CMC binder (%) Organic filler wood pulp (%) Tobacco leaf and vein (%) Inorganic filler chalk (%) BC-1 19 6 9 56 10 BC-2 10 6 9.5 74.5 0 BC-3 20 5.5 9.5 65 0 BC-4 20 5 10 65 0 BC-5 15 10 5 60 10 BC-6 20 5 10 65 0 BC-7 15 5.5 9.5 70 0 BC-8 20 5 5 70 0 BC-9 10 9.5 5.5 75 0 BC-10 10 5 5 80 0

The filler component of the tobacco composition may use materials similar to those described above in this section, but without including tobacco extract or tobacco powder.

Determination of water content.

In the compositions described herein, weight percentages refer to dry weight unless specifically stated otherwise. Thus, any water that may be present in the tobacco composition or any component thereof is completely ignored for purposes of determining weight percentage. However, other liquid components, such as the aerosol generating agent, are included in the weight percentages. The water content of the tobacco compositions described herein may vary and may range, for example, from 5 to 15% by weight. Water content can be determined by Karl-Fisher analysis or gas chromatography (GC).

Determination of water content by the Karl-Fisher method.

Water analysis by the Karl Fischer method was performed on a Mettler Toledo Karl Fisher V30 volumetric titrator. Before examining the sample, the initial water content in the extraction solvent (methanol) was determined and this value was recorded in the analysis procedure.

In a 100 ml conical flask, a sample of approximately 0.5 g of the material to be analyzed was accurately weighed (to 4 decimal places) and this mass was recorded. 50 ml of dry methanol was added to the conical flask, which was then sealed and shaken on a platform shaker (155 rpm) for 30 minutes. Approximately 2 ml of the extract under study was injected into the titrator using a syringe (the mass was determined by re-weighing the syringe). The results were displayed in the form of percentage water expressed as percentage by mass. Samples were analyzed in triplicate and the results were presented as average values with standard deviation.

Analysis of water content by gas chromatography.

GC Method - Brief Description.

2.0000 g ±0.1 g of sample was weighed into a 150 mL conical flask.

To this was added 50 mL of extraction solution (HPLC grade methanol with 1.5 mg/mL n-heptadecane and 1.5 mg/mL internal standard IPA (isoprapanol)).

The flask was then sealed and placed on a shaker (orbital or reciprocating) at 160 rpm for 4 hours.

The flask was then removed from the shaker and left for 1 hour before aliquoting the extract into a gas chromatography vial.

The extract in the GC vial was analyzed on a two-column gas chromatography unit (for parameters, see Table 4 below) in comparison with pre-prepared working calibration solutions (see Table 5 below).

Table 4. Operating parameters of GC analysis.

Inlet To thermal conductivity detector To the flame ionization detector Mode No division Separation Lining 4 mm glass wool plug 4 mm glass wool plug Temperature (°C) 250 250 Carrier gas Helium Helium Pressure (psi) 5.7 16.4 Flow division ratio no data 20:1 Split flow (ml, min ^-1 ) no data 30.0 Pressure Pulse (psi) no data no data Pulse repetition period (min) no data no data Injected sample volume (µl) 1.0 1.0 Column Model CP PORAPlot Q DB-WAXETR Dimensions
L (m), d (µm), film thickness (µm) 27.5, 530, 20 30, 250, 0.25 Mode Constant flow Constant flow Initial flow (ml, min ^-1 ) 6.5 1.5 Initial pressure (psi) 5.7 16.4 Heating program Temperature (°C) 50 155 245 Holding time (min) 1.00 2.00 4.00 Speed (°C min ^-1 ) 15.00 30.00 Detector TCD (thermocatalytic) FID (flame ionization) Temperature 250 300 Reference flow (ml min ^-1 ) 30.0 no data Hydrogen flow (ml min ^-1 ) no data 30.0 Air flow (ml min ^-1 ) no data 400.0 Mode Permanent column + make-up Permanent column + make-up Auxiliary gas Helium Nitrogen Combined flow (ml min ^-1 ) 10.0 15.0

Table 5. Operating parameters of the calibration solution.

Analyzed component Cal 1 Cal 2 Cal 3 Cal 4 Cal 5 Cal 6 Nicotine (mg/ml) 0.05 0.10 0.25 0.5 0.75 1.00 Menthol (mg/ml) 0.05 0.10 0.25 0.5 0.75 1.00 1,2-propanediol (mg/ml) 0.5 1.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 Glycerol (mg/ml) 0.5 1.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 Water (mg/ml) 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0

Device for producing inhalable aerosol.

The tobacco compositions described herein can be used in a device for producing an inhalable aerosol. The device contains the tobacco composition described herein and a heating agent that volatilizes the components used to form the aerosol. There are many such devices known in the art, an example of which is disclosed in PCT/EP2014/072828, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the heating means is an electrical heating means. In some embodiments of the present invention, the electric heating means is a resistive electric heating element. In some embodiments, heating the aerosol-forming material does not result in any significant combustion of the material. In some embodiments, heating does not result in combustion or substantially does not result in combustion of the aerosol-forming material. In some embodiments, such a device is a heating but non-combustion device, also known as a tobacco heating device or tobacco heating product. Such devices are non-combustible smoking products designed as an alternative to standard combustible cigarettes. These devices volatilize tobacco components by heating the tobacco material; Pyrolysis or combustion of tobacco or volatile components is avoided. Volatile components condense to form a respirable aerosol. Such an aerosol often contains water, an aerosol generating agent (as defined herein), nicotine, and optionally other tobacco components such as flavoring agents. Thus, in some embodiments, the device is one in which the tobacco is heated to volatilize its components without pyrolyzing or burning the tobacco.

The use of electricity to heat the tobacco composition in a smoking article has many advantages. In particular, it has many advantages over the use of combustion. Combustion is a complex process that produces aerosols through a combination of interacting physicochemical processes that may include oxidative decomposition, pyrolysis, pyrosynthesis and distillation. Overall, this results in the formation of complex aerosols. For example, the smoke produced by the combustion of a smoking product containing tobacco is a complex dynamic mixture of more than 5,000 identified constituents. Exothermic combustion processes can be self-sustaining and can lead to heat generation and heat release rates sufficient to decompose the combustible matrix. In some cases, the matrix may be completely degradable to a bottom ash, which may contain inorganic, non-combustible materials. Due to the exothermic combustion reaction, burning cigarettes can reach very high temperatures. Between puffs of a cigarette (the smoldering period between puffs), the center of the combustion zone in the tobacco rod of the cigarette can reach temperatures of up to 800°C. The temperature of the periphery of the combustion zone in the tobacco rod of a cigarette during a puff can reach values of 910°C.

The use of electrical resistance heating systems (such as heating but non-combustion devices, also known as tobacco heating devices or tobacco heating products) is preferred because the heat output is easier to control and lower heat levels are more easily achieved than using to generate combustion heat. In some embodiments, such a device includes a starter that allows the user to initiate electrical heating.

Therefore, the use of electrical heating systems makes it possible to more effectively control the aerosol release from the tobacco composition. In addition, this ensures that the aerosol is formed without combustion, rather than through combustion decomposition.

In some embodiments, the devices of the invention are capable of providing multiple deliveries or doses of aerosol. This means that the tobacco composition can be heated to produce sufficient aerosol for multiple puffs. This may be achieved by heating the tobacco composition for a period of time sufficient to produce a volume of aerosol suitable for multiple deliveries. In some embodiments, it is possible to continuously heat the tobacco composition. Alternatively, it is possible to use successive, shorter heating periods of the tobacco composition, providing, if necessary, a single delivery or dose of aerosol during each such period.

In some embodiments, the device may be designed to heat the tobacco composition to a temperature between about 50 and 350°C, 100 and 350°C, 150 and 350°C, 150 and 330°C, or 180 and 300°C.

In some embodiments, the tobacco composition or smoke-emitting material containing the tobacco composition may be provided in the form of a cartridge that can be inserted into the device. In some of these embodiments, such a cartridge may be replaceable. In some embodiments, the cartridge may be combined with other parts of the aerosol generating device in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, it may be connected to other parts of the device by a press fit and/or a screw connection and/or a press fit. Thus, the tobacco composition may be provided in a smoking article intended for consumption when used in conjunction with a device for heating smoke-emitting material.

Smoking product

As used herein, the term "smoke-producing material" includes materials that provide components that are volatilized upon heating, typically in aerosol form. "Smoke-producing material" includes any tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, fluff tobacco, cut tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes, without being limited to the tobacco compositions described herein. "Smoke-emitting material" may also include other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine, depending on the specific product.

Devices are known that heat smoke-emitting material without ignition or combustion to convert at least one component of such smoke-emitting material into a volatile state, typically to produce an aerosol that can be inhaled. Such devices are sometimes described as "heat-not-burn" devices, or "tobacco heated products", or "tobacco heating devices", or other similar names. Such a device usually has an elongated shape with an open end, sometimes thought of as a mouthpiece. The smoke-emitting material may be in the form of or provided as part of a cartridge or cartridge or rod that can be inserted into the device. The mouthpiece may provide filter means for filtering and/or cooling the volatile material when such material is inhaled by the user. The heater for heating and volatilizing the smoke-emitting material may be provided as a “permanent” part of the device or may be provided as a part of the smoking article or as a consumable item that is discarded and replaced after use. "Smoking article" in this context is a device or article, or other component, that includes a smoke-emitting material that is heated in use to cause such smoke-emitting material to become volatile, and, optionally, other components. When used, particularly in the main applications presented here, the smoke-emitting material does not burn or ignite. The tobacco compositions described herein are particularly suitable for use in such smoking articles, and the smoke-emitting material may contain such tobacco compositions.

Referring to FIG. 4, an example of a consumable material 100 for use with a smoke-emitting material heating apparatus is schematically shown. The consumable material 100 has a mouthpiece 101 and a cylindrical rod of smoke-emitting material 102.

The mouthpiece 101 may be formed, for example, from paper, such as in the form of a twisted paper tube, cellulose acetate, cardboard, corrugated paper such as corrugated heat-resistant paper or corrugated parchment paper, and polymeric materials such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE). ), or some other suitable materials. The mouthpiece 101 may include a tube. Such a tube may be a hollow tube. Such a hollow tube may provide a filter function to perform filtering of the volatilized smoke-emitting material. As shown, the mouthpiece 101 may be extended to move it away from the very hot component(s) of the main device that heats the smoke-generating material.

In one embodiment not shown, the mouthpiece may include a filter element. Such a filter element may be a plug of filter material and may be made, for example, of cellulose acetate. The filter element, if present, can be located at the downstream end of the mouthpiece.

5, the mouthpiece assembly 201 may include a cooling element 204. The element 204 may be a monolithic rod having first and second ends and including a plurality of through holes extending between the first and second ends. As shown in Figure 5, on the other side of the cooling element 204 there may be a second hollow tube 206 that separates the cooling element 204 from the very hot smoke-producing material heating part(s) of the main device and thereby protects the cooling element 204 from exposure to high temperatures. , and also helps improve aerosol production as it can help prevent condensation. The second tube 206 may also be formed, for example, from paper, such as in the form of a coiled paper tube, cellulose acetate, cardboard, corrugated paper such as corrugated heat-resistant paper or corrugated parchment paper, and polymeric materials such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or some other suitable materials. The mouthpiece tube 205 and the second tube 206 provide support for the cooling element 204. The mouthpiece tube 205 may have a filtering function and may sometimes be referred to as a filter tube.

The cooling element 204 in this example is generally located in the center of the mouthpiece assembly 201, but in other examples may be located more or less toward one end or the other of the mouthpiece assembly 201. In the example of Figure 5, the mouthpiece tube 205, the cooling element 204, and the second tube 206 are secured by lining paper 203, which is tightly wrapped around the mouthpiece tube 205, the cooling element 204, and the second tube 206 to connect them. In this sense, the mouthpiece assembly 201 is “pre-assembled.”

In one particular example, the first, the mouthpiece tube 205 may be 11 mm long, the cooling element 204 may be 19 mm long, and the second tube 206 may be 11 mm long, for a total outer diameter of the mouthpiece assembly 201 of 5.4 mm. Excluding the tipping paper 203, the outer diameter of the cooling element 204, the mouthpiece tube 205 and the second tube 206 may be, for example, in the range of 5.13 mm to 5.25 mm, with 5.25 mm being one preferred choice. Other sizes may be used depending, for example, on the specific application, the typical temperature of the incoming aerosol or vapor, the nature of the aerosol or vapor and the smoke-producing material, etc.

As also shown in Figure 5, the mouthpiece assembly 201 may then be attached to the smoke release material 202 by an additional lining paper 207 that wraps around the mouthpiece assembly 201 and at least the adjacent end of the smoke release material 202. In other examples, the mouthpiece assembly 201 is not pre-assembled, but instead, the consumable material 200 is formed by wrapping the tipping paper 207 around the cooling element 204, the tube 205 of the mouthpiece 205, the second tube 206, and the smoke-generating material 202 in a single operation, without using separate tipping paper for the components of the mouthpiece parts.

As shown in Figure 5, the mouthpiece assembly 201 may include a cooling element. The cooling element has through holes that may extend substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the rod.

These through holes may generally be located in the radial direction of the element when viewed in cross section. Thus, in the example, the element has internal walls that define the through holes and which have two basic configurations, namely, radial walls and central walls. The radial walls continue along the radii of the element's cross-section, and the central walls are concentrated at the center of the element's cross-section. The central walls in one example are circular, although other regular or irregular profile shapes are possible. Likewise, the cross section of the element in one example is circular, although other regular or irregular profile shapes are possible.

In one embodiment, the majority of the through holes have a hexagonal or generally hexagonal cross-sectional shape. In this embodiment, the element has what, when viewed from one end, could be called a "honeycomb" structure.

The element may be substantially incompressible. It may be formed from a ceramic material or from a polymer, for example a thermoplastic polymer, which may be an extrudable plastic material.

In one embodiment, the porosity of the element is in the range of 60% to 75%. Porosity in this sense can be a percentage of the portion of the lateral cross-sectional area of an element that is occupied by through holes. In one embodiment, the porosity of the element is from about 69% to 70%.

Other embodiments of the aerosol cooling element are disclosed in PCT/GB2015/051253, the scope of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in Figures 1 to 8 and in the description from page 8, line 11 to page 18, line 16.

In further embodiments, the cooling aerosol element may be constructed from sheet material that is folded, corrugated, or pleated to form through-holes. Such sheet material may be made, for example, of a metal such as aluminum; a polymeric material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polyvinyl chloride; or paper.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and understanding the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It should be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures and/or other objects described herein are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or as limiting any equivalent thereof, and that without departing from the scope and/or the spirit of the present invention, modifications and other embodiments may be made. Various embodiments of the present invention may suitably contain, consist of, or consist essentially of suitable combinations of disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims (22)

1. A tobacco composition containing a tobacco component in an amount from 60 to 90 wt.% of the tobacco composition, a filler in an amount from 0 to 20 wt.% of the tobacco composition and an aerosol generating agent in an amount from 10 to 20 wt.% of the tobacco composition, wherein the tobacco composition contains nicotine; And wherein the tobacco component contains paper-reconstituted tobacco in an amount from 70 to 100 wt.% of the tobacco component. 2. The tobacco composition according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco component contains a component selected from sheet tobacco, extruded tobacco, strip tobacco and mixtures thereof, in an amount of from 0 to 30 wt.% tobacco component. 3. The tobacco composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol generating agent includes an agent selected from sorbitol, glycerin, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, lactic acid, diacetin, triacetin, diacetate triethylene glycol, triethyl citrate, ethyl myristate, isopropyl myristate, methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, di methyl tetradicanedioate and mixtures of them. 4. The tobacco composition according to claim 3, wherein the aerosol generating agent includes glycerin and propylene glycol. 5. Tobacco composition according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, in which the tobacco component contains leaf tobacco in an amount of 10-30 wt.% of the tobacco composition. 6. Tobacco composition according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, in which the tobacco component contains extruded tobacco in an amount of 10-30 wt.% of the tobacco composition. 7. Tobacco composition according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, in which the tobacco component contains ribbon tobacco in an amount of 10-30 wt.% of the tobacco composition. 8. Tobacco composition according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7, in which paper-reconstituted tobacco contains sauce components and/or flavoring agents. 9. A device for creating an inhalable aerosol, wherein the device contains a tobacco composition according to any one of claims. 1-8 and a heating means that volatilizes the components used to form the aerosol. 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the heating means is an electric heating means. 11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the electric heating means is a resistive electric heating element. 12. Device according to any one of paragraphs. 9-11, which is a heated tobacco product. 13. A smoking article for use with a device for heating smoke-emitting material, wherein the smoking article contains: smoke-emitting material containing a tobacco composition according to any one of paragraphs. 1-8; And a mouthpiece attached to one end of a smoke-producing material. 14. The smoking article according to claim 13, wherein the mouthpiece includes a hollow tube. 15. The smoking article of claim 13 or 14, comprising an aerosol cooling element between the smoke-emitting material and the mouthpiece for cooling the volatilized smoke-emitting material when the smoke-emitting material is heated. 16. The smoking article according to claim 14, containing a spacer between the smoke-emitting material and the aerosol-cooling element. 17. The smoking article according to claim 16, wherein the spacer is a hollow spacer tube. 18. A cartridge for use with a device for heating a smoke-emitting material, wherein the cartridge contains a smoke-emitting material containing a tobacco composition according to any one of claims. 1-8.

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