Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/10—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/12—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes of reconstituted tobacco

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a process for the prep aration of reconstituted tobacco and to the product thereby obtained.
• reconstituted tobacco in sheet form is prepared from viscous, aqueous dispersions of finely divided tobacco and from 1 to 30%, preferably from 5 to 15% b.w. of the tobacco of a binder comprising a water-soluble cellulose derivative having a flocculation temperature below about 80 C., the characterizing feature being completely dissolving the cellulose derivative in water and mixing into the solution obtained a polyalkylene glycol having a molecular weight of from 200 to 6000, preferably from 300 to 600, and a vapor pressure of at least mm. Hg at 20 C. in.
• the binder solution contains at least 2.5 parts by weight of polyalkylene glycol per part by weight of cellulose derivative, with no critical upper limit except as the taste of the tobacco may be affected.
• an amount as high as 15 parts per part of cellulose derivative has no effect on taste, and even more than this can be used if desired.
• Suitable water-soluble cellulose derivatives that can be used according to the invention are non-ionic cellulose ethers having a flocculation temperature of below C. such as methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose and ethylhydroxypropylcellulose.
• Other water-soluble cellulose derivatives that can be used according to the invention are ionic cellulose ethers, such as carboxymethylcellulose and methylcarboxymethylcellulose, and alkaliand ammonium salts thereof.
• the viscosity of the water-soluble cellulose derivative should be from 45 to 3500 cp., preferably from 700 to 3000 cp.
• ethylhydroxyethylcellulose having a viscosity of from 2000 to 3000 cp., which is preferably used in an amount of from 1 to 4 parts by weight per 500 to 1000 parts by weight of water.
• Suitable polyalkylene glycols include polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or mixed polyethylenepropylene glycols or mixtures thereof having a molecular weight of from 200 to 6000, preferably from 300 to 600 and having a vapor pressure less than 10- mm. Hg at 20 C. and having a viscosity at C. of from 3 to 1000 centistokes, preferably from 5.5 to 10.0 centistokes. Particularly preferred is polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 400, and a vapor pressure of 10- mm. Hg at 25 C., and a viscosity of about 7.3 centistokes at 100 C.
• the amount of polyalkylene glycol is at least 2.56am about 15 times the amount of cellulose derivative us
• a particularly preferred combination according to the invention is a binder solution containing about 3.3 percent by weight of ethylhydroxyethylcellulose with the viscosity 20003000 cp. in 2 percent aqueous solution at 20 C. (Modocoll E. 600, Mo och Domsjo Aktiebolag) and 17.0 percent polyethylene glycol with the molecular weight 400 and a vapor pressure of 10- mm. Hg at 25 C. (Modopeg 400 Mo och Domsjo Aktiebolag), the remainder being water.
• the polyalkylene glycol can be mixed into the cellulose derivative solution in pure form but it is, of course, also possible to dissolve it in water before this and thereafter mix it into the cellulose derivative solution in the desired amount. Incorporation of the polyalkylene glycol must becarried out first after having dissolved the cellulose derivative completely in water to the formation of a clear, homogeneous solution free from lumps.
• the ratio of cellulose derivative to polyalkylene glycol is depending on the increase in flocculation temperature and thickening effect that are desired in each case, and the molecular weight of both components. Although the proportions given above are suitable in most cases it is, of course, possible to vary them within wide limits.
• the mixing of the cellulose derivative and the polyalkylene glycol is carried out in such a way that the polyalkylene glycol is added to a water solution of the cellulose derivative after the latter has been completely dissolved, and not vice versa. If the cellulose derivative or a solution thereof is added to a polyalkylene glycol solution no positive effect at all is obtained. It is believed that this phenomenon is quite new and surprising, and it will be further illustrated in the experiments below.
• Examples A to C show the remarkable increase in the flocculation temperature that occurs when the polyalkylene glycol in accordance with the present invention is added to the completely dissolved cellulose derivative. Simultaneously a desirable viscosity increase is obtained.
• Example C control shows that with an inverted order of addition, i.e. when the cellulose derivative is added to a solution of the polyalkylene glycol, the effect is totally absent.
• the addition of the finely divided tobacco material can be made in different ways with consideration of the above mentioned critical conditions at the addition of the polyalkylene glycol.
• the finely divided tobacco material can consist of ground tobacco leaf, tobacco stems, tobacco scrap, tobacco dust etc.
• the cellulose derivative is completely dissolved one can add polyalkylene glycol or polyalkylene glycol solution in desired quantity, and thereafter form the paste form mixture obtained to sheets or other coherent bodies and dry.
• Another possibility is to first dissolve the cellulose derivative in desired quantity of water and then mix the finely ground tobacco herewith, after which polyalkylene glycol is added and shaping and drying is carried out as mentioned above.
• a third especially suitable method is first to prepare a water solution of the cellulose derivative, and after complete dissolution of the cellulose derivative to add polyalkylene glycol, and then mix the finely divided tobacco material into the binder solution obtained, and shape and dry the mixture.
• tobacc material in addition to the binder other substances used in similar compositions may be added to the tobacc material, such as fire improving agents, humectants, softeners, fillers, reinforcing agents, pH-regulators etc.
• fire improving agents such as fire improving agents, humectants, softeners, fillers, reinforcing agents, pH-regulators etc.
• examples of such substances are activated montmorillonite, organic and inorganic acids such as maleic, citric, tartaric, phosphoric, and boric acid, glycerol and lower glycols, sorbitol, mineral and cellulose fibres, and diatomaceous earth.
• a treatment with an agent which produces cross-linking in the cellulose material in connection with the drying is suitable.
• agents are for example tannin, and glyoxal.
• Such treatment with glyoxal may be carried out before, during or after the paste form mixture is carried through the drying oven.
• Particularly suitable is to apply glyoxal immediately before the sheet enters the oven and to have the cross-linking to take place at the elevated temperature in the oven.
• Example D Dry tobacco leaf was ground in a mill to such a particle size that 100% passed a mesh sieve.
• a vessel provided with a stirrer were added 3.3 kilograms of ethylhydroxyethylcellulose having the viscosity 2000- 3000 cp. in 2 percent aqueous solution at 20 C. (Modocoll E 600 after which 1000 kilograms of water were added with stirring. Stirring was continued at room temperature for 30 minutes till the cellulose derivative had completely dissolved and formed a homogeneous, clear solution without lumps. Then 20 kilograms of polyethylene glycol with the molecular weight 400 and a vapor pressure of 10' mm. Hg.
• Example E To the same mixer as in Example D were added kilograms of powdered tobacco scrap after which 10 kilograms of dry powdered ethylhydroxyethylcellulose with the viscosity 250-400 cp. in 2 percent aqueous solution at 20 C. (Modocoll E 100 were mixed in. When a homogeneous mixture had been obtained 500 kilograms of water were added with continued stirring. After about 30 minutes of mixing 20 kilograms of polythylene glycol with the molecular weight 600 and a vapor pressure of 10" mm. Hg at 25 C., dissolved in 200 kilograms of water, were added. From the paste form mixture obtained a reconstituted tobacco sheet of the thickness 0.1 mm. was prepared in the same way as in Example D. The sheet obtained was strong and had an extraordinarily good surface eveness and flexibility.
• Example F To the same mixer as in Example E were added 100 kilograms of powdered tobacco scrap, after which 12 kilograms of dry, powdered carboxymethylcellulose with the viscosity 100-150 cp. in 2 percent aqueous solution at 20 C. were mixed in. When a homogeneous dry mixture had been obtained 500 kilograms of water were added with continued stirring. After 40 minutes mixing 20 kilograms of polyethylene glycol with the molecular weight 300 and a vapor pressure of at 25 C., dissolved in 200 kilograms of water, were added. From the paste form mixture obtained a reconstituted tobacco sheet of the thickness 0.1 mm. was prepared in the same way as in Example D. The sheet obtained was strong and exhibited a very good surface smoothness and flexibility, which remained even after a long time of storage.
• the watersoluble cellulose derivative is a non-ionic cellulose ether selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxypropyl cellulose.
• watersoluble cellulose derivative is an ionic cellulose derivative selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose and methyl carboxymethyl cellulose and alkaliand ammonium salts thereof.
• a reconstituted tobacco material comprising tobacco, a water-soluble cellulose derivative which in aqueous solution has a flocculation temperature below about 80 C., and a water-soluble polyalkylene glycol having a molecular weight of from 200 to 6000 and a vapor pressure of at least 10* mm. Hg at 20 C. in an amount of at least 2.5 parts per part of cellulose derivativepresent to increase the flocculation temperature of the cellulose derivative in aqueous solution to above 80 C., and improved cohesiveness and flexibility of the product.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
• Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
• Adhesives Or Adhesive Processes (AREA)
• Medicinal Preparation (AREA)

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Cited By (9)

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Citations (4)

• 1965
  • 1965-03-17 SE SE03467/65A patent/SE330666B/xx unknown
• 1966
  • 1966-03-10 US US533230A patent/US3424169A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1966-03-16 NL NL666603465A patent/NL150666B/xx unknown
  • 1966-03-16 DE DE1692928A patent/DE1692928B2/de active Pending

Patent Citations (4)

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