WO2005115180A1

WO2005115180A1 - Portion snuff

Info

Publication number: WO2005115180A1
Application number: PCT/SE2005/000654
Authority: WO
Inventors: Katarina SÄND
Original assignee: Cuthof Tobacco Ab
Priority date: 2004-05-07
Filing date: 2005-05-04
Publication date: 2005-12-08
Also published as: SE0402258D0

Abstract

A portion snuff contains nicotine and possibly also aromatic substances. Each portion is in the form of a small, flat piece (12) which may be taken in the mouth of a user. Preferably, the 5 portion snuff also contains fibres so that the portion (12) is held together. A method of manufacturing portion snuff comprises the steps that the tobacco is wetted during a controlled leaching of its nicotine and other substances and that a mixture containing fibres is pressed into sheets (11). The sheets (11) are thereafter divided into portion pieces (12).

Description

PORTION SNUFF

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to portion snuff containing nicotine and, where applicable, aroma substances, where each portion is in the form of a small, flat piece which may be received in the mouth of a user.

The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing portion snuff.

BACKGROUND ART

A huge number of various tobacco products are available throughout large parts of the world. A few examples of such products are cigarettes, chewing tobacco and snuff.

An increasing number of smokers are giving up cigarettes in favour of other tobacco products, not least because tobacco which is smoked also affects non-smokers nearby ('passive smokers') and, as a result, is being subjected to growing numbers of bans on public smoking.

Tobacco that is taken in the mouth, such as chewing tobacco and snuff, enjoys the advantage that it only affects the user. However, it is desirable that the use of tobacco in such forms does not involve any other disadvantages, either for the user's surroundings or the user himself.

Chewing tobacco suffers from the drawback that, on being chewed, it stimulates the production of saliva which also increases the tendency of the user to spit. This is seldom desirable, particularly not so indoors. The use of snuff which is placed behind the lip of the user has, as a result, been preferred in many areas.

Originally, snuff was taken in loose form, i.e. tobacco in pulverised or cut form with certain additives, such as for example aroma substances. The disadvantage inherent in taking loose snuff is that it is quite crumbly to handle and these crumbles may litter the environment. Another drawback is that the fingers and hands of the user are often soiled and are stained with the passage of time, which is difficult to remove. Yet a further drawback is that the loose snuff gives an unattractive appearance to the user's lip, since it is packed in such a form that the lip tends to swell out. There are additives to snuff whose purpose is to affect its consistency. One example of such additives is modified starch. The problem with these additives is that they do not give rise to permanent bonding forces in the snuff, and, as a result the snuff cannot be remoistened, for example on use, without breaking apart.

Some of the drawbacks inherent in loose snuff are remedied by means of existing prior art portion snuff. In such snuff, loose snuff is, already on manufacture, packed in small pervious bags which are taken out of the pack and placed behind the lip of the user. The problems inherent in crumbling and stained fingers have thereby been obviated. However, the prior art portion snuff is in principle just as bulky as loose snuff and the user's lip tends to swell out in the same way as in the use of loose snuff, which is often perceived as unaesthetical. A further drawback is that some form of plastic fibres or the like are included in the portion bags in order to make it possible to durably fuse them together at their ends. This entails that the used portion snuff as a whole is not compostable or biodegradable and, as a result, contributes to the increased consumption of resources and increased waste.

A further negative aspect in prior art portion and loose snuff is that they contain quite large concentrations of harmful substances which, unlike the nicotine, have no effect sought-for by the user. Examples of such substances are nitrosamines and heavy metals which are toxic and/or cancerogenous. Other substances are less harmful, but may nevertheless irritate the mucous membrane in the oral cavity, the oesophagus and the stomach, since when the snuff is used, all soluble substances in the snuff will be dissolved in the saliva and swallowed. In the long term, some of these substances may cause damage while other substances lead to irritation and discomfort even in the short term. Possibly, the continued taking of snuff may be rendered impossible and there is then a risk that the user changes habits to smoking which, as was mentioned above, is not desirable.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

The present invention has for its object to realise a portion snuff which, while maintaining the desired nicotine stimulation from prior art portion snuff, also obviates the drawbacks principally in the excessively bulky form of portion snuff. SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the portion snuff intimated by way of introduction is characterised in that it further contains fibres so that the portions are held together.

Regarding the manufacturing method, the objects of the present invention will be attained if the method is characterised by the steps that the tobacco is wetted, the nicotine and other substances being leached out controllably in a solution, that a mixture containing fibres is pressed into sheets and that the sheets are divided into portion pieces.

Further advantages will be attained if the present invention is moreover given one or more of the characterising features as set forth in appended subclaims 2 to 7 and 9 to 12, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings:

Fig. 1 is a flow diagram showing the steps in the manufacturing method;

Fig. 2 is a sheet from which pieces of portion snuff are separated;

Fig. 3 shows a variation of the portion pieces;

Fig. 4 shows a further variation of the portion pieces; and

Fig. 5 is a flow diagram showing an alternative manufacturing method.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Fig. 1 is a flow/block diagram showing the major steps included in the manufacturing method. In step 1 , finely-divided tobacco is wetted in order, on the one hand, to give it a consistency suitable for further processing and. on the other hand, to leach out both nicotine and undesired substances and possibly also flavourings. The tobacco particles have a diameter of up to 1 mm, i.e. approximately the same as in conventional snuff. The solution in which the tobacco is wetted comprises, in the preferred embodiment, a mixture of ethyl acetate, alcohol, water and a pH raising agent. The pH raising agent raises the pH of the solution to about 8-9. This pH is a suitable level for optimum leaching of the nicotine from the tobacco. Preferably, the nicotine is extracted both in the form of nicotine salt (in the solution) and as free nicotine. The pH-raising agent may, for example, be sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide. In the preferred embodiment, the tobacco is wetted in the solution for roughly 24 hours. The proportion between tobacco and solution is approx. 1 :10 in the preferred embodiment.

Thereafter, the solution is screened in step 2 so that the tobacco is separated from the liquid. The solution contains both nicotine and undesirable substances. In order to remove the undesirable substances, the solution may be rejected in its entirety. In such instance, the nicotine which is per se desirable in the snuff is also rejected and must, in a later step of the manufacturing method, be replaced by other nicotine. Alternatively, the solution may be purified so that the undesirable substances are separated off in step 3 and only a pure, possibly concentrated nicotine solution remains. The concentration is preferably put into effect by means of evaporation or distillation. This solution may then be recycled in later step of the manufacturing method.

In step 4, the tobacco is mixed with fibres of a length that substantially exceeds that of the tobacco particles so that it is possible to realise continuous portion pieces. In the preferred embodiment, natural fibres are employed, in particular plant fibres such as cellulose from, for example, cotton or hemp. This type of fibre has also traditionally been employed in papermaking for many years. Additional water is also added in this step. A boding takes place between the wet, finely-divided tobacco, the fibres and the water, which improves the ability to realise portion pieces. Cotton fibres are to be particularly preferred, since they typically contain a high proportion of cellulose, up to approx. 98%. The fibres are bonded to one another because of the high cellulose content in the added fibres by hydrogen bonds which are a very strong bond. This makes for the manufacture of a thoroughly composite portion snuff. The tobacco particles are retained mechanically in the network formed by the fibres. The hydrogen bonds remain even after the produced portion snuff has dried somewhat. The hydrogen bonds also persist later during use and give as a result a portion snuff that does not break apart in the mouth of the user. Thus, a high cellulose content in the product is to be preferred. Since the tobacco particles per se are not particularly rich in free cellulose, the use of cellulose-rich fibres appears to be particularly suitable. In addition to cotton fibres, wood fibres are also especially rich in cellulose and thereby suitable. If the boding capacity of the fibres were surprisingly to prove insufficient, additional binder may be added, for example starch or some other boding agent in step 5.

When such a mixture of tobacco and fibres ahs been realised such that, on the one hand, it is quite homogeneous seen macroscopically and, on the other hand, displays such mutual bonding that the production of portion pieces is possible, the thus produced mass is poured onto a sheet or cloth so that excess liquid runs off. In the preferred embodiment, roughly 20 to 30 per cent consists of tobacco/fibre mixture of the fibres, while the remainder, 70 to 80 per cent is tobacco. Thereafter, the mass is pressed and rolled in step 6 to sheets 11, as is normally put into effect in papermaking. On drying of the "paper" containing tobacco, hydrogen bonds occur, the added, longer plant fibres and tobacco particles being retained therebetween, which gives the "tobacco paper" suitable properties of softness and mechanical strength. The sheet is shown in Fig. 2. However, it should be observed that the demands that are placed on the sheet 11 as regards ageing properties and mechanical strength are lower than those demands that are place on most types of paper.

During an adjustment of the moisture content and nicotine content of the sheet 11, the nicotine-containing concentrate that was obtained in step 3 is possibly re-added in step 7. Alternatively, a completely pure, new solution of nicotine, i.e. nicotine that does not derive from the original tobacco raw material may be used. Moisture-retaining agents are also added to the solution, such as propylene glycol and glycerol and possibly also a pH adjusting agent. This addition may be put into effect in different manners, for example in that the sheet 11 is dipped in a bath or in that the solution is sprayed onto the sheet. The amount that is added to the sheet 11 is determined, on the one hand, by their original moisture content and nicotine content, and, on the other hand, by the moisture and nicotine content that is desired in the finished portion snuff. In the preferred embodiment, use is made of about 2 kg of nicotine solution to 1 kg of sheet material. The solution consists for the greater part of water, but the nicotine content in the solution is so great that the finished portion pieces obtain the desired nicotine quantity. The moisture content is adjusted by means of drying or additional moistening. If, for example, the moisture content has become too high when the desired nicotine quantity has been absorbed by the sheet 11 , additional drying of the sheet may be put into effect. Typically, a nicotine content of between 3 and 10 mg in each portion is desirable and a suitable moisture content often lies in the range of between 50 and 70 weight percent.

In a corresponding manner as in step 7, aroma substances are added in step 8 to the portion snuff. Examples of such aroma substances are bergamot, rose oil and smoke aroma. Thereafter, in step 9 the produced sheets 11 are divided up into portion pieces 12 of a size that is suitable to be taken in the mouth of the user, preferably behind the user's lip. This sheet division may, for example, be put into effect by cutting, punching and perforation for later separation. Some examples of the finished portion pieces are shown in Figs. 2 to 4. Finally, the portion snuff is packed in step 10. As a result of the compact form of the portion snuff, smaller packages may be employed than was previously possible. For example, the packages may be cylindrical if the portion pieces 12 are round like coins. Such portion pieces 12 are advantageously punched out of the sheet 11 and one example is shown in Fig. 3. Another type of package is in the form of rolls where the portion snuff is present in strips 13 with a perforation between the portion pieces 12 as shown in Fig. 4.

The finished portion snuff has a consistency which is reminiscent of thick, soft paper. The portion snuff maintains homogeneity in separate units and no crumbling occurs spontaneously, as long as the portion pieces 12 are not subjected to extreme mechanical stresses. As a result of the softness of the portion snuff, it is malleable, which implies that it readily adapts to the configuration behind the lip of the user. Thus, there are no negative aesthetic effects. The slight thickness of the portion snuff also contributes to the favourable aesthetic effects. As is particularly apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, the thickness of the pieces is slight in relation to their extent in the plane. Compared with prior art portion snuff, their volume is only a third of the volume of the prior art snuff.

The fibres included in the portion snuff are preferably taken from the plant kingdom, which gives a minimum effect on the environment in both production and discarding the used portion snuff.

Because of the leaching and removal of undesirable substances, the portion snuff according to the present invention contains only extremely low contents of heavy metals, nitrosamines etc. As a result, the risk of discomfort and damage caused by the undesirable substances is greatly reduced. The finished portion snuff has, in one preferred embodiment, a moisture content of 60 weight per cent, but it is possible to produce different types of portion snuff where the moisture content has been varied from completely dry up to approximately 80 weight per cent.

The nicotine content in a piece of portion snuff corresponds, in the preferred embodiment, to the nicotine content of one cigarette. The nicotine content is also adjustable, on the one hand by an adaptation of the size of the portion pieces, and, on the other hand by an adjustment of the nicotine solution that is recycled to the portion snuff in step 7 of the manufacturing method. Thus, "light" variations of the snuff may be produced in which the nicotine content is low.

To sum up, the portion snuff is used in the same way as prior art portion snuff, but without the drawbacks inherent therein as described above. The effect of the portion snuff according to the present invention is the same as in the prior art portion snuff.

DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The manufacturing method may also be modified in relation to the above-described preferred embodiment. In a first alternative embodiment, no separate leaching of the nicotine takes place, nor any screening, concentration and recycling of the nicotine solution. Hence, steps 2, 3 and 7 are omitted from the manufacturing method and step 1, i.e. the wetting step, is modified.

The wetting of the tobacco takes place together with the fibres and the possibly added binder, i.e. steps 1, 4 and 5 I the preferred embodiment have been combined into a single mixing step 15, as shown in Fig. 5. The tobacco may be present as whole or coarsely cut tobacco leaves or as pulverised tobacco. In those cases where the tobacco pieces are large in relation to the fibres, comminution of the tobacco takes place under mechanical processing of the mixture of tobacco, fibres and, where applicable, binder before the next step in the production of paper- like sheets.

The wetting takes place in a solvent which, in quantity and composition is adapted as regards moisture content, pH and nicotine content in the finished product. The time during which the wetting of the tobacco and fibres takes place is also adapted so that a certain suitable quantity of nicotine is leached but in the solvent, while the rest remains in the tobacco and fibre mixture. Since a proportion of liquid disappears from the product during the pressing and rolling into paper-like sheets, an excessive amount of nicotine should not have been leached out, but only so much that the finished portion piece still contains the desired nicotine quantity, which lies in the range of between 1 and 15 mg. A slightly higher quantity of undesirable substances may remain in the portion pieces, since complete leaching does not take place.

As in the preferred embodiment, the pH adjusting agent is advantageously sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide.

The properties of the fibres correspond to those as disclosed as suitable in the preferred embodiment.

After mixing and processing of tobacco, fibres, possible binder and solvent, the manufacturing method continues as was described above in the preferred embodiment. However, no recycling of nicotine solution to the pressed or rolled sheets need be put into effect, since the sought-for nicotine quantity is already in the sheets 11 from the outset. Possibly, the recycling step 7 may be replaced by a step 14 where only moisture-retaining agent and pH adjusting agent are added if necessary to the sheet 11.

In the preferred embodiment, use of natural fibres was described which are mixed with the finely-divided tobacco. Naturally, it is also conceivable that synthetic fibres, or even plastic fibres are employed. In such instance however, the environmental advantages are lessened. The production process would probably therefore need to be modified somewhat in that a larger quantity of binder must be added to the mixture of fibres and finely-divided tobacco, since synthetic fibres typically lack the bond and adhesive capacity that is to be found, for example, in cellulose. To some extent, the defective bonding capacity of synthetic fibres may be compensated for by an increased heating during the pressing and rolling step 6.

Another alternative is, as was also disclosed in the first alternative embodiment above, to use whole tobacco leaves in the wetting and leaching operations in step 1. The wetting time probably needs to be prolonged for a sufficient leaching to be able to take place. In the mixing of tobacco and fibres in step 4, a comminution of the tobacco leaves takes place into smaller pieces.

Yet a further variation is to dispense with the leached tobacco in part or in whole, and manufacture the portion pieces exclusively from fibres to which a nicotine solution has been added in the same manner as was described above in the preferred embodiment.

It is possible to vary the manufacturing method in that individual steps therein may be dispensed with, such as the aromatisation, or be rearranged in sequence. One example of the latter is that the aromatisation in step 8 only takes place after the division in step 9 into portion pieces.

Nor is it absolutely necessary in all embodiments that pressing takes place before rolling into sheets. Thus, it is possible to omit a separate pressing operation. It is also possible to cause pressing to be put into effect by means of rolling or to carry out only one pressing operation, but no rolling.

Further additives such as moisture retaining agents, cooking salt, etc., can also be included in the portion snuff and be added during a suitable stage of the manufacturing method.

For certain markets, it may be relevant to add nicotine which was not present in the tobacco from the outset. For other markets, it is however desirable that the finished product be identical with the starting tobacco. This affects the choice of the type of nicotine solution added in step 7.

The present invention may be modified further without departing from the scope of the appended Claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. Portion snuff containing nicotine and, where applicable, aroma substances, where each portion is in the form of a small, flat piece (12) which may be taken in the mouth of a user, characterised in that it further includes fibres so that the portion (12) is held together.

2. The portion snuff as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the fibres are plant fibres, containing cellulose.

3. The portion snuff as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the fibres are cotton fibres.

4. The portion snuff as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that its moisture content lies in the range of between 0 and 80 weight per cent.

5. The portion snuff as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the moisture content lies in the range of between 50 and 70 weight per cent.

6. The portion snuff as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it also contains finely-divided tobacco.

7. The portion snuff as claimed in any of Claim 1 to 6, characterised in that it further includes a binder.

8. A method of manufacturing portion snuff, characterised by the steps that tobacco is wetted in a solution, a controlled leaching of nicotine and other substances taking place, that a mixture containing fibres is pressed into sheets (1 1) and that the sheets are divided into portion pieces (12).

9. The method as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that tobacco is finely-divided and mixed with the fibres.

10. The method as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, characterised in that nicotine is added to the sheets (11).

11. The method as claimed in Claim 10, characterised in that the nicotine is added by moistening of the sheets (11) with a solution of nicotine leached out of the tobacco.

12. The method as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 11, characterised in that an aroma substance is added to the sheets (11) or the portion pieces (12).