Method for Making Particle of a Hydrophobic Additive and a Polysaccharide Coating and Tobacco Products Containing Particle of a Hydrophobic Additive and a Polysaccharide Coating

Abstract

A method for providing particles of encapsulated flavorants or chemesthetic agents comprises forming an emulsion comprising: (i) a first aqueous solution, comprising one or more polysaccharides; and (ii) a hydrophobic additive; atomizing said emulsion in an atomizer into droplets; introducing said droplets into a second aqueous solution, comprising one or more metal cations, to form particles comprising one or more cross-linked polysaccharides and said additive encapsulated therein; and removing said particles from said second aqueous solution and drying said particles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Particles of encapsulated flavorants or chemesthetic agents, made by a process comprising:
 (a) forming an emulsion comprising:
 (i) a first aqueous solution, comprising one or more polysaccharides; and 
 (ii) a hydrophobic additive; 
   (b) atomizing the emulsion in an atomizer into droplets;   (c) introducing the droplets into a second aqueous solution, comprising one or more metal cations, to form particles comprising one or more cross-linked polysaccharides and said additive encapsulated therein;   (d) removing the particles from said second aqueous solution; and   (e) drying the particles.   
     
     
         2 . The particles of  claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises:
 (d2) introducing the particles removed from the second aqueous solution into a third aqueous solution, comprising one or more polysaccharides, for a time period sufficient to further coat the particles, and removed from the third aqueous solution.   
     
     
         3 . The particles of  claim 2 , wherein the process further comprises:
 (d1) washing the particles removed from the second aqueous solution with a first aqueous washing liquid, prior to the introducing the particles in the third aqueous solution.   
     
     
         4 . The particles of  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer is selected from the group consisting of a pressure atomizer, an air atomizer, a centrifugal atomizer, an electrostatic atomizer, and an ultrasonic atomizer. 
     
     
         5 . The particles of  claim 4 , wherein the atomizer is an air-atomizer. 
     
     
         6 . The particles of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsion further comprises a surface active agent. 
     
     
         7 . The particles of  claim 6 , wherein the surface active agent comprises an emulsifier or wetting agent. 
     
     
         8 . The particles of  claim 3 , further comprising washing the particles removed from the third aqueous solution in a second aqueous washing liquid to obtain washed particles. 
     
     
         9 . The particles of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second aqueous washing liquids are water. 
     
     
         10 . The particles of  claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises removing the second aqueous washing liquid from the washed particles to obtain dried particles. 
     
     
         11 . The particles of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more polysaccharides are selected from the group consisting of alginates, pectins, or carageenans. 
     
     
         12 . The particles of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more metal cations are selected from the group consisting of monovalent metal cations, divalent metal cations, and trivalent metal cations. 
     
     
         13 . The particles of  claim 12 , wherein the monovalent metal cations are potassium cations, said divalent metal cations are calcium cations, and said trivalent metal cations are aluminum cations. 
     
     
         14 . The particles of  claim 1 , wherein the forming of the emulsion comprises homogenizing a mixture of the aqueous solution and the hydrophobic additive in a homogenizer. 
     
     
         15 . The particles of  claim 1 , wherein the particles have an average diameter ranging between about 400 μm and about 550 μm. 
     
     
         16 . The particles of  claim 15 , wherein the particles have an average diameter of about 479 μm. 
     
     
         17 . The particles of  claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise a solid shell surrounding an interior comprising said hydrophobic additive. 
     
     
         18 . The particles of  claim 17 , wherein the solid shell has a thickness ranging between about 15 μm and about 20 μm. 
     
     
         19 . The particles of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic additive comprises one or more flavorants or chemesthetic agents. 
     
     
         20 . The particles of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more flavorants or chemesthetic agents comprise one or more of menthol, peppermint oil, spearmint oil, rosemary oil, cherry oil, wintergreen flavor, and citrus flavor. 
     
     
         21 . The particles of  claim 20 , wherein the flavorant comprises menthol, 
     
     
         22 . The particles of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more flavorants or chemesthetic agents are dissolved in an oil. 
     
     
         23 . A smoking article comprising:
 (a) a rod comprising a smokable composition; and   (b) the particles of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         24 . The smoking article of  claim 23 , wherein the particles are disposed in said rod. 
     
     
         25 . The smoking article of  claim 23 , wherein the smokable composition comprises tobacco. 
     
     
         26 . The smoking article of  claim 23 , wherein the smokable composition comprises a tobacco substitute. 
     
     
         27 . An oral sensorial product, comprising:
 (a) a filling material; and   (b) the particles of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         28 . The oral sensorial product of  claim 27 , which is a pouch product further comprising a wrapper at least partially surrounding the filling material. 
     
     
         29 . The oral sensorial product of  claim 28 , wherein the particles are disposed in or on the filling material, the wrapper, or a combination of these. 
     
     
         30 . The oral sensorial product of  claim 27 , wherein the filling material comprises tobacco or a tobacco substitute. 
     
     
         31 . The oral sensorial product of  claim 30 , which is a chewing tobacco product. 
     
     
         32 . The oral sensorial product of  claim 29 , wherein the particles are disposed in interstices between fibers of non-woven polymeric material forming the wrapper.