Tobacco constituent releasing components

Abstract

The invention relates to tobacco constituent releasing components for inclusion in an aerosol provision device, the tobacco constituent releasing component including tobacco particles, optionally in an agglomerated structure. The invention also relates to apparatus including the tobacco constituent releasing components and to methods of manufacturing the tobacco constituent releasing components.

1 . A tobacco constituent releasing component for inclusion in an aerosol provision device, the tobacco constituent releasing component having an agglomerated structure formed from a precursor composition comprising tobacco particles, wherein the pH of the precursor composition has been adjusted to a basic pH. 
     
     
         2 . A component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pH is increased by the addition of one or more bases or a basic buffer system. 
     
     
         3 . A tobacco constituent releasing component for inclusion in an aerosol provision device, the tobacco constituent releasing component comprising tobacco particles and one or more bases or a basic buffer system, the tobacco constituent releasing component having a basic pH. 
     
     
         4 . A component as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the one or more base is selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, carbonates and hydrogen carbonates. 
     
     
         5 . A component as claimed in any one of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the one or more base is selected from the group consisting of: potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. 
     
     
         6 . A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pH of the precursor composition is at least about 7.5. 
     
     
         7 . A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tobacco particles have an average diameter no greater than 3 mm, no greater than 1 mm, no greater than 0.5 mm, or no greater than 0.3 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more aerosol forming agent. 
     
     
         9 . A component as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the aerosol forming agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol and glyceryl triacetate. 
     
     
         10 . A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more binder. 
     
     
         11 . A component as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the one or more binder is selected from the group consisting of: thermoreversible gelling agents, such as gelatin; starches; polysaccharides; pectins; celluloses; cellulose derivatives, such as carboxymethylcellulose; and alginates. 
     
     
         12 . A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more flavour-modifier. 
     
     
         13 . A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the precursor composition is granulated or spheronised to form the agglomerated structure. 
     
     
         14 . A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the precursor composition is extruded to form the agglomerated structure. 
     
     
         15 . A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in the form of granules. 
     
     
         16 . A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, having an elongated or rod-shaped form. 
     
     
         17 . A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein having a cross sectional shape to increase the surface area of the tobacco constituent releasing component. 
     
     
         18 . An aerosol provision device comprising a tobacco constituent releasing component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. 
     
     
         19 . A device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the device is a tobacco heating product comprising a tobacco segment which is to be heated to volatilise constituents, and optionally including a filter or filter element. 
     
     
         20 . A device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the device is a Hybrid product comprising a tobacco segment which is to be heated to volatilise constituents, and a liquid which is to be heated to form a vapour, and optionally including a filter or filter element. 
     
     
         21 . A device as claimed in any one of  claims 18  to  20 , wherein the tobacco constituent releasing component is located in a filter or filter element of the device. 
     
     
         22 . A device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein one or more tobacco constituent releasing components are surrounded by filter material in the filter or filter element. 
     
     
         23 . A device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein one or more tobacco constituent releasing components are located in a cavity of a multi-segment filter. 
     
     
         24 . A device as claimed in  claim 19  or  claim 20 , wherein one or more tobacco constituent releasing components are located in the tobacco segment. 
     
     
         25 . A device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the tobacco segment consists of one or more tobacco constituent releasing components. 
     
     
         26 . A device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the device is a Hybrid product comprising a tobacco segment which is to be heated to volatilise constituents, and a liquid which is to be heated to form a vapour, wherein one or more tobacco constituent releasing components are located in the tobacco segment and wherein the tobacco segment is heated by the vapour. 
     
     
         27 . A device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the liquid is a nicotine-free liquid. 
     
     
         28 . A device as claimed in  claim 26  or  claim 27 , wherein the device includes a means for heating the liquid to form a vapour, but does not include a separate means for heating the tobacco segment. 
     
     
         29 . A method of manufacturing a tobacco constituent releasing component, comprising preparing a precursor composition comprising tobacco particles; adjusting the pH of the precursor composition to a basic pH; and treating said precursor composition to form an agglomerated structure. 
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the precursor composition is granulated or spheronised to form the agglomerated structure. 
     
     
         31 . A method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the precursor composition is extruded to form the agglomerated structure. 
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the extruded agglomerate is cooled during or after extrusion. 
     
     
         33 . A method as claimed in  claims 31  or  claim 32 , wherein the extrusion creates inner channels within the extruded agglomerate. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus for heating smokeable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokeable material, and a nicotine-free liquid which is to be heated to form a vapour, wherein the smokeable material comprises tobacco particles having a basic pH, and wherein the smokeable material is heated by the vapour. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 , including a means for heating the liquid to form a vapour, but not including a separate means for heating the smokeable material. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 34  or  claim 35 , wherein the pH is increased by the addition of one or more bases or a basic buffer system. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 34  to  36 , wherein the pH of the tobacco particles is at least about 7.5. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 34  to  37 , wherein the tobacco particles have an average diameter no greater than 3 mm, no greater than 1 mm, no greater than 0.5 mm, or no greater than 0.3 mm.