Aerosol-generating element for use in an aerosol-generating article or system

Abstract

An aerosol-generating element for an aerosol-generating article or system is provided, the aerosol-generating element including: a solid continuous matrix structure; and an aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the structure, in which the formulation is trapped within the structure and releasable from the structure upon heating of the aerosol-generating element, in which the structure is a polymer matrix including one or more matrix-forming polymers, in which the formulation dispersed within the structure includes at least one alkaloid or cannabinoid compound and a polyhydric alcohol, in which a polyhydric alcohol content in the formulation dispersed within the structure accounts for at least 30 percent by weight based on a total weight of the aerosol-generating element, and in which the aerosol-generating element has an equivalent diameter of at least about 0.5 millimetres and an ovality from about 2 percent to about 30 percent.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An aerosol-generating element for an aerosol-generating article or system, the aerosol-generating element comprising:
 a solid continuous matrix structure; and   an aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure, wherein the aerosol-generating formulation is trapped within the solid continuous matrix structure and releasable from the solid continuous matrix structure upon heating of the aerosol-generating element,   wherein the solid continuous matrix structure is a polymer matrix comprising one or more matrix-forming polymers,   wherein the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure comprises at least one alkaloid or cannabinoid compound and a polyhydric alcohol,   wherein a polyhydric alcohol content in the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure accounts for at least 30 percent by weight based on a total weight of the aerosol-generating element, and   wherein the aerosol-generating element has an equivalent diameter of at least about 0.5 millimetres and an ovality from about 2 percent to about 30 percent.   
     
     
         15 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 14 , wherein the one or more matrix-forming polymers include at least one of alginate and pectin. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 14 , wherein the polyhydric alcohol is glycerin, propylene glycol, or a combination of glycerin and propylene glycol. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 14 , wherein the polyhydric alcohol content in the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure accounts for at least 60 percent by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-generating element. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 14 , wherein the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure accounts for at least 80 percent by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-generating element. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 14 , wherein a content of the at least one alkaloid or cannabinoid compound in the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure accounts for at least 0.5 percent by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-generating element. 
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one alkaloid or cannabinoid compound is selected from nicotine, anatabine, cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). 
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 14 , wherein the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the continuous solid matrix structure further comprises an acid. 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 21 , wherein the acid is lactic acid or levulinic acid. 
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 21 , wherein the acid content in the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure accounts for at least about 0.5 percent by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-generating element. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 14 , further comprising less than about 20 percent by weight of water. 
     
     
         25 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 14 , wherein the aerosol-generating element has an equivalent diameter of less than or equal to about 6 millimetres. 
     
     
         26 . The aerosol-generating element according to  claim 14 , wherein the aerosol-generating element has an exposed surface area to volume ratio from about 0.083 cm −1  to about 24 cm −1 . 
     
     
         27 . An aerosol-generating article for generating an aerosol upon heating, the aerosol-generating article comprising:
 a tubular element comprising a cavity defining a longitudinal airflow channel of the aerosol-generating article; and   a plurality of aerosol-generating elements according to  claim 14 , the aerosol-generating elements being provided within the cavity such that an outer surface of the aerosol-generating elements is exposed inside the longitudinal airflow channel.