Process For Incorporating Additives Into Aerosol-Producing Substrates and Products Made Therefrom

Abstract

A process is disclosed for incorporating additives into aerosol-producing substrates. During the process, an additive is incorporated into an infusing liquid. An aerosol-producing filler is submerged in the infusing liquid and the resulting mixture is subjected to reduced pressures that cause the infusing liquid to infuse into the material. The material is dried leaving behind the additive in a controlled amount and uniformly dispersed throughout the material. In one application, cannabidiol is incorporated into a tobacco filler or a hemp filler.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A process for incorporating an additive into an aerosol-producing substrate comprising:
 combining the aerosol-producing substrate with an infusing liquid, the infusing liquid comprising the additive dissolved in a solvent; and   subjecting the aerosol-producing substrate and infusing liquid mixture to reduced pressure sufficient to cause the additive to infuse into the aerosol-producing substrate.   
     
     
         2 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the additive comprises a cannabinoid. 
     
     
         3 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the additive comprises cannabidiol. 
     
     
         4 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the additive comprises cannabichromene, cannabinol, cannabigerol, tetrahydrocannabivarin, cannabidivarin, cannabidiolic acid, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the additive comprises tetrahydrocannabinol. 
     
     
         6 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the additive comprises a flavorant or casing. 
     
     
         7 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-producing substrate contains the additive after the process and after drying in an amount greater than about 3.1% by weight and less than about 70% by weight. 
     
     
         8 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the solvent contained in the infusing liquid comprises an alcohol or acetone. 
     
     
         9 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the solvent contained in the infusing liquid comprises ethanol. 
     
     
         10 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-producing substrate comprises tobacco. 
     
     
         11 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-producing substrate comprises  cannabis.    
     
     
         12 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-producing substrate comprises a reconstituted material derived from one or more plant products. 
     
     
         13 . A process as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the one or more plant products comprises tobacco. 
     
     
         14 . A process as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the one or more plant products comprises  cannabis.    
     
     
         15 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-producing substrate comprises a botanical filler. 
     
     
         16 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the additive infused, aerosol-producing substrate is separated from the remaining infusing liquid and the infusing liquid is contacted with a new aerosol producing substrate and the process repeated. 
     
     
         17 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-producing substrate is immersed in the infusing liquid. 
     
     
         18 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of drying the additive infused, aerosol-producing substrate. 
     
     
         19 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the infusing liquid is oil-free. 
     
     
         20 . A process as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the additive is incorporated into the aerosol-producing substrate at a concentration higher than the concentration of the additive in the infusing liquid. 
     
     
         21 . An aerosol-producing material comprising:
 an aerosol-producing substrate in the form of a strip, strips, shreds, or mixtures thereof, the aerosol-producing substrate being made from at least one plant; and   an additive that has been infused into the aerosol-producing substrate, the additive being present in the aerosol-producing substrate in an amount greater than about 3.1% by weight, the aerosol-producing substrate being free of oils.   
     
     
         22 . An aerosol-producing material as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the aerosol-producing substrate comprises a tobacco or a  cannabis.    
     
     
         23 . An aerosol-producing material as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the additive comprises cannabidiol.