Methods for treating tobacco material, apparatus for treating tobacco material, treated tobacco material and uses thereof

Abstract

A method of treating tobacco material including combining pre-cut and/or pre-expanded stem with lamina to form an initial combination of stem and lamina; cutting the initial combination of stem and lamina; expanding the combination of stem and lamina; and intermittently contacting the expanded combination of stem and lamina with a heated surface to produce a treated tobacco material. An apparatus is also provided for treating tobacco material. Also provided is a treated tobacco material, as well as products including the same.

1 . A method of treating tobacco material comprising:
 combining pre-cut and/or pre-expanded stem with lamina to form an initial combination of stem and lamina;   cutting the initial combination of stem and lamina;   expanding the combination of stem and lamina; and   intermittently contacting the expanded combination of stem and lamina with a heated surface to produce a treated tobacco material.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the initial combination of stem and lamina comprises from at least about 5% lamina up to about 99% lamina, by weight, and/or from at least about 1% stem up to about 95% stem, by weight. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the expanded combination of stem and lamina is agitated so that it is intermittently in contact with the heated surface. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heated surface has a temperature of from at least about 100° C. to about 300° C. prior to contact with the tobacco material. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the heated surface has a temperature of from at least about 120° C. to about 250° C. prior to contact with the tobacco material, or from at least about 150° C. to about 300° C. prior to contact with the tobacco material. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein contacting the expanded combination of stem and lamina with the heated surface heats the tobacco material to a peak temperature of from about 120° C. to about 230° C. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heated surface is a heated metal surface. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treated tobacco material has a moisture content from 0 to about 10% oven volatiles (OV), 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the expanded combination of stem and lamina has a moisture content of at least 5% OV before it is intermittently contacted with a heated surface. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the expanded combination of stem and lamina has a moisture content of from about 5% to about 25% OV before it is intermittently contacted with a heated surface, or from about 12 to about 16% OV. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the expanded combination of stem and lamina is intermittently contacted with a heated surface for a period of from at least about 1 minute to about 15 minutes. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the expanded combination of stem and lamina is intermittently contacted with a heated surface for a period of from at least about 2 minutes to about 10 minutes. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the expanded combination of stem and lamina is intermittently contacted with a heated surface for a period of from at least about two and a half minutes to about 5 minutes. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of water and steam is added to the expanded combination of stem and lamina whilst it is intermittently contacted with a heated surface, to increase its moisture content. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein at least one of water and steam is repeatedly added to the expanded combination of stem and lamina whilst it is intermittently contacted with a heated surface, to increase its moisture content. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method is a continuous process. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the expanded combination of stem and lamina is agitated by at least one of the group consisting of: a screw mechanism; a dual screw mechanism; air flow; and a rotating drum. 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fill value of the treated tobacco is at least about 5% or at least about 15% greater than the fill value of the combination of stem and lamina immediately prior to the step of intermittently contacting the expanded combination of stem and lamina with a heated surface. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the fill value of the treated tobacco is from about 30% to about 50% greater than the fill value of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sugar content of the treated tobacco is from about 20% to about 95% less than the sugar content of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the sugar content of the treated tobacco is from about 60% to about 90% less than the sugar content of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the nicotine content of the treated tobacco is from about 10% to about 80% less that the nicotine content of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the nicotine content of the treated tobacco is from about 35% to about 70% less that the nicotine content of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ammonia content of the treated tobacco is from about 30% to about 99% less that the ammonia content of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the ammonia content of the treated tobacco is from about 50% to about 90% less that the ammonia content of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cut combination of stem and lamina is expanded by exposing the cut stem and lamina to an expansion agent. 
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the expansion agent is selected from the group consisting of: liquid carbon dioxide, solid carbon dioxide, steam, liquid nitrogen, liquid short (C5 or C6) chain carbohydrates, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus for carrying out the method of  claim 1 , comprising a module for intermittently contacting the expanded combination of stem and lamina with a heated surface, the module comprising a heated surface provided to intermittently contact the expanded combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising a means for agitating the expanded combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the means for agitating the expanded combination of stem and lamina comprises at least one of the group consisting of: a screw mechanism; a dual screw mechanism; air flow; and a rotating drum. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the heated surface has a temperature of from at least about 100° C. to about 300° C. prior to contact with the tobacco material. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the heated surface has a temperature of from at least about 120° C. to about 250° C. prior to contact with the expanded combination of stem and lamina, or from at least about 150° C. to about 300° C. prior to contact with the expanded combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as claimed in of  claim 28 , wherein contacting the expanded combination of stem and lamina with the heated surface heats the expanded combination of stem and lamina to a peak temperature of from about 120° C. to about 230° C. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the heated surface is a heated metal surface. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the heated surface is heated by a heating medium, the heating medium being water, oil, steam, electricity, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         36 . A treated tobacco material, which is obtained or obtainable by a method as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         37 . A treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the treated tobacco material has reduced levels of one or more of the group consisting of: sugars, nicotine and ammonia, compared to level in the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         38 . A treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the sugar content of the treated tobacco is from about 20% to about 95%, or from about 60% to about 90%, less than the sugar content of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         39 . A treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the nicotine content of the treated tobacco material is from about 10% to about 80%, or from about 35% to about 70%, less than the nicotine content of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         40 . A treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the ammonia content of the treated tobacco material is from about 30% to about 99%, or from about 50% to about 90%, less than the ammonia content of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         41 . A treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the fill value of the treated tobacco is at least about 25% or at least about 30% greater than the fill value of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         42 . A treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the fill value of the treated tobacco is from about 30% to about 50% than the fill value of the initial combination of stem and lamina. 
     
     
         43 . A tobacco industry product comprising the treated tobacco material of  claim 36 . 
     
     
         44 . Use of the treated tobacco material of  claim 36  for the manufacture of a tobacco industry product.