Aerosol generating assembly

Abstract

An assembly for generating an inhalable medium, a cartridge for use in an assembly for generating an inhalable medium, a method of generating an inhalable medium, a kit, a liquid pod, and a nicotine-containing pod.

1 . An aerosol generating assembly comprising:
 a solid, nicotine-containing material having a pH of at least 7;   an aerosolizable liquid comprising an acid, and having a pH of at least 2 and less than 7; and   
       wherein the assembly is configured to heat the aerosolizable liquid to form a vapor and/or an aerosol, wherein the vapor/aerosol is contacted with the solid, nicotine-containing material to entrain one or more components thereof, and thus forming an inhalable medium. 
     
     
         2 . An aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid, nicotine-containing material comprises a tobacco material. 
     
     
         3 . An aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the solid, nicotine-containing material is of from 8 to 9.5 or from 8.5 to 9. 
     
     
         4 . An aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosolizable liquid has a pH of from 4 to 5 or from 4.3 to 4.8. 
     
     
         5 . An aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the difference between the pH of the solid nicotine-containing material and the pH of the aerosolizable liquid is of from 3.0 and 5.5. 
     
     
         6 . An aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the acid has a vapor pressure at 25° C. of from 0.1 Pa to 2.5 kPa. 
     
     
         7 . An aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosolizable liquid has an amount of acid of from 0.001 to 5% by weight. 
     
     
         8 . An aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is configured such that the solid, nicotine-containing material is heated only by the vapor/aerosol. 
     
     
         9 . An aerosol generating assembly comprising:
 a solid, nicotine-containing material having a pH of at least 7;   an aerosolizable liquid comprising an acid, the acid with a pKa greater than 0.5; and   wherein the assembly is configured to heat the aerosolizable liquid to form a vapor and/or an aerosol, wherein the vapor/aerosol is contacted with the solid, nicotine-containing material to entrain one or more components thereof, and thus forming an inhalable medium.   
     
     
         10 . An aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the pKa of the acid is greater than 3, or is from 3.7 to 4.3. 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the pH of the solid, nicotine-containing material is of from 8 to 9.5 or from 8.5 to 9. 
     
     
         12 . A cartridge for use in an assembly for generating an inhalable medium, the cartridge comprising an aerosolizable liquid comprising an acid in a first chamber, the aerosolizable liquid having a pH of at least 2 and less than 7, and a solid, nicotine-containing material in a second chamber, the solid, nicotine-containing material having a pH of at least 7. 
     
     
         13 . A cartridge according to  claim 12 , wherein the aerosolizable liquid has a pH of from 4 to 5 or from 4.3 to 4.8. 
     
     
         14 . A cartridge according to  claim 12 , wherein the solid, nicotine-containing material has a pH of from 8 to 9.5 or from 8.5 to 9. 
     
     
         15 . A cartridge according to  claim 12 , wherein the acid has a vapor pressure at 25° C. of from 0.1 Pa to 2.5 kPa. 
     
     
         16 . A method of generating an inhalable medium using an assembly comprising an aerosolizable liquid comprising an acid, the aerosolizable liquid having a pH of at least 2 and less than 7, and a solid, nicotine-containing material having a pH of at least 7, the method comprising:
 heating the aerosolizable liquid to form a vapor and/or an aerosol;   forming an inhalable medium, by contacting the aerosolizable liquid in the form of a vapor and/or an aerosol with the solid, nicotine-containing material to entrain one or more components thereof.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the aerosolizable liquid has a pH of from 4 to 5 or from 4.3 to 4.8. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the vapor pressure of the acid at 25° C. is of from 0.1 Pa to 2.5 kPa. 
     
     
         19 . Use of an acidic vapor and/or aerosol to extract nicotine from a solid, nicotine-containing material having a pH of more than 7, wherein the rate of nicotine extraction exceeds the rate of nicotine-salt formation in the solid, thereby providing an increased nicotine content in the vapor and/or aerosol as compared to using a neutral vapor and/or aerosol. 
     
     
         20 . A kit comprising:
 (i) a liquid pod containing an aerosolizable liquid comprising an acid, the aerosolizable liquid having a pH of from at least 2 and less than 7; and   (ii) a nicotine-containing pod, containing a solid, nicotine-containing material having a pH of at least 7;   wherein the liquid and nicotine-containing pod are configured for use in an assembly for use in generating an inhalable medium, the assembly being such that in use, an inhalable medium is generated by contacting the aerosolizable liquid in the form of a vapor and/or an aerosol with the solid, nicotine-containing material to entrain one or more components thereof.