Improved method of producing a liquid tobacco extract

Abstract

A method of producing a liquid tobacco extract is provided, the method including the steps of: preparing a tobacco material; heating the tobacco material in an extraction chamber at an extraction temperature of between 120 degrees Celsius and 160 degrees Celsius for at least 90 minutes; spraying atomised water into the extraction chamber during the heating step; collecting volatile compounds released from the tobacco material during the heating step; and forming a liquid tobacco extract comprising the collected volatile compounds. A liquid tobacco extract produced by the method is also provided.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of producing a liquid tobacco extract, the method comprising the steps of:
 preparing a tobacco material;   heating the tobacco material in an extraction chamber at an extraction temperature of between 120 degrees Celsius and 160 degrees Celsius for at least 90 minutes;   spraying atomised water into the extraction chamber during the heating step;   collecting volatile compounds released from the tobacco material during the heating step; and   forming a liquid tobacco extract comprising the collected volatile compounds.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the spraying of atomised water produces a turbulent gas flow within the extraction chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the atomised water is sprayed continuously into the extraction chamber during the heating step. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the atomised water is sprayed into the extraction chamber at a rate of at least 0.2 grams per second. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein an average flow rate of the atomised water sprayed into the extraction chamber during the heating step is between 3 percent and 30 percent of a flow rate of the tobacco material through the extraction chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the atomised water is atomised in a flow of compressed inert gas. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the atomised water is sprayed into the extraction chamber at a pressure of at least 1 bar. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the tobacco material is continuously circulated within the extraction chamber during the heating step. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein an amount of nicotine extracted from the tobacco material during the heating step corresponds to at least 2 grams per kg of dry tobacco material. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the tobacco material is heated in a flow of inert gas during the heating step. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the tobacco material is heated at an extraction temperature of between 130 degrees Celsius and 150 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of subjecting the tobacco material to an alkali treatment prior to the heating step. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the tobacco material is microwave heated during at least one step of the method. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of drying or concentrating the collected volatile compounds. 
     
     
         30 . A liquid tobacco extract produced by the method according to  claim 16 .