Methods and apparatus for treating plant-derived material

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of treating plant-derived material comprising intermittently contacting a plant-derived material with a heated surface to locally heat the material upon said contact and collecting the volatile components released from plant-derived material. Also provided is an apparatus for treating plant-derived material. The invention also provides volatile components collected as part of the treatment of the plant-derived material, as well as uses of and products comprising the same.

1 . A method comprising:
 intermittently contacting plant-derived material with a heated surface to locally heat the material upon said contact; and   collecting the volatile components released from the plant-derived material.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the volatile components are collected in a gas flow. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the volatile components are trapped and/or extracted. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plant-derived material is selected from the group consisting of: tobacco, wood, tea, coffee, cocoa, herbs and spices. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plant-derived material is freshly harvested, dried, cured or roasted. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plant-derived material is agitated so that it is intermittently in contact with the heated surface. 
     
     
         7 . The 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 plant-derived material. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the heated surface has a temperature of from at least about 120° C. to about 250° C. prior to contact with the plant-derived material, or from at least about 150° C. to about 300° C. prior to contact with the plant-derived material. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein contacting the plant-derived material with the heated surface heats the plant-derived material to a peak temperature of from about 120° C. to about 230° C. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plant-derived material has a moisture content of at least about 5% OV prior to contact with the heated surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the plant-derived material has a moisture content of from about 5 to about 25% OV prior to contact with the heated surface, or a moisture content of from about 12 to about 16% OV prior to contact with the heated surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein plant-derived material is intermittently contacted with the heated surface for a period of from at least about 1 minute to about 180 minutes. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method is a continuous process. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method is a batch process. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plant-derived material is tobacco material. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the tobacco material comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: cut stem, cut lamina, leaf lamina, small lamina, stem fibres, short stem and long stem. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises applying at least one of the collected volatile components to a substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the substrate comprises the plant-derived material treated by intermittent contact with the heated surface. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus comprising a heated surface provided to intermittently contact plant-derived material and a means for collecting the volatile components released. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising a means for agitating the plant-derived material. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the means for agitating the plant-derived material comprises at least one of the group consisting of: a screw mechanism; a dual screw mechanism; air flow; and a rotating drum. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the heated surface has a temperature of from at least about 100° C. to about 300° C. prior to contact with the plant-derived material. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the heated surface has a temperature of from at least about 120° C. to about 250° C. prior to contact with the plant-derived material, or from at least about 150° C. to about 300° C. prior to contact with the plant-derived material. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the heated surface is heated by a heating medium, the heating medium being water, oil, steam, electricity, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . An extract comprising volatile components collected by the method as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . A composition comprising a substrate and at least one volatile component collected by the method as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled)