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

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of treating tobacco material comprising intermittently contacting a tobacco starting material with a heated surface to produce a dried treated tobacco material. Also provided is an apparatus for treating treating tobacco material. The invention also provides treated tobacco material that is seared and dried, as well as products comprising the same.

1 . A treated tobacco material having a moisture content of from 0 to about 10% oven volatiles (OV), 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 tobacco material before it was treated. 
     
     
         2 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sugar content of the treated tobacco is from about 40% to about 95%, or from about 70% to about 90%, less than the sugar content of the tobacco material before it was treated. 
     
     
         3 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the nicotine content of the treated tobacco material is from about 10% to about 80%, or from about 20% to about 50%, less than the nicotine content of the tobacco material before it was treated. 
     
     
         4 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 1 , 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 tobacco material before it was treated. 
     
     
         5 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treated tobacco material produces an aerosol when in use in a tobacco industry product with an enhanced flavour profile or enhanced organoleptic properties, compared to the tobacco material before it was treated. 
     
     
         6 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treated tobacco material produces an aerosol when in use in a tobacco industry product with reduced irritants, compared to the tobacco material before it was treated. 
     
     
         7 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treated tobacco material comprises expanded individual cells within the material, compared to the tobacco material before it was treated. 
     
     
         8 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treated tobacco material comprises at least 50% cut stem tobacco material. 
     
     
         9 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treated tobacco material comprises at least 50% cut lamina tobacco material. 
     
     
         10 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment comprised intermittently contacting a tobacco starting material with a heated surface, exposing the tobacco material to sudden and intense heat to cause local searing or scorching of the tobacco to produce the treated tobacco material. 
     
     
         11 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the tobacco starting material is one or more selected from the group consisting of: cut stem, cut lamina, leaf lamina, small lamina, stem fibres, short stem and long stem. 
     
     
         12 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the tobacco starting material is cut stem and 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 cut stem starting material or is from about 30% to about 50% greater than the fill value of the cut stem starting material. 
     
     
         13 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the tobacco material is agitated by a heated screw mechanism, wherein the heated screw mechanism comprises a helical surface encircling a shaft which is rotated. 
     
     
         14 . The treated tobacco material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the heated surface has a temperature of from at least about 135° C. to about 190° C. prior to contact with the tobacco material. 
     
     
         15 . A tobacco industry product comprising the treated tobacco material of  claim 1 .