The invention provides certain nicotine salts, co-crystals, and salt co-crystals and provides novel polymorphic forms of certain nicotine salts. In particular, nicotine salts with orotic acid are described. The invention further provides methods of preparation and characterization of such nicotine salts. In addition, tobacco products, including smoking articles, smokeless tobacco products, and electronic smoking articles comprising nicotine salts, co-crystals, and/or salt co-crystals are also provided.

Embodiments described herein include a cartridge for use with an apparatus for generating an inhalable medium, the cartridge comprising: a first chamber containing a liquid, the liquid comprising a liquid tobacco extract; a second chamber configured to receive a solid flavor material; and the cartridge being arranged such that in use, the liquid is volatilized to form a vapor or an aerosol, and the vapor or aerosol combines with one or more components of the solid flavor material received in the second chamber to form an inhalable medium, the inhalable medium comprising one or more constituents of the solid flavor material entrained in the vapor or aerosol.

Embodiments described herein include a cartridge for use with an apparatus for generating an inhalable medium, the cartridge comprising: a first chamber containing a liquid, the liquid comprising a liquid tobacco extract; a second chamber configured to receive a solid flavor material; and the cartridge being arranged such that in use, the liquid is volatilized to form a vapor or an aerosol, and the vapor or aerosol combines with one or more components of the solid flavor material received in the second chamber to form an inhalable medium, the inhalable medium comprising one or more constituents of the solid flavor material entrained in the vapor or aerosol.

Embodiments described herein provide a method of making a tobacco extract comprising; (a) contacting tobacco with an extraction solvent in a first chamber such that tobacco components are extracted from the tobacco into the extraction solvent, wherein the extraction solvent is a supercritical fluid in the first chamber; (b) passing the extraction solvent containing tobacco components along a line towards a second chamber, wherein a valve is present in the line and the conditions downstream of the valve are such that the extraction solvent is subcritical; and (c) pumping entrapment solvent into a flow downstream of the valve, wherein the tobacco components are released from the extraction solvent by transfer to subcritical conditions and are dissolved in the entrapment solvent, whereby the tobacco components dissolved in entrapment solvent are collected in the second chamber.

Embodiments described herein provide a method of making a tobacco extract comprising; (a) contacting tobacco with an extraction solvent in a first chamber such that tobacco components are extracted from the tobacco into the extraction solvent, wherein the extraction solvent is a supercritical fluid in the first chamber; (b) passing the extraction solvent containing tobacco components along a line towards a second chamber, wherein a valve is present in the line and the conditions downstream of the valve are such that the extraction solvent is subcritical; and (c) pumping entrapment solvent into a flow downstream of the valve, wherein the tobacco components are released from the extraction solvent by transfer to subcritical conditions and are dissolved in the entrapment solvent, whereby the tobacco components dissolved in entrapment solvent are collected in the second chamber.

The invention provides Embodiments described herein include a method of making a tobacco extract comprising; (a) providing tobacco and an entrapment solvent in a partitioned vessel, wherein the tobacco and entrapment solvent are separated by the partition, and the vessel is configured such that the tobacco and entrapment solvent cannot contact each other; (b) flowing a supercritical extraction solvent through the vessel, wherein the extraction solvent and any dissolved substances can pass through the partition; whereby tobacco components are extracted from the tobacco into the extraction solvent and carried across the partition, wherein the extraction solvent contacts the entrapment solvent and tobacco components are transferred from the supercritical extraction solvent into the entrapment solvent.

The invention provides Embodiments described herein include a method of making a tobacco extract comprising; (a) providing tobacco and an entrapment solvent in a partitioned vessel, wherein the tobacco and entrapment solvent are separated by the partition, and the vessel is configured such that the tobacco and entrapment solvent cannot contact each other; (b) flowing a supercritical extraction solvent through the vessel, wherein the extraction solvent and any dissolved substances can pass through the partition; whereby tobacco components are extracted from the tobacco into the extraction solvent and carried across the partition, wherein the extraction solvent contacts the entrapment solvent and tobacco components are transferred from the supercritical extraction solvent into the entrapment solvent.

Embodiments described herein include a method of making a tobacco extract comprising; (a) contacting tobacco with an extraction solvent at a first temperature and first pressure which are selected such that the extraction solvent is supercritical, such that tobacco flavor and/or aroma components are extracted from the tobacco into the solvent; (b) separating the residual tobacco solids from the supercritical extraction solvent containing tobacco components; (c) exposing the extraction solvent containing tobacco components to conditions in a vessel at which the extraction solvent is subcritical, thereby releasing the tobacco components from the extraction solvent, (d) contacting the residual tobacco solids with an extraction solvent at a second temperature and second pressure which are selected such that the extraction solvent is supercritical, such that nicotine are extracted from the tobacco into the extraction solvent; and wherein the second temperature and/or second pressure is higher than the respective first temperature or first pressure; (e) separating the residual tobacco solids from the supercritical extraction solvent containing tobacco components; (f) exposing the extraction solvent containing tobacco components to conditions in a vessel at which the extraction solvent is subcritical, thereby releasing the tobacco components from the extraction solvent, wherein during step (f), the vessel contains an entrapment solvent which dissolves the tobacco components released from the extraction solvent, and wherein the entrapment solvent comprises an aerosol generating agent.

Embodiments described herein include a method of making a tobacco extract comprising; (a) contacting tobacco with an extraction solvent at a first temperature and first pressure which are selected such that the extraction solvent is supercritical, such that tobacco flavor and/or aroma components are extracted from the tobacco into the solvent; (b) separating the residual tobacco solids from the supercritical extraction solvent containing tobacco components; (c) exposing the extraction solvent containing tobacco components to conditions in a vessel at which the extraction solvent is subcritical, thereby releasing the tobacco components from the extraction solvent, (d) contacting the residual tobacco solids with an extraction solvent at a second temperature and second pressure which are selected such that the extraction solvent is supercritical, such that nicotine are extracted from the tobacco into the extraction solvent; and wherein the second temperature and/or second pressure is higher than the respective first temperature or first pressure; (e) separating the residual tobacco solids from the supercritical extraction solvent containing tobacco components; (f) exposing the extraction solvent containing tobacco components to conditions in a vessel at which the extraction solvent is subcritical, thereby releasing the tobacco components from the extraction solvent, wherein during step (f), the vessel contains an entrapment solvent which dissolves the tobacco components released from the extraction solvent, and wherein the entrapment solvent comprises an aerosol generating agent.

A process is provided for the treatment of tobacco. The process comprises securing the tobacco within a moisture-retaining material and exposing the tobacco material to an ambient processing temperature of above 55° C., with the tobacco having a packing density of at least 200 kg/m.sup.3 on a dry matter weight base at the start of the process and a moisture content of between about 10% and 23%. The treated tobacco may have desirable organoleptic properties.