REDUCING AEROSOL AMMONIA IN HEATED AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLES

Abstract

An aerosol generating article (10) for use with an aerosol generating device includes an aerosol forming substrate (20) aerosol cooling element (40) and an acid. The article may optionally include one or both of a filter and a support element (30). The aerosol cooling element, the filter, if present, and the support element, if present, are downstream of the aerosol forming substrate. The acid is downstream of the aerosol forming substrate and is positioned to interact with aerosol from the aerosol forming substrate when the aerosol generating article is used with the aerosol generating device. The acid may be in or on one or more of the aerosol cooling element, the filter, and the support element. The acid may selectively remove ammonia from aerosol generated by the article during use.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating article for use with an aerosol generating device, the aerosol generating article comprising: an aerosol forming substrate; an aerosol cooling element comprising a body defining a plurality of longitudinally extending channels and having a porosity of between 50% and 90% in the longitudinal direction; comprising a filter; optionally comprising a support element; and an acid, wherein the aerosol cooling element is downstream of the aerosol forming substrate, wherein the filter, is downstream of the aerosol forming substrate, wherein the support element, if present, abuts the aerosol forming substrate such that the support element is located immediately downstream of the aerosol forming substrate, wherein the acid is downstream of the aerosol forming substrate and is positioned to interact with aerosol from the aerosol forming substrate when the aerosol generating article is used with the aerosol generating device, and wherein the acid is on the cooling element.

2. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the acid is further on the supporting element.

3. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the body of the aerosol cooling element comprises polylactic acid.

4. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating article comprises the filter, and wherein the filter is downstream of the cooling element.

5. The aerosol generating article according to claim 4, wherein the acid is on or in the filter.

6. The aerosol generating article according to claim 4, wherein the filter comprises cellulose acetate tow.

7. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating article comprises the support element, and wherein the support element abuts the aerosol generating substrate.

8. The aerosol generating article according to claim 7, wherein the acid is on or in the support element.

9. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the amount of ammonia in aerosol delivered by the article when used with the aerosol generating device is reduced by at least 15% relative to a substantially similar aerosol generating article that does not include the acid, and wherein the amount of nicotine in aerosol delivered by the article when used with the aerosol generating device is reduced by 6% or less relative to a substantially similar aerosol generating article that does not include the acid.

10. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol forming substrate comprises tobacco.

11. An aerosol generating article for use with an aerosol generating device, comprising: an aerosol forming substrate; and an aerosol cooling element downstream of the aerosol forming substrate, wherein the aerosol cooling element comprises a body defining a plurality of longitudinally extending channels and an acid in or on the body, wherein the cooling element has a porosity of between 50% and 90% in the longitudinal direction.

12. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the acid is an organic acid or a phosphoric acid.

13. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of malic acid, fumaric acid, succinic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, ascorbic acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, a saturated fatty acid having a carbon chain length of at least C.sub.12, and ortho-phosphoric acid.

14. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, further comprising a salt of the acid.

15. The aerosol generating article according to claim 11, wherein the acid is an organic acid or a phosphoric acid.

16. The aerosol generating article according to claim 11, wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of malic acid, fumaric acid, succinic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, ascorbic acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, a saturated fatty acid having a carbon chain length of at least C.sub.12, and ortho-phosphoric acid.

17. The aerosol generating article according to claim 11, further comprising a salt of the acid.

Description

[0105] Reference will now be made to the drawings, which depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components, steps and the like. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the same number. In addition, the use of different numbers to refer to components in different figures is not intended to indicate that the different numbered components cannot be the same or similar to other numbered components. The figures are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Schematic drawings presented in the figures are not necessarily to scale.

[0106] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of an aerosol-generating article for use with an aerosol generating-device comprising a heating element.

[0107] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of an aerosol-generating system comprising an electrically heated aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element and an aerosol-generating article according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0108] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the electrically heated aerosol generating device illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0109] FIG. 1 illustrates an aerosol generating article 10 according to an embodiment. The aerosol generating article 10 comprises four components arranged in coaxial alignment: an aerosol forming substrate 20, a support element 30, an aerosol cooling element 40, and a filter 50. These four components are arranged sequentially and are circumscribed by an outer wrapper 60 to form the aerosol generating article 10. The aerosol generating 10 has a proximal or mouth end 70, which a user inserts into his or her mouth during use, and a distal end 80 located at the opposite end of the aerosol generating article 10 to the mouth end 70.

[0110] An acid is in or on at least one of the support element 30, the aerosol cooling element 40, and the filter 50. In some embodiments, the acid is on or in at least the aerosol cooling element 40. In some embodiments, the acid is on or in at least the filter 50.

[0111] In use air is drawn through the aerosol generating article by a user from the distal end 80 to the mouth end 70. The distal end 80 of the aerosol generating article may also be described as the upstream end of the aerosol generating article 10 and the mouth end 70 of the aerosol generating article 10 may also be described as the downstream end of the aerosol generating article 10. Elements of the aerosol generating article 10 located between the mouth end 70 and the distal end 80 may be described as being upstream of the mouth end 70 or, alternatively, downstream of the distal end 80.

[0112] The aerosol forming substrate 20 is located at the extreme distal or upstream end of the aerosol-generating article 10. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, aerosol forming substrate 20 comprises a gathered sheet of crimped homogenised tobacco material circumscribed by a wrapper. The crimped sheet of homogenised tobacco material comprises comprising glycerine as an aerosol-former.

[0113] The support element 30 is located immediately downstream of the aerosol forming substrate 20 and abuts the aerosol forming substrate 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the support element 30 is a hollow cellulose acetate tube. The support element 30 locates the aerosol forming substrate 20 at the extreme distal end 80 of the aerosol generating article 10 so that it may be penetrated by a heating element of an aerosol generating device. The support element 30 acts to prevent the aerosol forming substrate 20 from being forced downstream within the aerosol generating article 10 towards the aerosol cooling element 40 when a heating element of an aerosol generating device is inserted into the aerosol forming substrate 20. The support element 30 also acts as a spacer to space the aerosol-cooling element 40 of the aerosol generating article 10 from the aerosol forming substrate 20.

[0114] The aerosol cooling element 40 is located immediately downstream of the support element 30 and abuts the support element 30. In use, volatile substances released from the aerosol forming substrate 20 pass along the aerosol cooling element 40 towards the mouth end 70 of the aerosol generating article 10. The volatile substances may cool within the aerosol cooling element 40 to form an aerosol that is inhaled by the user. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the aerosol cooling element comprises a crimped and gathered sheet of polylactic acid circumscribed by a wrapper 90. The crimped and gathered sheet of polylactic acid defines a plurality of longitudinal channels that extend along the length of the aerosol cooling element 40.

[0115] The filter 50 is located immediately downstream of the aerosol cooling element 40 and abuts the aerosol cooling element 40. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the filter 50 comprises a conventional cellulose acetate tow filter of low filtration efficiency.

[0116] To assemble the aerosol generating article 10, the four components described above are aligned and tightly wrapped within the outer wrapper 60. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the outer wrapper 60 is a conventional cigarette paper. As shown in FIG. 1, an optional row of perforations is provided in a region of the outer wrapper 60 circumscribing the support element 30 of the aerosol generating article 10.

[0117] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a distal end portion of the outer wrapper 60 of the aerosol-generating article 10 is circumscribed by a band of tipping paper (not shown).

[0118] The aerosol-generating article 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is designed to engage with an aerosol generating device comprising a heating element in order to be consumed by a user. In use, the heating element of the aerosol generating device heats the aerosol forming substrate 20 of the aerosol generating article 10 to a sufficient temperature to form an aerosol, which is drawn downstream through the aerosol generating article 10 and inhaled by the user.

[0119] As the aerosol passes the support element 30, the aerosol cooling element 40, and the filter 50, one or in at least one of which the acid is disposed, at least some of the ammonia in the aerosol interacts with the acid and is removed from the aerosol prior passing the mouth end 70 for inhalation by a user.

[0120] FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of an aerosol generating system 100 comprising an aerosol generating device 110 and an aerosol generating article 10 according to the embodiment described above and illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0121] The aerosol generating device 110 comprises a heating element 120. As shown in FIG. 2, the heating element 120 is mounted within an aerosol generating article receiving chamber of the aerosol generating device 110. In use, the user inserts the aerosol generating article 10 into the aerosol generating article receiving chamber of the aerosol generating device 110 such that the heating element 120 is directly inserted into the aerosol forming substrate 20 of the aerosol generating article 10 as shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the heating element 120 of the aerosol generating device 110 is a heater blade.

[0122] The aerosol-generating device 110 comprises a power supply and electronics (shown in FIG. 3) that allow the heating element 120 to be actuated. Such actuation may be manually operated or may occur automatically in response to a user drawing on an aerosol generating article 10 inserted into the aerosol generating article receiving chamber of the aerosol generating device 110. A plurality of openings is provided in the aerosol generating device 110 to allow air to flow to the aerosol generating article 10; the direction of air flow is illustrated by arrows in FIG. 2.

[0123] Once the internal heating element 120 is inserted into the aerosol forming substrate 10 of the aerosol generating article 10 and actuated, the aerosol forming substrate 20 of the aerosol generating article 10 is heated to a temperature of approximately 375 degrees Celsius by the heating element 120 of the aerosol generating device 110. At this temperature, volatile compounds are evolved from the aerosol forming substrate 20 of the aerosol generating article 10. As a user draws on the mouth end 70 of the aerosol generating article 10, the volatile compounds evolved from the aerosol forming substrate 20 are drawn downstream through the aerosol generating article 10 and condense to form an aerosol that is drawn through the filter 50 of the aerosol generating article 10 into the user's mouth.

[0124] As the aerosol passes downstream thorough the aerosol cooling element 40, the temperature of the aerosol is reduced due to transfer of thermal energy from the aerosol to the aerosol cooling element 40. When the aerosol enters the aerosol cooling element 40, its temperature is approximately 60 degrees Celsius. Due to cooling within the aerosol cooling element 40, the temperature of the aerosol as it exits the aerosol cooling element is approximately 40 degrees Celsius.

[0125] In FIG. 3, components of the aerosol generating device 110 are shown in a simplified manner. Particularly, the components of the aerosol-generating device 110 are not drawn to scale in FIG. 3. Components that are not relevant for the understanding of the embodiment have been omitted to simplify FIG. 3.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 3, the aerosol generating device 110 comprises a housing 130. The heating element 120 is mounted within an aerosol generating article receiving chamber within the housing 130. The aerosol generating article 10 (shown by dashed lines in FIG. 3) is inserted into the aerosol generating article receiving chamber within the housing 130 of the aerosol generating device 110 such that the heating element 120 is directly inserted into the aerosol forming substrate 20 of the aerosol generating article 10.

[0127] Within the housing 130 there is an electrical energy supply 140, for example a rechargeable lithium ion battery. A controller 150 is connected to the heating element 120, the electrical energy supply 140, and a user interface 160, for example a button or display. The controller 150 controls the power supplied to the heating element 120 to regulate its temperature.

[0128] Although the support element of the aerosol generating article according to the embodiment described above and illustrated in FIG. 1 is formed from cellulose acetate, it will be appreciated that this is not essential and that aerosol-generating articles according to other embodiments may comprise support elements formed from other suitable materials or combination of materials.

[0129] Similarly, although the aerosol-generating article according to the embodiment described above and illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises an aerosol cooling element comprising a crimped and gathered sheet of polylactic acid, it will be appreciated that this is not essential and that aerosol-generating articles according to other embodiments may comprise other aerosol-cooling elements.

[0130] Furthermore, although the aerosol-generating article according to the embodiment described above and illustrated in FIG. 1 has four components circumscribed by an outer wrapper, it will be appreciated than this is not essential and that aerosol generating articles according to other embodiments may comprise additional elements or fewer elements.

[0131] It will also be appreciated that while the four components of the aerosol generating article according to the embodiment described above and illustrated in FIG. 1 are circumscribed by an outer wrapper of conventional cigarette paper, this is not essential and that the elements of aerosol generating articles according to other embodiments may be circumscribed by other outer wrappers.

[0132] It will further be appreciated that dimensions provided for elements of the aerosol-generating article according to the embodiment described above and illustrated in FIG. 1 and parts of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment described above and illustrated in FIG. 2 are merely exemplary, and that suitable alternative dimensions may be chosen.

[0133] In the following, a non-limiting example is presented which illustrates selective removal of ammonia from aerosol generated by an aerosol generating device.

EXAMPLE

[0134] Low ammonia aerosol generating articles (low articles') and high ammonia aerosol generating articles ('high articles') were prepared for testing. The high articles included a high-Burley blend of tobacco in the aerosol forming substrate. The test articles included acid in either the filter or the cooling element.

Preparation of Low Articles

[0135] The low articles were prepared as follows. Briefly, a cellulose acetate filter and a crimped sheet of polylactic acid (PLA) aerosol cooling element were removed from Philip Morris International HEETS aerosol generating articles. For each of 60 aerosol generating articles, the PLA aerosol cooling element was impregnated with either a 1% (w/v) solution of citric acid in ethanol, a 5% solution of citric acid in ethanol, or pure ethanol (as a reference). The impregnation was accomplished by soaking the PLA elements in the respective solution, placing the soaked elements vertically on filter paper for about 1 min to remove excess solution, and then drying the treated aerosol cooling elements in a vacuum at room temperature for 3 h. The quantities of citric acid added by impregnating the PLA aerosol cooling elements with 1% or 5% citric acid were calculated from the difference of the average weight of these impregnated aerosol cooling elements to the weight of the aerosol cooling elements treated with pure ethanol. The treatment with 1% and 5% citric acid solution resulted in an addition 1.81 and 9.2 mg citric acid per PLA element, respectively. The weight of the PLA element was 2400 mg. Accordingly, the citric acid was incorporated into the element at about 0.08 wt. % and 0.4 wt. %, respectively.

[0136] The aerosol generating articles with impregnated filters were prepared by absorbing a droplet of aqueous citric acid solution (0.5 mg in 40 L) with the upstream end of the filter, drying the treated filters in a vacuum, and reinserting the filters into the aerosol generating articles.

[0137] The treated filters or aerosol cooling elements were incorporated into articles having standard (low articles) HEETS aerosol forming substrates.

Preparation of High Articles

[0138] The high articles were prepared as follows. Briefly, cellulose acetate filters were removed from Philip Morris International HEETS aerosol generating articles. The filters were impregnated with citric acid by absorbing a droplet of aqueous citric acid solution (1% or 5% citric acid) with the upstream end of the filter, drying the treated filters in a vacuum, and reinserting the filters into the aerosol generating articles. The treatment with 1% and 5% citric acid solution resulted in an addition 0.5 and 1.5 mg citric acid per filter, respectively. The weight of the filter was about 1300 mg. Accordingly, the citric acid was incorporated into the element at about 0.04 wt. % and 0.12 wt. %, respectively.

[0139] The treated filters or aerosol cooling elements were incorporated into articles having standard (low articles) HEETS aerosol forming substrates.

Determination of Ammonia and Nicotine Levels in Aerosol

[0140] Aerosol levels of ammonia and nicotine were analysed for untreated aerosol generating articles and four different concepts were performed according to ISO 3402:1999, tested under routine cigarette-smoking machine analytical methods as described in ISO 3308:2012, CORESTA recommended method no. 7 for determination of nicotine and CORESTA recommended method no. 79 for determination of ammonia by ion chromatographic analysis.

[0141] For the determination of nicotine, trapped aerosol was collected from the test and reference items on a glass fiber filter pad and were extracted using in-situ extraction with 10 ml with isopropanol containing the internal standards n-heptadecane. Nicotine was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) using flame ionization detection (FID). A gas chromatograph GC Thermo Trace GC Ultra equipped with a computerized data station (Xcalibur software), a hydrogen generator NMH.sub.2 160, an autosampler Tri Plus, a DB-Waxeter 15 m0.32 mm1.00 m (Agilent) was used. The content of nicotine was calculated based on a linear regression of a 6-point calibration curve prepared with standard solutions proven by three QC samples. Equipment and analytical conditions employed are shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Equipment and analytical conditions for nicotine determination Equipment Gas chromatograph GC Thermo Trace GC Ultra Software Xcalibur (2.2 SP1.48) Detector type flame ionization detection (FID) Detector temperature 250 C. Analytical column DB-Waxeter 15 m 0.32 mm 1 m (Agilent) Injection Split mode Carrier gas flow rate He 1.8 ml/min Oven temperature temperature hold time program rate* [ C.] [min] 150 5.50 40 240 1.60

[0142] For the determination of ammonia, the aerosol generated was collected in two micro impingers, each containing 10 mL of a 0.1 N sulphuric acid (H2SO4) solution, connected in series behind a glass fibre filter pad. The content of the two micro-impingers, each rinsed with 10 mL of deionized water, was pooled and merged with the pad after smoking and the trapped aerosol collected on the glass fibre filter pad was extracted with the pooled trapping solution. The aerosol extract was analyzed by ion chromatography (IC) using suppressed ion conductivity.

[0143] A IC system ICS-50000+ equipped with a temperature controlled autosampler and column heater, a CERS_500_2mm suppressor, a conductivity detector cation, a computerized data station (Chromeleon) for data acquisition and processing, a column Dionex Ion Pac CS16CG 3250 mm and a guard column Dionex CG 350 mm are used. The content of ammonia is calculated based on a weighted quadratic regression of a 7-oint calibration curve prepared proven by two QC samples. Equipment and analytical conditions employed are shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Equipment and analytical conditions for ammonia determination Equipment ICS-50000 + ICS XEVO TQS Software Chromeleon (7.2.2.6394) Detector type Conductivity detector (CD) Analytical column Dionex Ion Pac CS16CG 3 250 mm solvent & flow rate MSA & 0.360 mL/min gradient program 0 min: 32.00 mM MSA 11.0 min: 32.00 mM MSA 11.2 min : 52.00 mM MSA 15.0 min: 52.00 mM MSA 15.2 min: 32.00 mM MSA 22.0 min: 32.00 mM MSA

Results and Discussion

[0144] For the Low articles, significant reductions of ammonia aerosol levels were observed after impregnation of either the PLA aerosol cooling element or the filter with citric acid. Impregnation of the PLA aerosol cooling element with 5% ethanolic citric acid solution resulted in a 34% reduction of aerosol ammonia levels. Impregnation of the PLA aerosol cooling element with 1% citric acid solution and impregnation of the filter with 0.5 mg citric acid both reduced ammonia levels to a similar extent (18 and 20%, respectively) even if impregnation of the PLA aerosol cooling element added a larger amount of acid to the stick (1.81 mg).

[0145] Appreciable reductions of nicotine deliveries (5.5%) were observed only for impregnation of PLA aerosol cooling agent with 5% citric acid, indicating that a selective filtration of ammonia from aerosol without affecting nicotine levels is possible. In particular, incorporating an acid on the filter in an article that includes an aerosol cooling agent was shown to have no appreciable nicotine reduction, while exhibiting substantial reduction in ammonia from the aerosol.

[0146] Table 1 below provides a summary of the results regarding the removal of ammonia and nicotine from the Low articles.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1 Aerosol ammonia and nicotine deliveries of HEETS with or without citric acid impregnation. Nicotine Ammonia [mg/stick] [g/stick] Reduction (mean Reduction Concept (mean stdev) [%] stdev) [%] HEETS 15.12 0.87 1.27 0.04 HEETS, PLA aerosol cooling 12.41 0.60 18 1.26 0.13 0.8 element impregnated with citric acid (1.81 mg/stick) HEETS, PLA aerosol cooling 9.95 0.43 34 1.20 0.07 5.5 element impregnated with citric acid (9.2 mg/stick) HEETS, PLA cooling element 14.23 0.37 6 1.27 0.12 0.0 treated with pure ethanol HEETS, citric acid on 12.05 0.80 20 1.27 0.03 0.0 cellulose acetate filter (0.5 mg/stick)

[0147] For the High articles, significant reductions of ammonia aerosol levels were observed after impregnation of the filter with citric acid. Impregnation of the filter with 0.5 mg of citric acid resulted in a 33% reduction of aerosol ammonia levels. Impregnation of the filter with 1.5 mg citric acid reduced ammonia levels resulted in a 60% reduction of aerosol ammonia levels. Nicotine levels were reduced by 6% and 15%, respectively.

[0148] Table 2 below provides a summary of the results regarding the removal of ammonia and nicotine from the high-Burley blend aerosol generating articles.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2 Aerosol ammonia and nicotine deliveries of HEETS high-Burley blend prototypes with or without citric acid impregnation. Nicotine Ammonia [mg/stick] [g/stick] Reduction (mean Reduction Concept (mean stdev) [%] stdev) [%] HEETS high-Burley blend 31.2 2.0 1.52 0.19 HEETS, high-Burley blend 21.0 4.6 33 1.43 0.12 6 with citric acid on cellulose acetate filter (0.5 mg/stick) HEETS, high-Burley blend 12.5 0.6 60 1.28 0.13 15 with citric acid on cellulose acetate filter (1.5 mg/stick)

[0149] All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein.

[0150] As used herein, the term aerosol generating article is used to denote an article comprising an aerosol forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. An aerosol generating article may be a non-combustible aerosol generating article, which is an article that releases volatile compounds without the combustion of the aerosol forming substrate. An aerosol generating article may be a heated aerosol generating article, which is an aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol forming substrate that is intended to be heated rather than combusted in order to release volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. A heated aerosol generating article may comprise an onboard heating element forming part of the aerosol generating article, or may be configured to interact with a heating element forming part of a separate aerosol generating device.

[0151] An aerosol generating article may be an article that generates an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user's lungs through the user's mouth. An aerosol generating article may resemble a conventional smoking article, such as a cigarette, and may comprise tobacco. An aerosol generating article may be disposable. An aerosol-generating article may alternatively be partially-reusable and comprise a replenishable or replaceable aerosol forming substrate.

[0152] As used herein, the term aerosol forming substrate relates to a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol forming substrate. An aerosol forming substrate may be adsorbed, coated, impregnated or otherwise loaded onto a carrier or support. An aerosol forming substrate may conveniently be part of an aerosol generating article.

[0153] An aerosol forming substrate may comprise nicotine. An aerosol forming substrate may comprise tobacco, for example may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds, which are released from the aerosol forming substrate upon heating. In preferred embodiments an aerosol forming substrate may comprise homogenised tobacco material, for example cast leaf tobacco.

[0154] As used herein, an aerosol generating device refers to a device that interacts with an aerosol generating article having an aerosol forming substrate. The device is configured to receive the article and is configured to heat the aerosol forming substrate when the article is received by the device. Preferably, the device is configured to heat the substrate to an extent sufficient to cause the substrate to form an aerosol without combusting the substrate. In other words, the aerosol generating device is preferably a heat-not-burn device. The aerosol generating device may comprise one or more components used to supply energy from a power supply to an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol. For example, the aerosol generating device may comprise a heating element configured to heat the aerosol forming substrate or may comprise components configured to heat a heating element of the aerosol generating article. The heating elements or the components configured to heat a heating element of the aerosol generating article may be operably coupled to a power supply of the aerosol generating device. In addition or alternatively, the aerosol-generating device may be a gas-heated aerosol-generating device. An aerosol generating device may be a smoking device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user's lungs thorough the user's mouth.

[0155] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0156] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term or is generally employed in its sense including and/or unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0157] As used herein, have, having, include, including, comprise, comprising or the like are used in their open-ended sense, and generally mean including, but not limited to. It will be understood that consisting essentially of, consisting of, and the like are subsumed in comprising, and the like.

[0158] The words preferred and preferably refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, including the claims.

[0159] The embodiments exemplified above are not limiting. Other embodiments consistent with the embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Features described in relation to one embodiment may also be applicable to other embodiments.