AEROSOL-GENERATING ELEMENT FOR USE IN AN AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE OR SYSTEM

Abstract

An aerosol-generating element for an aerosol-generating article or system is provided, the aerosol-generating element including: a solid continuous matrix structure; and an aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the structure, in which the formulation is trapped within the structure and releasable from the structure upon heating of the aerosol-generating element, in which the structure is a polymer matrix including one or more matrix-forming polymers, in which the formulation dispersed within the structure includes at least one alkaloid or cannabinoid compound and a polyhydric alcohol, in which a polyhydric alcohol content in the formulation dispersed within the structure accounts for at least 30 percent by weight based on a total weight of the aerosol-generating element, and in which the aerosol-generating element has an equivalent diameter of at least about 0.5 millimetres and an ovality from about 2 percent to about 30 percent.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. An aerosol-generating element for an aerosol-generating article or system, the aerosol-generating element comprising: a solid continuous matrix structure; and an aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure, wherein the aerosol-generating formulation is trapped within the solid continuous matrix structure and releasable from the solid continuous matrix structure upon heating of the aerosol-generating element, wherein the solid continuous matrix structure is a polymer matrix comprising one or more matrix-forming polymers, wherein the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure comprises at least one alkaloid or cannabinoid compound and a polyhydric alcohol, wherein a polyhydric alcohol content in the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure accounts for at least 30 percent by weight based on a total weight of the aerosol-generating element, and wherein the aerosol-generating element has an equivalent diameter of at least about 0.5 millimetres and an ovality from about 2 percent to about 30 percent.

15. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 14, wherein the one or more matrix-forming polymers include at least one of alginate and pectin.

16. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 14, wherein the polyhydric alcohol is glycerin, propylene glycol, or a combination of glycerin and propylene glycol.

17. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 14, wherein the polyhydric alcohol content in the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure accounts for at least 60 percent by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-generating element.

18. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 14, wherein the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure accounts for at least 80 percent by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-generating element.

19. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 14, wherein a content of the at least one alkaloid or cannabinoid compound in the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure accounts for at least 0.5 percent by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-generating element.

20. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 14, wherein the at least one alkaloid or cannabinoid compound is selected from nicotine, anatabine, cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

21. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 14, wherein the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the continuous solid matrix structure further comprises an acid.

22. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 21, wherein the acid is lactic acid or levulinic acid.

23. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 21, wherein the acid content in the aerosol-generating formulation dispersed within the solid continuous matrix structure accounts for at least about 0.5 percent by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-generating element.

24. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 14, further comprising less than about 20 percent by weight of water.

25. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 14, wherein the aerosol-generating element has an equivalent diameter of less than or equal to about 6 millimetres.

26. The aerosol-generating element according to claim 14, wherein the aerosol-generating element has an exposed surface area to volume ratio from about 0.083 cm.sup.−1 to about 24 cm.sup.−1.

27. An aerosol-generating article for generating an aerosol upon heating, the aerosol-generating article comprising: a tubular element comprising a cavity defining a longitudinal airflow channel of the aerosol-generating article; and a plurality of aerosol-generating elements according to claim 14, the aerosol-generating elements being provided within the cavity such that an outer surface of the aerosol-generating elements is exposed inside the longitudinal airflow channel.

Description

EXAMPLE

[0222] An aerosol-generating solution is formed from a mixture of the following components:

TABLE-US-00001 Component % by weight Glycerin 43.6 Sodium alginate 2.1 Nicotine 1.2 Levulinic acid 1.4 Water 51.7

[0223] In an initial step, the sodium alginate is added to the water to form a matrix polymer solution. The nicotine is then added, followed by the glycerin and finally the levulinic acid.

[0224] The resultant aerosol-generating solution is extruded through a 5 millimetre nozzle to form a plurality of droplets, which are then dropped from a height of 30 centimetres into a cross-linking solution having the following composition, at room temperature:

TABLE-US-00002 Component % by weight Glycerin 42.9 Water 52.1 Calcium chloride 5.0

[0225] The droplets are left in the cross-linking solution for a period of 25 minutes before being removed and dried at 25 degrees Celsius for 12 hours, in a tray dryer. The resultant dried aerosol-generating elements are in the form of solid, spherical beads having a diameter of about 4.6 mm. Each bead has a weight of approximately 65 mg, a water activity of 0.4 and the following composition:

TABLE-US-00003 Component % by weight Glycerin 76.8 Alginate 3.8 Nicotine 2.4 Levulinic acid 2.1 Water 14.4 Calcium chloride 0.5