Reconstituted Tobacco For Devices That Heat Tobacco Without Burning It

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a reconstituted tobacco specifically suitable for devices that heat tobacco without burning it.

Claims

1. Reconstituted tobacco comprising: tobacco fibres which have undergone an extraction in water; a tobacco aqueous soluble fraction; and a humectant, in which: the tobacco fibres represent between 30% and 80% of the dry weight of the reconstituted tobacco; the tobacco aqueous soluble fraction represents between 10% and 35% by weight of the dry matter of the reconstituted tobacco; and the humectant represents between 8% and 30% by weight of the dry matter of the reconstituted tobacco, wherein the tobacco aqueous soluble fraction corresponds to all of the tobacco components that solubilize in water.

2. Reconstituted tobacco according to claim 1, in which the tobacco aqueous soluble fraction represents between 15% and 30% by weight of the dry matter of the reconstituted tobacco.

3. Reconstituted tobacco according to claim 1, in which the humectant represents between 12% and 30% by weight of the dry matter of the reconstituted tobacco.

4. Reconstituted tobacco according to claim 3, in which the humectant represents between 12% and 25% by weight of the dry matter of the reconstituted tobacco.

5. Reconstituted tobacco according to claim 1, in which the tobacco aqueous soluble fraction represents between 15% and 30% by weight of the dry matter of the reconstituted tobacco and the humectant represents between 12% and 25% by weight of the dry matter of the reconstituted tobacco.

6. Reconstituted tobacco according to claim 1, in which the humectant is glycerol, propylene glycol or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol.

7. Reconstituted tobacco according to claim 6, in which the humectant is glycerol.

8. Reconstituted tobacco according to claim 6, in which the humectant is a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol.

9. Reconstituted tobacco according to claim 8, wherein the weight percentage of dry matter, within the reconstituted tobacco, of propylene glycol is between 1% and 25%.

10. Reconstituted tobacco according to claim 1, shaped in the form of a sheet, creped sheet, multilayer sheet, leaves, webs, dust or creped rod.

11. Reconstituted tobacco according to claim 1, further comprising cellulosic plant fibres obtained by a chemical or mechanical or thermomechanical cooking process, wherein the tobacco fibres represent at least 70% by weight of the fibres constituting the reconstituted tobacco.

12. A heat but not burn product comprising the reconstituted tobacco defined in claim 1.

13. A heat but not burn product as defined in claim 12, comprising shredded sheet material.

14. A heat but not burn device comprising: a heating device placed in association with a heat but not burn composition, the heat but not burn composition comprising the reconstituted tobacco as defined in claim 1.

15. A heat but not burn device as defined in claim 14, wherein the heat but not burn composition comprises shredded sheet material.

16. A heat but not burn device as defined in claim 14, wherein the heat but not burn composition comprises strips of sheet material.

17. A heat but not burn device as defined in claim 14, wherein the heat but not burn composition is in the form of a roll.

18. A heat but not burn device as defined in claim 14, wherein the heating device is configured to heat without burning the heat but not burn composition.

19. A heat but not burn device as defined in claim 18, wherein the heating device is configured to heat the heat but not burn composition to a temperature of from about 190° C. to about 210° C.

20. A heat but not burn device as defined in claim 14, wherein the heat but not burn composition is in the form of quantities of about 250 mg/dose.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0059] In all the tables of the examples, the sum of the percentage of humectant, the percentage of the tobacco aqueous soluble fraction and the percentage of fibres makes 100% by weight of the dry matter of the reconstituted tobacco.

Example 1

[0060] A mixture of Virginia, Burley and Oriental tobacco lamina is brought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 40° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The aqueous soluble fraction is separated from the fibrous portion by mechanical pressing. Its concentration of dry matter is of the order of 5%. The aqueous soluble fraction is concentrated under vacuum to a concentration of dry matter of 47%. Glycerol is added to the tobacco aqueous soluble fraction in order to obtain around 20% by weight in the final reconstituted tobacco.

[0061] At the same time, Virginia tobacco stems are brought into contact with water in a water bath at 80° C. for 30 minutes. The aqueous soluble fraction is separated from the fibrous portion by mechanical pressing and is discarded.

[0062] The tobacco lamina fibres and the tobacco stem fibres, to which water and 10% wood cellulose pulp expressed as % of the weight of the mixture of tobacco extracted are added, are mixed and transferred to a refiner. The fibres are refined for around 20 min.

[0063] A sheet of tobacco fibres is formed on a laboratory papermaking machine with a basis weight of around 75 g/m.sup.2. Glycerol is added to the concentrated aqueous soluble fraction. The concentrated tobacco aqueous soluble fraction comprising glycerol is added to the sheet of tobacco fibres via impregnation in a size press in order to attain a final weight of 109 g/m.sup.2. The sheet thus obtained is dried and shredded.

[0064] The reconstituted tobacco thus obtained contains 18.8% of glycerol (analysis carried out by gas chromatography (GC)), 0.34% of total alkaloids, 3% of reducing substances and 0.14% of nitrates, all three analysed by continuous flow analysis. The tobacco aqueous soluble fraction represents 11.8% by weight of the dry matter of the reconstituted tobacco. All the percentages are by weight of dry matter.

[0065] This shredded tobacco is smoked in a Pax heating system from the company Ploom Inc./Pax Labs Inc. regulated at 210° C., by introducing 250 mg of tobacco into the heating chamber. The panellists find light Virginia tobacco notes of hay and tea type, a light sugary character and point out the low irritation, in the throat in particular, all of which give the sample a certain sensory neutrality.

Example 2

[0066] A mixture of Virginia, Burley and Oriental tobacco lamina is bought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 85° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The aqueous soluble fraction is separated from the fibrous portion by mechanical pressing. Its concentration of dry matter is of the order of 7%. The aqueous soluble fraction is concentrated under vacuum. Glycerol is added to the tobacco aqueous soluble fraction in order to obtain between 13% and 18% by weight in the final reconstituted tobacco.

[0067] The tobacco fibres, with the addition of water and 8% wood cellulose pulp expressed as % of the weight of the mixture of tobacco extracted, are mixed and transferred to a refiner. The fibres are refined for around 17 min.

[0068] A sheet of tobacco fibres is formed on a laboratory papermaking machine. Glycerol is added to the concentrated aqueous soluble fraction. The concentrated tobacco aqueous soluble fraction comprising glycerol is added to the sheet of tobacco fibres via impregnation in a size press. The sheet thus obtained is dried and shredded.

[0069] The reconstituted tobacco thus obtained contains from 13% to 18% of glycerol (analysis carried out by gas chromatography (GC)). The tobacco aqueous soluble fraction varies between 15% and 40% as indicated below. All the percentages are by weight of dry matter.

TABLE-US-00001 Tobacco components % Test A Test B Test C Test D Test E Virginia lamina 50 Burley lamina 20 Oriental leaves 15 Virginia stems 15 In the RT in % Test A Test B Test C Test D Test E Glycerol 17 13 18 15 18 Tobacco aqueous soluble 40 15 21 38 33 fraction Nicotine 1.22 0.45 0.62 1.04 1.03

[0070] This shredded tobacco was smoked by panellists in a Pax heating system regulated at 199° C., by introducing 250 mg of tobacco into the heating chamber.

[0071] The panellists found that for the 5 tests, the volume of smoke and the consistency of the smoke were satisfactory and that the tobacco taste was also satisfactory, but that tests A and D certainly had tobacco taste, but irritated the throat and stung the mouth more than the other tests, with a burnt note, mouthcoating and an unclean aftertaste.

Example 3

[0072] Various Virginia laminae are brought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 85° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The aqueous soluble fraction is separated from the fibrous portion by mechanical pressing. Its concentration of dry matter is of the order of 8%. The aqueous soluble fraction is concentrated under vacuum. Glycerol or glycerol and propylene glycol are added to the tobacco aqueous soluble fraction in order to obtain between 7.5% and 21.8% by weight in the final reconstituted tobacco.

[0073] The tobacco fibres, with the addition of water and 8% wood cellulose pulp expressed as % of the weight of the mixture of tobacco extracted, are mixed and transferred to a refiner. The fibres are refined for around 20 min.

[0074] A sheet of tobacco fibres is formed on a laboratory papermaking machine. Glycerol or glycerol and propylene glycol are added to the concentrated aqueous soluble fraction. The concentrated tobacco aqueous soluble fraction comprising humectants is added to the sheet of tobacco fibres via impregnation in a size press. The sheet thus obtained is dried and shredded.

[0075] The reconstituted tobacco thus obtained contains from 7.5% to 21.8% of glycerol and from 0 to 3.5% propylene glycol (analyses carried out by gas chromatography (GC)). The tobacco aqueous soluble fraction varies between 19% and 32% as indicated below. All the percentages are by weight of dry matter.

TABLE-US-00002 Tobacco components % Test A Test B Test C Test D Virginia lamina 100 In the RT in % Test A Test B Test C Test D Glycerol 7.5 21.2 16.5 21.8 Propylene glycol 0 0 3.5 0 Tobacco aqueous soluble 32 29 28 19 fraction Nicotine 1.37 1.12 1.10 0.71

[0076] This shredded tobacco was smoked by panellists in a Pax heating system regulated at 210° C., by introducing 250 mg of tobacco into the heating chamber.

[0077] The panellists found that test B had more smoke volume and tobacco taste than test A. Test C was slightly sweeter and less mouth irritation than test B. Test D had more smoke volume and smoke body, more tobacco taste and less mouth irritation than test B.

Example 4

[0078] Various Virginia laminae are brought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 85° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The aqueous soluble fraction is separated from the fibrous portion by mechanical pressing. Its concentration of dry matter is of the order of 7%.

[0079] The aqueous soluble fraction is concentrated under vacuum. Glycerol is added to the tobacco aqueous soluble fraction in order to obtain between 16% and 17% by weight in the final reconstituted tobacco.

[0080] The tobacco fibres, with the addition of water and 8% wood cellulose pulp expressed as % of the weight of the mixture of tobacco extracted, are mixed and transferred to a refiner. The fibres are refined for around 21 min.

[0081] A sheet of tobacco fibres is formed on a laboratory papermaking machine. Glycerol is added to the concentrated aqueous soluble fraction. The concentrated tobacco aqueous soluble fraction comprising glycerol is added to the sheet of tobacco fibres via impregnation in a size press. The sheet thus obtained is dried and shredded.

[0082] The reconstituted tobacco thus obtained contains from 7.5% to 21.8% of glycerol (analysis carried out by gas chromatography (GC)). The tobacco aqueous soluble fraction varies between 9.1% and 39.7% as indicated below. All the percentages are by weight of dry matter.

TABLE-US-00003 Tobacco components % Test A Test B Test C Test D Virginia lamina 100 In the RT in % Test A Test B Test C Test D Glycerol 16.2 16.2 16.5 17.1 Tobacco aqueous soluble 39.7 9.1 20.4 34.8 fraction Nicotine 1.26 0.24 0.59 1.06

[0083] This shredded tobacco was smoked by panellists in a Pax heating system regulated at 199° C., by introducing 250 mg of tobacco into the heating chamber.

[0084] The panellists found that test A was much more irritant in the throat, the mouth and the nose than test C. Test B had less throat irritation and less mouth sting with more flue cured tobacco taste than test C.

Example 5

[0085] A blend made of 50% Virginia lamina and 50% Virginia stems is selected. For test A, the stems and lamina are extracted together and the reconstituted tobacco is manufactured using the combined stem and scraps fibers and solubles. For tests B and C, the stems and the lamina are extracted separately. For test B, the solubles of Virginia stems are discarded and only the lamina solubles are added back onto the combined fibres. For test C, the solubles of Virginia lamina are discarded and only the stem solubles are added back onto the combined fibers.

TABLE-US-00004 Tobacco components % Test A Test B Test C Virginia lamina 50 50 50 Virginia stems 50 50 50 Removal of solubles from stems lamina In the RT in % Test A Test B Test C Glycerol 17.0 17.4 16.4 Tobacco aqueous soluble 28.8 28.9 29.2 fraction Nicotine 0.54 0.74 0.28

[0086] The shredded tobaccos are smoked in a Pax heating system from the company Ploom Inc./Pax Labs Inc. regulated at 199° C., by introducing 250 mg of tobacco into the heating chamber.

[0087] The panellists find that test C has a lower tobacco taste with some off notes.

Example 6

[0088] A blend made of 50% Burley lamina and 50% Burley stems is selected. For test A, the stems and lamina are extracted together and the reconstituted tobacco is manufactured using the combined stem and scraps fibers and solubles. For tests B and C, the stems and the lamina are extracted separately. For test B, the solubles of Burley stems are discarded and only the lamina solubles are added back onto the combined fibres. For test C, the solubles of Burley lamina are discarded and only the stem solubles are added back onto the combined fibers.

TABLE-US-00005 Tobacco components % Test A Test B Test C Burley lamina 50 50 50 Burley stems 50 50 50 Removal of solubles from stems lamina In the RT in % Test A Test B Test C Glycerol 16.8 17.6 18.7 Tobacco aqueous soluble 20.3 19.6 20.9 fraction Nicotine 0.54 0.74 0.28