SMOKING ARTICLE INCLUDING ACIDS

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a smoking article including a filter portion and a cigarette column portion, and the filter portion and the cigarette column portion contain compositions that are identical to or different from each other. The compositions may include at least one selected from a group consisting of pyruvic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid.

Claims

1. A smoking article comprising a filter portion and a cigarette column portion, wherein the filter portion and the cigarette column portion contain compositions that are identical to or different from each other, and the compositions comprise at least one selected from a group consisting of pyruvic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid.

2. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the filter portion comprises pyruvic acid.

3. The smoking article of claim 2, wherein the pyruvic acid is included in an amount of 0.01% by weight (wt %) or greater to less than 0.1 wt % with respect to cut tobacco leaves.

4. The smoking article of claim 2, wherein the cigarette column portion comprises lactic acid.

5. The smoking article of claim 4, wherein the lactic acid is included in an amount of 0.01 wt % or greater to 2 wt % or less with respect to cut tobacco leaves.

6. The smoking article of claim 2, wherein the cigarette column portion comprises lactic acid and citric acid.

7. The smoking article of claim 6, wherein the lactic acid is included in an amount of 0.01 wt % or greater to 2 wt % or less with respect to cut tobacco leaves.

8. The smoking article of claim 6, wherein the citric acid is included in an amount of 0.01 wt % or greater to 10 wt % or less with respect to cut tobacco leaves.

9. The smoking article of claim 2. further comprising a flavoring material.

10. The smoking article of claim 9. wherein the flavoring material is undecalactone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a smoking article 100 including a filter portion 10 and a cigarette column portion 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. However, various alterations and modifications may be made to the embodiments. Here, the embodiments are not meant to be limited by the descriptions of the present disclosure. The embodiments should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and replacements within the idea and the technical scope of the disclosure.

[0013] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not to be limiting of the embodiments. The singular forms a, an, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises/comprising and/or includes/including when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

[0014] Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly-used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0015] When describing the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing, like reference numerals refer to like components and a repeated description related thereto will be omitted. In the description of embodiments, detailed description of well-known related structures or functions will be omitted when it is deemed that such description will cause ambiguous interpretation of the present disclosure.

[0016] In addition, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be used to describe components of the embodiments. These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminating one component from another component, and the nature, the sequences, or the orders of the components are not limited by the terms.

[0017] A component, which has the same common function as a component included in any one embodiment, will be described by using the same name in other embodiments. Unless otherwise described, the description on one embodiment may be applicable to another embodiment and thus, redundant description will be omitted for conciseness.

[0018] The term smoking article used herein may refer to an article capable of generating an aerosol, such as a cigarette (tobacco), cigar, and the like. The smoking article may include an acrosol generating material, or an aerosol forming substrate. In addition, the smoking article may include a solid material based on tobacco raw materials such as a reconstituted tobacco sheet, cut tobacco leaves, reconstituted tobacco, and the like. A smoking material may include a volatile compound.

[0019] A smoking article 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a filter portion 10 and a cigarette column portion 20. The filter portion 10 and the cigarette column portion 20 may contain compositions that are identical to or different from each other, and the compositions may include at least one selected from a group consisting of pyruvic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the filter portion 10 may desirably include pyruvic acid.

[0021] Here, the pyruvic acid may be in an amount of 0.01% by weight (wt %) or greater to less than 0.1%, desirably in an amount of 0.03 wt % or greater to less than 0.1 wt %, and most desirably in an amount of 0.04 wt %, with respect to cut tobacco leaves.

[0022] In addition, the cigarette column portion 20 may include lactic acid, and desirably include lactic acid and citric acid. Here, the lactic acid may be in an amount of 0.01 wt % or greater to 2 wt % or less and desirably in an amount of 0.1 wt %, with respect to the cut tobacco leaves, and the citric acid may be in an amount of 0.01 wt % or greater to 10 wt % or less, desirably in an amount of 0.1 wt %, with respect to the cut tobacco leaves. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0023] If the amounts of the above acids are less than 0.01 wt % with respect to the cut tobacco leaves, free nicotine may fail to be sufficiently neutralized, which may cause sharp and minor irritation. If the amounts of the acids are out of the above ranges, off-flavors and off-odors may be caused by the acids.

[0024] In the smoking article 100 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the filter portion 10 including 0.01 wt % or greater to less than 0.1% of pyruvic acid with respect to the cut tobacco leaves may further include a flavoring material.

[0025] Desirably, the flavoring material may be 0.005% of undecalactone with respect to cut tobacco leaves, but is not limited thereto.

[0026] In the smoking article including the filter portion, the cigarette column portion may include 0.01 wt % or greater to 2 wt % or less of lactic acid and 0.01 wt % or greater to 10 wt % or less of citric acid, with respect to cut tobacco leaves.

[0027] Hereinafter, configurations of examples are described with reference to a table.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Classification Position Ingredients and Composition Example 1 Filter portion Pyruvic acid (0.04 wt % with respect to cut tobacco leaves) Cigarette (1) Lactic acid (0.1 wt % with respect column portion to cut tobacco leaves) (2) Citric acid (0.1 wt % with respect to cut tobacco leaves) Example 2 Filter portion Pyruvic acid (0.04 wt % with respect to cut tobacco leaves) Cigarette Lactic acid (0.1 wt % with respect column portion to cut tobacco leaves) Comparative Filter portion Pyruvic acid (0.04 wt % with respect Example 1 to cut tobacco leaves) Comparative Filter portion Lactic acid (0.1 wt % with respect Example 2 to cut tobacco leaves) Comparative Filter portion Citric acid (0.1 wt % with respect Example 3 to cut tobacco leaves) Comparative Cigarette Pyruvic acid (0.04 wt % with respect Example 4 column portion to cut tobacco leaves) Comparative Cigarette Lactic acid (0.1 wt % with respect Example 5 column portion to cut tobacco leaves) Comparative Cigarette Citric acid (0.1 wt % with respect Example 6 column portion to cut tobacco leaves) Comparative Filter portion (1) Pyruvic acid (0.04 wt % with Example 7 respect to cut tobacco leaves) (2) Lactic acid (0.1 wt % with respect to cut tobacco leaves)

EXAMPLE 1

[0028] A smoking article including pyruvic acid in a filter portion and lactic acid and citric acid in a cigarette column portion was manufactured. Here, 0.04 wt % of the pyruvic acid, 0.1 wt % of the lactic acid, and 0.1 wt % of the citric acid are included with respect to cut tobacco leaves.

EXAMPLE 2

[0029] A smoking article was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that only lactic acid was included in the cigarette column portion.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

[0030] A smoking article including 0.04 wt % of pyruvic acid in a filter portion with respect to cut tobacco leaves was manufactured.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

[0031] A smoking article including 0.1 wt % of lactic acid in a filter portion with respect to cut tobacco leaves was manufactured.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3

[0032] A smoking article including 0.1 wt % of citric acid in a filter portion with respect to cut tobacco leaves was manufactured.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 4

[0033] A smoking article including 0.04 wt % of pyruvic acid in a cigarette column portion with respect to cut tobacco leaves was manufactured.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 5

[0034] A smoking article including 0.1 wt % of lactic acid in a cigarette column portion with respect to cut tobacco leaves was manufactured.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 6

[0035] A smoking article including 0.1 wt % of citric acid in a cigarette column portion with respect to cut tobacco leaves was manufactured.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 7

[0036] A smoking article including 0.04 wt % of pyruvic acid and 0.1 wt % of lactic acid in a filter portion with respect to cut tobacco leaves was manufactured.

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLE 1: SENSORY EVALUATION FOR IRRITATION REDUCTION EFFECT ACCORDING TO APPLICATION OF SMOKING ARTICLES

[0037] Sensory evaluation was conducted to determine the irritation reduction effect by applying the smoking articles of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6. Through the sensory evaluation, cigarette tastes that smokers felt during smoking were identified and expressed by numerical values. The sensory evaluation was conducted on 12 evaluation panel members, based on a total score of seven points.

[0038] The results of the sensory evaluation are shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Irritation reduction Classification Comment effect Example 1 Effective in reducing irritation Example 2 Effective in reducing irritation, and savory taste Comparative Effective in reducing irritation, savory Example 1 feeling, and positive Comparative Slightly effective in reducing irritation, Example 2 acidic and off-flavor Comparative Insignificantly irritation reduction Example 3 effective Comparative Insignificantly irritation reduction Example 4 effective compared to filter portion Comparative Effective in reducing irritation Example 5 Comparative Slightly effective in reducing irritation Example 6 Comparative Effective in reducing irritation, Example 7 acidic and off-flavor

[0039] Among the cases (Comparative Examples 1 to 3) in which the above acids were added to the filter portions, and the cases (Comparative Examples 4 to 6) in which the above acids were added to the cigarette column portions, the irritation reduction effect of Comparative Example 1 was the best. Accordingly, based on Comparative Example 1 which is most effective, the sensory evaluation was performed by adding an acid to a filter portion or a cigarette column portion.

[0040] When pyruvic acid and lactic acid, which were most effective, were added together to the filter portion (Comparative Example 7), a difference in irritation reduction effect from Comparative Example 1 was insignificant, however, a problem of generating acidic and off-flavor due to the lactic acid in the filter portion occurred.

[0041] Meanwhile, the Example 2 showed the excellent irritation reduction effect result, in comparison to Comparative Example 1. In other words, when pyruvic acid is added to the filter portion and when lactic acid is added to the cigarette column portion, irritation during smoking may be reduced in comparison to when only pyruvic acid is added to the filter portion.

[0042] The smoking article of Example 1 was superior in irritation reduction effect to that of Example 2 and exhibited a more significant effect in reducing irritation than that of Comparative Example 1. That is, when pyruvic acid is added to the filter portion and when lactic acid and citric acid are added to the cigarette column portion, a smoking article that has little of an unpleasant taste and flavor and excellent irritation reduction effect may be provided.

[0043] Based on the above experimental example, it can be found that there is an irritation reduction effect within the range of a mass ratio of the acids described in the claims of the present disclosure.

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLE 2: SENSORY EVALUATION FOR FLAVOR, SMOKING TASTE, AND IRRITATION ACCORDING TO APPLICATION OF SMOKING ARTICLES

[0044] Sensory evaluation was conducted to find out a change in flavor, smoking taste, and irritation by applying the smoking articles of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Example 1.

[0045] Ingredients and amounts of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Example 1 are shown in detail in Table 3 below. For the sensory evaluation, a target material was injected into each of a filter portion and a cigarette column portion by an amount shown in Table 3. Specifically, a target material was diluted in MCTG and injected into each filter portion, and a target material was diluted in alcohol (ethanol) and injected into each cigarette column portion.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Fragrance added to cut tobacco leaves TJNS filter Ethyl alcohol Classification MCTG base (6 l syringe) base (12 l syringe) Comparative Pyruvic acid (100 g/100 kg) Example 1 Example 2 Pyruvic acid (100 g/100 kg) Lactic acid (200 g/100 kg) Example 1 Pyruvic acid (100 g/100 kg) (1) Lactic acid (2) Citric acid (200 g/100 kg) Example 3 (1) Pyruvic acid (2) (1) Lactic acid Undecalactone (2) Citric acid (100 g/100 kg) (200 g/100 kg) Control group MCTG Alcohol (ethanol)

[0046] TJNS is a transfer jet nozzle system filter, and MCTG is a medium chain fatty acid triglyceride.

[0047] The sensory evaluation was conducted on 12 evaluation panel members, based on a total score of seven points. The results of the sensory evaluation are shown in Table 4 below.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Sensory evaluation items Intensity Off-flavors of Irritation and off- Intensity of smoking (mouth/ odors during Classification fragrance taste throat) smoking Comparative 3.0 3.5 3.5 3.1 Example 1 Example 2 4.0 3.4 3.4 3.5 Example 1 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.0 Example 3 3.5 3.0 3.0 3.2 Control group 3.0 4.0 3.8 3.0

[0048] The smoking article of Example 1 is excellent in the smoking taste and irritation reduction, in comparison to the control group. Due to acidic odors of acids, the intensity of fragrance was increased.

[0049] The result of the sensory evaluation for Example 1 shows the intensity of smoking taste and irritation reduction effect corresponding to the amount of flavoring material added. To the present example, a small amount of undecalactone, which is one of raw flavoring materials and used as a flavoring material to impart a soft taste and flavor to tobacco, was added. The undecalactone was included in an amount of 0.005% with respect to cut tobacco leaves.

[0050] Therefore, it can be confirmed that the smoking article, including 0.01 wt % or greater to less than 0.1 wt % of pyruvic acid in the filter portion with respect to cut tobacco leaves and including 0.01 wt % or greater to 2 wt % or less of lactic acid and 0.01 wt % or greater to 10 wt % or less of citric acid in the cigarette column portion with respect to the cut tobacco leaves, is excellent in the effect of reducing irritation and a negative intensity of smoking taste.

[0051] While the embodiments are described with reference to drawing, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various alterations and modifications in form and details may be made in these embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner, and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.

[0052] Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.