Bulk Solid Reconstituted Plant Composition for Devices That Heat Tobacco Without Burning It

Abstract

The invention relates to a bulk solid reconstituted plant composition, the volume of which is suitable for devices that heat tobacco without burning it, said bulk solid composition comprising a plant extract, refined plant fibres and an aerosol-generating agent.

Claims

1. Bulk solid reconstituted plant composition comprising: a plant extract, refined plant fibres, and an aerosol-generating agent, and the density of which is from 200 mg.Math.cm.sup.−3 to 550 mg.Math.cm.sup.−3.

2. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the plant fibres are refined and have an SR degree of 20° to 90°.

3. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the aerosol-generating agent is sorbitol, glycerol, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, lactic acid, glyceryl diacetate, glyceryl triacetate, triethyl citrate or isopropyl myristate, or a mixture thereof.

4. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the aerosol-generating agent represents from 5% to 50% by weight of dry matter of the bulk solid composition.

5. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the plant is chosen from spore-producing plants, seed-producing plants and a mixture thereof.

6. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the plant extract represents from 5% to 75% by weight of dry matter of the bulk solid composition.

7. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the refined plant fibres represent from 15% to 85% by weight of dry matter of the bulk solid composition.

8. Process for producing a bulk solid reconstituted plant composition as defined in claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) mixing refined plant fibres with a plant extract and an aerosol-generating agent so as to obtain a solid composition, b) moulding the composition so as to obtain a moulded solid composition, and c) drying the moulded solid composition so as to produce the bulk solid reconstituted plant composition.

9. Process according to claim 8, in which the drying step c) is carried out by hot-air drying, by freeze-drying, by deep-freezing, or by freezing.

10. Process according to claim 8, in which the refined plant fibres and the plant extract are obtained according to the following steps: a1) mixing one or more plant parts with a solvent in order to extract a plant extract from the plant fibres, a2) separating the plant extract from the plant fibres, and a3) refining the plant fibres.

11. Process according to claim 10, in which the solvent is an aqueous solvent.

12. Process according to claim 10, in which the temperature of the solvent during step a1) is from 10° C. to 100° C.

13. A method of generating an aerosol by placing the bulk solid reconstituted plant composition as defined in claim 1, in a device that heats the bulk solid reconstituted pland composition without burning it.

14. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the plant fibres are refined and have an SR degree of 40° to 70°.

15. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the plant is chosen from tobacco plants, food plants, aromatic plants, fragrant plants, medicinal plants, or mixtures thereof.

16. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the plant extract represents from 15% to 60% by weight of dry matter of the bulk solid composition.

17. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the refined plant fibres represent form 25% to 75% by weight of dry matter of the bulk solid composition.

18. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the plant fibres are refined and have an SR degree of 55° to 65°.

19. Bulk solid composition according to claim 1, in which the plant is tobacco plant.

Description

EXAMPLES

Exemplified Bulk Solid Compositions According to the Invention

[0102] Three bulk solid compositions, differing by the °SR of the refined fibres, were produced according to the following procedure.

[0103] A mixture of lamina of tobacco of Virginia, Burley, Orient type is brought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 40° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The tobacco extract is separated from the fibres by mechanical pressing, then vacuum-concentrated down to a solids concentration of 51.5%. Glycerol is added to the soluble aqueous fraction of tobacco.

[0104] The fibres are refined using a beater-refiner. Since the bulk solid compositions differ by virtue of the °SR of the refined fibres, the refining is adjusted to the desired °SR.

[0105] The refined fibres, tobacco extracts and glycerol are mixed manually to obtain a paste. This paste is then shaped in a mould.

[0106] Finally, the bulk solid composition is obtained by drying the paste at 95° C. for 30 minutes.

Comparative Bulk Solid Composition

[0107] A comparative bulk solid composition, the density of which is 620.7 mg.Math.cm.sup.−3, was produced according to the same procedure as that described above.

Characteristics of the Bulk Solid Compositions

[0108] Table 1 below lists the characteristics of the four bulk solid compositions.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Com- Com- Com- position position position Comparative 1 2 3 composition Density (mg .Math. cm.sup.−3) 234.5 234.5 243.5 620.7 Tobacco extract 28.4 28.4 28.4 49.9 content (%) Glycerol content 17.9 17.9 17.9 32.1 (%) Fibre content 53.7 53.7 53.7 18.0 SR degree 52 42 60 52

Smoking Test for the Four Bulk Solid Compositions Exemplified

[0109] Because of their format, the bulk solid compositions 1 to 3 and the comparative bulk solid composition are easily introduced into the heating lodging of the Pax heating system of the company Ploom Inc/Pax Labs Inc. After the test, the four bulk solid compositions are easily extracted from the heating lodging.

[0110] During the 9 puffs, the volume of aerosol generated by the bulk solid compositions 1 to 3 is judged to be satisfactory. Furthermore, the organoleptic properties of the aerosol generated by composition 3 are the most satisfactory for the user.

[0111] The volume of aerosol generated by the comparative bulk solid composition is not judged to be satisfactory since it is too small. After the test, it was opened up into two pieces and it was noted that its centre was not heated. This demonstrated that the heated air was not able to pass through the comparative bulk solid composition.