Non-woven fabric treatment process capable of prolonging shelf life of buccal cigarette and accelerating release of nicotine and fragrance

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of buccal cigarettes, in particular to a non-woven fabric treatment process capable of prolonging the shelf life of buccal cigarettes and accelerating nicotine and aroma release, which comprises the following steps: preparing a functionalized treatment solution containing at least three components of starch, polysaccharides, enzymes and organic acids, the solid content of the functionalized treatment solution is 2-20%, and the functional treatment solution is prepared into a non-woven fabric solution containing at least three components of the starch, the polysaccharides, the enzymes and the organic acids; a viscosity at 25 DEG C of from 5 to 30 mPas; after being stirred in a turbo manner, the mixture is attached to the non-woven fabric through a roller transfer, dip-coating or spraying process, and then is dried under the condition of 50-180 DEG C until the weight of the non-woven fabric is increased by 5-10%; and finally, forming the buccal cigarette small bag with the concave-convex structure of the longitudinal sealing belt under the conditions that the pressure is 0.5-0.8 mPa, the transverse sealing temperature is 150 DEG C and the longitudinal sealing temperature is 190 DEG C. According to the invention, additives do not need to be added into the content, the nicotine retention rate of the buccal cigarette can be greater than or equal to 85% after the buccal cigarette is stored for 180 days, the nicotine release efficiency within 3 minutes is greater than or equal to 65%, the shelf life and the use experience are considered, and the method is suitable for industrial production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of oral cigarette technology, specifically a nonwoven fabric treatment process that can extend the shelf life of oral cigarettes and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma. Background Technology

[0002] Oral cigarettes, as a new type of tobacco product that does not require combustion, are made by wrapping a mixture containing nicotine, flavorings, moisture, and fillers in a small non-woven fabric pouch. Users place the pouch between their gums and lips, and absorb the nicotine and flavorings through the oral mucosa. Because there is no combustion and no secondhand smoke, it has gradually become one of the important development directions of the tobacco industry.

[0003] However, current oral cigarette products face two major technological challenges in practical applications, seriously affecting product quality and user experience. The first is the shelf-life issue: during storage, the contents wrapped in non-woven fabric easily interact with the external environment. Moisture, nicotine, and volatile aroma components in the contents slowly dissipate through the pores of the non-woven fabric. Simultaneously, oxygen also enters through the pores and reacts with the contents, leading to a decrease in nicotine content, deterioration of aroma and flavor, and a significant reduction in product efficacy over extended storage time, thus shortening the product's effective shelf life.

[0004] Secondly, there's the issue of nicotine and aroma release rates: During use, nicotine and flavor compounds need to be quickly and fully released into saliva and absorbed by the oral mucosa to satisfy the user's taste and physiological needs. However, conventional non-woven fabrics only provide basic physical wrapping and isolation; the density of their fiber structure directly limits the speed at which saliva soaks into the contents. Furthermore, nicotine in oral cigarettes is mostly in the form of weak acid salts, which have a slow dissolution and dissociation rate. These two factors result in conventional oral cigarettes having slow onset of action and insufficient release of nicotine and aroma. Users have to wait a long time to perceive the product's effects, leading to a poor user experience.

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, some attempts have been made in existing technologies: On the one hand, some technologies adjust the release rate by changing the type of fiber raw material or adjusting the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric. However, this method has significant limitations. If a dense fiber structure or high basis weight nonwoven fabric is used, although the interaction between the contents and the external environment can be reduced, extending the shelf life to some extent, it will further reduce the release rate. If a loose fiber structure or low basis weight nonwoven fabric is used, although the release rate can be accelerated, it will exacerbate the escape and oxidation of the contents, leading to a significant shortening of the shelf life, making it difficult to achieve a balance between shelf life and release rate. On the other hand, some technologies have attempted to add chemical additives to the contents of oral cigarettes to improve release efficiency or stability. However, the addition of additives may change the original taste of the product, and some additives also pose potential safety risks, failing to meet the safety standards for oral cigarette products and users' health needs.

[0006] In summary, existing technologies cannot fundamentally resolve the contradiction between the short shelf life of oral cigarettes and the slow release of nicotine and aroma. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive technical solution that can simultaneously extend shelf life and accelerate release without changing the content formula, simply by optimizing the performance of the nonwoven fabric itself, in order to promote the improvement of oral cigarette product quality and the further development of the industry. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a nonwoven fabric treatment process that can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art that the existing single-point degradation index is difficult to fully reflect the unit's operating status and the existing prediction model is insufficient in terms of accuracy and robustness in long-sequence modeling.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0009] A nonwoven fabric treatment process that can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma includes the following steps:

[0010] S1: Prepare a functionalized treatment liquid, wherein the functionalized treatment liquid contains at least three components selected from starch, polysaccharides, enzymes, and organic acids;

[0011] S2: A turbine agitator is used to stir and disperse the functionalized treatment liquid to ensure uniform mixing of all components; the functionalized treatment liquid is then applied to the surface of the nonwoven fabric through roller transfer, dip coating, or spray coating processes, while controlling the amount of functionalized treatment liquid applied.

[0012] S3: Dry the nonwoven fabric with the applied treatment solution at an environment of 50°C to 180°C to increase the weight of the nonwoven fabric by 5% to 10%;

[0013] S4: The dried nonwoven fabric is formed into a small cigarette pouch using a special mold under the conditions of pressure of 0.5 to 0.8 mPa, horizontal sealing temperature of 150°C, vertical sealing temperature of 190°C, and sealing time of 0.5 s. The vertical sealing position of the pouch has a concave-convex structure. The solid content of the functionalized treatment liquid is 2% to 20%, and the viscosity of the functionalized treatment liquid at 25°C is 5 to 30 mPa·s.

[0014] Preferably, the mass ratio of starch, modified starch, maltodextrin, and pullulan in the functionalized treatment liquid is 1:0.5 to 1.2:1.5 to 2.5:0.3 to 0.8; the starch and modified starch together fill the pores of the nonwoven fabric, reducing the contact between the contents of the smoke in the mouth and oxygen, and the maltodextrin and pullulan form a continuous film on the surface of the nonwoven fabric, preventing the escape of moisture and volatile aroma components from the contents.

[0015] Preferably, the mass ratio of starch, modified starch, and citric acid in the functionalized treatment liquid is 1:0.8 to 1.5:0.05 to 0.2; the degree of substitution of the modified starch is 0.05 to 0.2, which is used to enhance the bonding force with the nonwoven fabric fibers; the citric acid can quickly dissolve when the nonwoven fabric comes into contact with saliva and stimulate the oral mucosa to secrete saliva, thereby accelerating the wetting of the contents of the mouth containing tobacco by saliva.

[0016] Preferably, the mass ratio of amylase, citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid in the functionalized treatment solution is 2:0.01 to 0.03:0.01 to 0.05:0.01 to 0.08; the amylase is a mesophilic α-amylase with an optimal operating temperature of 35°C to 40°C, which can rapidly decompose starch-based fillers in oral cigarette contents in the oral environment; citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid synergistically regulate the local pH value of the oral cavity to 4.5 to 5.5, promoting saliva secretion under acidic conditions; and protecting the activity of amylase under weakly acidic conditions.

[0017] Preferably, the mass ratio of starch, citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid in the functionalized treatment liquid is 3:0.5 to 1.3:0.8 to 1.7:1.2 to 2.8; the total mass of citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid accounts for 15% to 30% of the solid components of the functionalized treatment liquid, which can shorten the time for saliva to moisten the contents of the mouth containing smoke to less than 30 seconds, which is more than 40% shorter than that of untreated nonwoven fabric.

[0018] Preferably, the turbine stirrer has a stirring speed of 1200 rpm and a stirring time of 15 to 25 minutes; during the stirring process, the temperature of the treatment liquid is controlled at 20°C to 25°C to avoid excessive temperature causing amylase inactivation or excessive gelatinization of polysaccharides; the drying process adopts a hot air circulation drying method with a drying wind speed of 1.5 to 2.5 m / s until the weight gain of the nonwoven fabric stabilizes within the range of 5% to 10%.

[0019] Preferably, the amount of the functionalized treatment liquid is 5 to 50 g / m²; when the amount is 5 to 20 g / m², a spraying process is used, the spraying pressure is 0.2 to 0.4 MPa, and the nozzle is 15 to 20 cm away from the nonwoven fabric surface; when the amount is 20 to 50 g / m², an dip coating process is used, the dip coating time is 10 to 15 seconds, and after dip coating, the amount of excess treatment liquid removed is controlled by a squeeze roller.

[0020] Preferably, the size of the oral cigarette pouch in step S4 is 30×37mm or 35×28mm; the concave-convex structure at the longitudinal seal position is composed of several small squares, the height of the small squares is 0.1mm, the side length is 0.05 to 1mm, and the arrangement density is 50 to 200 squares / cm²; the concave-convex structure formed by the small squares in the longitudinal seal area can increase the contact area between saliva and the contents of the oral cigarette by 20% to 50%.

[0021] Preferably, after the non-woven fabric treated by the above process is made into a cigarette pouch, an accelerated storage test is conducted in a constant temperature and humidity environment of 40°C and 60% relative humidity. Samples are taken and tested every 24 hours for 10 consecutive tests. The test results show that the retention rate of nicotine in the cigarette is still ≥85% after 180 days of storage, and the retention rate of volatile aroma components is ≥80%, which extends the shelf life by more than 60% compared with cigarettes made of untreated non-woven fabric.

[0022] Preferably, after the non-woven fabric processed by the above method is made into a mouth pouch, the nicotine release is detected by high performance liquid chromatography, and the detection time is set to 3 minutes after use; the aroma intensity is evaluated by a 10-point sensory evaluation system, and the evaluation team consists of 10 professionally trained evaluators. The evaluation environment is an odorless room with a temperature of 20°C to 25°C and a relative humidity of 50% to 60%. The evaluators independently score the aroma perception in the mouth and the average value is taken.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0024] I. Significantly extends the shelf life of oral cigarettes, solving the problem of deterioration of contents during long-term storage.

[0025] This invention constructs a dual protection mechanism through the synergistic effect of functionalized treatment liquid and nonwoven fabric, effectively inhibiting the oxidation of the contents of oral cigarettes and the loss of volatile components. The starch and modified starch in the treatment liquid precisely fill the pores of the nonwoven fabric, reducing the contact area between the contents and external oxygen; maltodextrin and pullulan form a continuous and dense film structure on the surface of the nonwoven fabric, further preventing the loss of moisture and volatile aroma components through the pores. Accelerated storage tests at 40°C and 60% relative humidity verified that oral cigarettes using this process retain at least 85% nicotine and at least 80% volatile aroma components after 180 days of storage. Compared to oral cigarettes made from untreated nonwoven fabric, the shelf life is extended by more than 60%, completely improving the problems of reduced efficacy and flavor deterioration during the storage of traditional oral cigarettes.

[0026] II. Significantly improves nicotine and aroma release efficiency, optimizing user experience.

[0027] This invention achieves rapid and efficient release of nicotine and aroma through a dual design of component response and structural optimization. The organic acids in the treatment solution dissolve rapidly upon contact with saliva, stimulating the oral mucosa to secrete saliva and reducing the time it takes for saliva to wet the contents of the mouthwash to less than 30 seconds, more than 40% shorter than untreated non-woven fabric. Amylase rapidly decomposes the starch-based fillers in the contents at oral ambient temperatures, promoting nicotine salt dissociation. Simultaneously, the concave-convex structure at the longitudinal seal of the mouthwash pouch increases the contact area between saliva and the contents by 20% to 50%, further accelerating the release process. During use, the nicotine release efficiency is no less than 65% within 3 minutes, and the aroma intensity score is no less than 8.0 points, effectively addressing the pain points of slow onset and insufficient release in traditional mouthwashes, thus enhancing taste satisfaction.

[0028] Third, ensure product safety while considering taste compatibility.

[0029] This invention eliminates the need for additional additives in the oral tobacco product. Functional enhancement is achieved solely through non-woven fabric pretreatment, fundamentally avoiding interference with taste and potential safety risks associated with additives. All raw materials used in the treatment solution are food-grade, including starch-modified starch, organic acids, and amylase, fully complying with safety standards for oral products. Simultaneously, the maltodextrin in the treatment solution naturally enhances the sweetness of the non-woven fabric, and the Dendrobium extract in some formulations improves oral moisture and effectively neutralizes any slight irritation that organic acids may cause. This achieves core functionality while maintaining a balanced taste, ensuring user comfort during use.

[0030] IV. Strong process stability, suitable for large-scale industrial production.

[0031] The key process parameters of this invention are clear and controllable. The stirring stage employs a rotation speed of 1200 rpm and a temperature of 20 to 25°C to ensure uniform dispersion of all components in the treatment liquid. The drying stage uses a temperature range of 50°C to 180°C and a hot air velocity of 1.5 to 2.5 m / s to precisely achieve the required 5% to 10% weight gain in the nonwoven fabric. The molding stage uses fixed pressure, temperature, and sealing time parameters to ensure stable quality of the cigarette pouches. The amount of treatment liquid applied can be flexibly adjusted within the range of 5 to 50 g / m² through spraying or dip coating processes, and it is compatible with various cigarette pouch sizes such as 30×37 mm and 35×28 mm, meeting the product design needs of different brands. During mass production, the product quality consistency is high, demonstrating strong industrial application value. Attached Figure Description

[0032] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are explained in detail together with the embodiments of the invention, but do not constitute a limitation thereof.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0035] Example 1

[0036] Process steps Specific parameters / operations Raw material preparation Corn starch (purity ≥ 99%, 100-120 mesh), hydroxypropyl starch (degree of substitution 0.05-0.2), maltodextrin (DE 10-15), pullulan (purity ≥ 98%) Preparation of functional treatment solution Proportion (starch: modified starch: maltodextrin: pullulan) = 1:0.8:2.0:0.5; solid content 10%; viscosity 15 mPa・s at 25℃ Stirring and dispersing Turbine stirrer (1200 rpm), temperature 22℃, stirring time 20 minutes; no obvious particle precipitation Treatment solution adhesion Polyester non-woven fabric (25 g / m²), spraying process (0.3 mPa, nozzle distance 18 cm), adhesion amount 15 g / m² Non-woven fabric drying Hot air circulation drying (100℃, air speed 2.0 m / s), dried to weight gain 7% Oral tobacco pouch forming Specification 30×37 mm, forming pressure 0.6 mPa, transverse sealing 150℃ / longitudinal sealing 190℃ (0.5 s); concave-convex structure (small square 0.5 mm side length, 120 / cm²)

[0037] 1. Raw material preparation

[0038] Starch: Food-grade corn starch with a purity of ≥99% and a particle size of 100-120 mesh is selected;

[0039] Modified starch: Hydroxypropyl starch is used, with a degree of substitution of 0.05-0.2 and a moisture content of ≤12%;

[0040] Maltodextrin: DE value 10-15, food grade, white powder, odorless;

[0041] Pullulan: Food grade, purity ≥98%, viscosity (25℃, 2% aqueous solution) 100-150 mPa・s;

[0042] Deionized water: conductivity ≤10μS / cm, pH 6.5-7.5.

[0043] 2. Preparation of Functionalized Treatment Liquid

[0044] Weigh out 10g of starch, 8g of modified starch, 20g of maltodextrin, and 5g of pullulan according to a mass ratio of 1:0.8:2.0:0.5. Add the above solid raw materials to 297g of deionized water, with a total mass of 340g. The solid content is (10+8+20+5) / 340×100%=10%. Place the mixture in a mixing tank with a constant temperature water bath, turn on the stirrer, and stir for 10 minutes to disperse the solid particles and avoid clumping.

[0045] 3. Stirring and dispersing treatment

[0046] A JJ-1 turbine agitator with an 80mm diameter impeller was used. The agitation speed was set to 1200rpm, and the constant temperature water bath was controlled at 22℃. The agitation was continued for 20 minutes. Samples were taken every 5 minutes during the agitation process. After visual observation showed no obvious particle sedimentation, the viscosity of the treated liquid was measured at 25℃ using an NDJ-1 rotational viscometer. The measured viscosity was 15mPa·s, which met the process requirements.

[0047] 4. Adhesion of nonwoven fabric treatment liquid

[0048] Polyester fiber nonwoven fabric with a basis weight of 25g / ㎡, a thickness of 0.15mm, and a porosity of 40% was selected. A fully automatic spraying equipment of model PT-600 was used for the adhesion of the treatment liquid. The spraying pressure was set to 0.3mPa, the nozzle size to 0.5mm, the nozzle distance to the nonwoven fabric surface to 18cm, and the nonwoven fabric conveying speed to 0.8m / min. The spraying amount was calibrated by weighing. The nonwoven fabric gained 15g in weight after spraying, which means the treatment liquid adhesion amount was 15g / ㎡.

[0049] 5. Drying non-woven fabric

[0050] The nonwoven fabric with the treatment liquid attached was sent into a CT-C-1 hot air circulating dryer. The drying temperature was set to 100℃, the drying air velocity to 2.0m / s, and the airflow uniformity inside the dryer to ≤±5%. Every 5 minutes, a 10cm×10cm sample of nonwoven fabric was weighed. When the difference between two consecutive sample weights (5 minutes apart) was ≤0.01g, the drying was considered complete. At this time, the weight gain of the nonwoven fabric was measured to be 7%. The sample weight before drying was 0.25g, and after drying it was 0.2675g. The weight gain rate was (0.2675-0.25) / 0.25×100%=7%.

[0051] 6. Forming of oral tobacco pouches

[0052] The fully automatic cigarette bag making machine (model KH-800) is used to feed the dried non-woven fabric into the mold. The forming pressure is set to 0.6 MPa, the horizontal sealing temperature to 150℃, the vertical sealing temperature to 190℃, and the sealing time to 0.5 s. The mold dimensions are 30×37 mm. The concave-convex structure at the vertical sealing position is processed by laser engraving mold. The small squares are 0.1 mm high and 0.5 mm on each side, arranged in a matrix with a density of 120 squares / cm², meaning 120 small squares are evenly distributed per square centimeter. After forming, the small bags are visually inspected to ensure that there is no seal damage and the concave-convex structure is intact. At the same time, the sealing strength is tested to be ≥30 N / 15 mm.

[0053] Example 2

[0054] Process steps Specific parameters / operations Raw material preparation Medium temperature α-amylase (2000 U / g, pH 5.0-6.0), citric acid (purity ≥ 99.5%), L-malic acid (purity ≥ 99%), DL-tartaric acid (purity ≥ 99%) Preparation of functional treatment solution Proportion (amylase: citric acid: malic acid: tartaric acid) = 2:0.02:0.03:0.05; solid content 5%; viscosity 8 mPa・s at 25℃ Stirring and dispersing Turbine stirrer (1200 rpm), temperature 20℃, stirring time 18 minutes; enzyme activity retention rate ≥ 95% Treatment solution adhesion Polypropylene / polyester composite non-woven fabric (30 g / m²), spraying process (0.25 mPa, nozzle distance 16 cm), adhesion amount 10 g / m² Non-woven fabric drying Hot air circulation drying (80℃, air speed 1.8 m / s), dried to weight gain 6%; enzyme activity retention rate ≥ 90% after drying Oral tobacco pouch forming Specification 35×28 mm, forming pressure 0.5 mPa, transverse sealing 150℃ / longitudinal sealing 190℃ (0.5 s); concave-convex structure (small square 0.3 mm side length, 80 / cm²)

[0055] 1. Raw material preparation

[0056] Mesophilic α-amylase: food grade, activity 2000 U / g, optimal pH 5.0-6.0, storage temperature ≤25℃;

[0057] Citric acid: food grade, purity ≥99.5%, white crystalline powder, melting point 153℃;

[0058] Malic acid: L-malic acid, food grade, purity ≥99%, acidity coefficient 1.2;

[0059] Tartaric acid: DL-tartaric acid, food grade, purity ≥99%, moisture content ≤0.5%;

[0060] Deionized water: conductivity ≤10μS / cm, used after boiling and cooling (to remove dissolved oxygen in the water and avoid amylase oxidation).

[0061] 2. Preparation of Functionalized Treatment Liquid

[0062] Weigh out 20g of mesophilic α-amylase, 0.2g of citric acid, 0.3g of malic acid, and 0.5g of tartaric acid in a mass ratio of 2:0.02:0.03:0.05. First, add citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid to 379g of deionized water and stir for 5 minutes until completely dissolved. Then add the mesophilic α-amylase (avoid direct contact between the amylase and undissolved organic acids to prevent inactivation). The total mass of the mixed system is 400g, and the solid content is (20+0.2+0.3+0.5) / 400×100%=5%.

[0063] 3. Stirring and dispersing treatment

[0064] A turbine stirrer (model JJ-1, with a paddle-type impeller to avoid high-speed shearing that could damage the enzyme structure) was used. The stirring speed was set to 1200 rpm, and the constant temperature water bath was controlled at 20℃ (below the optimal temperature for amylase to reduce enzyme activity loss). Stirring was continued for 18 minutes. After stirring, a sample was taken and the viscosity was measured at 25℃ using a rotational viscometer (NDJ-1). The viscosity was measured to be 8 mPa·s. At the same time, 1 mL of the treated solution was taken to test the enzyme activity. The activity retention rate was ≥95%, which met the process requirements.

[0065] 4. Adhesion of nonwoven fabric treatment liquid

[0066] Polypropylene / polyester composite nonwoven fabric (30 g / m², 0.18 mm thickness, 35% porosity) was selected and a PT-600 fully automatic spraying equipment was used. The spraying pressure was set to 0.25 MPa, the nozzle size to 0.4 mm, the nozzle distance to the nonwoven fabric surface to 16 cm, and the nonwoven fabric conveying speed to 1.0 m / min. The spraying amount was monitored in real time through an online weighing system, and the conveying speed was adjusted to ensure that 10 g of treatment liquid adhered to each square meter of nonwoven fabric, i.e., the adhesion amount was 10 g / m².

[0067] 5. Drying non-woven fabric

[0068] The nonwoven fabric with the treatment solution was fed into a CT-C-1 hot air circulating dryer. The drying temperature was set to 80℃ (below the amylase inactivation temperature to protect enzyme activity), the drying air velocity was 1.8m / s, and the temperature fluctuation inside the dryer was ≤±2℃. A 10cm×10cm sample was weighed every 3 minutes. Drying was stopped when the sample weight stabilized (the difference between two consecutive weighings was ≤0.01g). At this time, the weight gain of the nonwoven fabric was measured to be 6% (the sample weight before drying was 0.3g, and after drying it was 0.318g, the weight gain rate = (0.318-0.3) / 0.3×100%=6%). After drying, the enzyme activity was tested, and the activity retention rate was ≥90%.

[0069] 6. Forming of oral tobacco pouches

[0070] The fully automatic cigarette bag making machine, model KH-800, is used. The mold specifications are set to 35×28mm (length×width), the forming pressure is 0.5mPa, the horizontal sealing temperature is 150℃, the vertical sealing temperature is 190℃, and the sealing time is 0.5s. The concave-convex structure at the vertical sealing position is processed by precision stamping mold. The small squares are 0.1mm high and 0.3mm on each side, arranged in a diamond pattern with a density of 80 squares / cm². After forming, the small bags are tested for sealing (negative pressure method, pressure -0.05mPa, held for 30 seconds) to ensure no leakage. At the same time, the concave-convex structure is checked for deformation and detachment.

[0071] Example 3

[0072] Process steps Specific parameters / operations Raw material preparation Potato starch (purity ≥ 99%, 80-100 mesh), citric acid (purity ≥ 99.5%), L-malic acid (purity ≥ 99%), DL-tartaric acid (pH 2.8-3.0) Preparation of functional treatment solution Proportion (starch: citric acid: malic acid: tartaric acid) = 3:0.9:1.2:2.0; solid content 15%; viscosity 25 mPa・s at 25℃; total organic acid proportion 22% Stirring and dispersing Turbine stirrer (1200 rpm), temperature 23℃, stirring time 22 minutes; particle size ≤ 10 μm Treatment solution adhesion Viscose non-woven fabric (28 g / m²), dipping process (0.5 m / min, extrusion roller 0.3 mPa), adhesion amount 35 g / m² Non-woven fabric drying Hot air circulation drying (120℃, wind speed 2.2m / s) until a 9% weight gain is achieved; no yellowing or embrittlement is observed. Oral cigarette pouch forming Specifications: 30×37mm, molding pressure: 0.7mPa, horizontal sealing temperature: 150℃ / vertical sealing temperature: 190℃ (0.5s); convex-concave structure (small squares with a side length of 0.8mm, 180 pieces / cm²).

[0073] 1. Raw material preparation

[0074] Starch: Food-grade potato starch, purity ≥99%, particle size 80-100 mesh, viscosity (25℃, 5% aqueous solution) 200-250 mPa・s;

[0075] Citric acid: food grade, purity ≥99.5%, granular, easily soluble in water;

[0076] Malic acid: L-malic acid, food grade, purity ≥99%, moisture content ≤0.2%;

[0077] Tartaric acid: DL-tartaric acid, food grade, purity ≥99%, pH value (1% aqueous solution) 2.8-3.0;

[0078] Deionized water: conductivity ≤10μS / cm, pH 6.5-7.5.

[0079] 2. Preparation of Functionalized Treatment Liquid

[0080] Weigh out 30g of starch, 9g of citric acid, 12g of malic acid, and 20g of tartaric acid in a mass ratio of 3:0.9:1.2:2.0. Add the above raw materials to 393.3g of deionized water (total mass = 30 + 9 + 12 + 20 + 393.3 = 464.3g, solid content = 30 + 9 + 12 + 20) / 464.3 × 100% = 15%). Place the mixture in a stirred reactor, turn on the stirrer, and stir at low speed (500 rpm) for 5 minutes to initially dissolve the raw materials. Then increase the speed to 1200 rpm and continue stirring to avoid local overheating that could cause starch gelatinization.

[0081] 3. Stirring and dispersing treatment

[0082] A JJ-1 turbine agitator with a 100mm diameter impeller was used, and the constant temperature water bath was maintained at 23℃ for 22 minutes. During the agitation process, samples were taken every 6 minutes, and the particle size of the solid particles was measured using a laser particle size analyzer to ensure that the particle size was ≤10μm (no obvious agglomeration). At the same time, an NDJ-1 rotational viscometer was used to measure the viscosity at 25℃, and the viscosity was measured to be 25mPa・s. The proportion of the total mass of citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid in the solid components of the treated liquid was calculated as (9+12+20) / (30+9+12+20)×100%=22%, which meets the process requirements.

[0083] 4. Adhesion of nonwoven fabric treatment liquid

[0084] Viscose fiber nonwoven fabric (28 g / m², 0.16 mm thickness, 38% porosity) was selected and a JT-500 vertical dip-coating machine was used for treatment liquid adhesion. The dip-coating speed was set to 0.5 m / min, the treatment liquid tank temperature was 23℃, and after dip-coating, excess treatment liquid was controlled by a double-roller extrusion device (extrusion roller diameter 150 mm), and the extrusion roller pressure was set to 0.3 MPa. The adhesion amount was calibrated by weighing. 1 m² of the dip-coated nonwoven fabric was weighed, and the original nonwoven fabric weight was subtracted. The treatment liquid adhesion amount was measured to be 35 g / m².

[0085] 5. Drying non-woven fabric

[0086] The nonwoven fabric with the treatment liquid attached was sent into a CT-C-1 hot air circulating dryer. The drying temperature was set to 120℃ and the drying air velocity to 2.2m / s. The hot air inside the dryer was evenly distributed and a flow equalization plate design was adopted. A 10cm×10cm sample was taken and weighed every 4 minutes. When the difference between two consecutive sample weights (with an interval of 4 minutes) was ≤0.01g, the drying was considered complete. At this time, the weight gain of the nonwoven fabric was measured to be 9% (the sample weight before drying was 0.28g, and after drying it was 0.3052g, the weight gain rate = (0.3052-0.28) / 0.28×100%=9%). After drying, the appearance of the nonwoven fabric was checked and there was no yellowing or brittleness.

[0087] 6. Forming of oral tobacco pouches

[0088] The fully automatic cigarette bag making machine, model KH-800, is used. The mold specifications are 30×37mm (length×width), the forming pressure is 0.7mPa, the horizontal sealing temperature is 150℃, the vertical sealing temperature is 190℃, and the sealing time is 0.5s. The concave-convex structure at the vertical sealing position is processed by etching mold. The small squares are 0.1mm high and 0.8mm on each side, arranged in a honeycomb pattern with a density of 180 squares / cm². After forming, the size deviation of the small bag is checked to ensure that the length and width deviation is ≤±0.2mm. At the same time, the tensile strength of the small bag is tested to be ≥25N to meet the mechanical requirements during use.

[0089] The specific advantages of the nonwoven fabric treatment process of this invention, which can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, are as follows:

[0090] I. Significantly extends the shelf life of oral cigarettes, solving the problem of deterioration of contents during long-term storage.

[0091] This invention constructs a dual protection mechanism through the synergistic effect of functionalized treatment liquid and nonwoven fabric, effectively inhibiting the oxidation of the contents of oral cigarettes and the loss of volatile components. The starch and modified starch in the treatment liquid precisely fill the pores of the nonwoven fabric, reducing the contact area between the contents and external oxygen; maltodextrin and pullulan form a continuous and dense film structure on the surface of the nonwoven fabric, further preventing the loss of moisture and volatile aroma components through the pores. Accelerated storage tests at 40°C and 60% relative humidity verified that oral cigarettes using this process retain at least 85% nicotine and at least 80% volatile aroma components after 180 days of storage. Compared to oral cigarettes made from untreated nonwoven fabric, the shelf life is extended by more than 60%, completely improving the problems of reduced efficacy and flavor deterioration during the storage of traditional oral cigarettes.

[0092] II. Significantly improves nicotine and aroma release efficiency, optimizing user experience.

[0093] This invention achieves rapid and efficient release of nicotine and aroma through a dual design of component response and structural optimization. The organic acids in the treatment solution dissolve rapidly upon contact with saliva, stimulating the oral mucosa to secrete saliva and reducing the time it takes for saliva to wet the contents of the mouthwash to less than 30 seconds, more than 40% shorter than untreated non-woven fabric. Amylase rapidly decomposes the starch-based fillers in the contents at oral ambient temperatures, promoting nicotine salt dissociation. Simultaneously, the concave-convex structure at the longitudinal seal of the mouthwash pouch increases the contact area between saliva and the contents by 20% to 50%, further accelerating the release process. During use, the nicotine release efficiency is no less than 65% within 3 minutes, and the aroma intensity score is no less than 8.0 points, effectively addressing the pain points of slow onset and insufficient release in traditional mouthwashes, thus enhancing taste satisfaction.

[0094] Third, ensure product safety while considering taste compatibility.

[0095] This invention eliminates the need for additional additives in the oral tobacco product. Functional enhancement is achieved solely through non-woven fabric pretreatment, fundamentally avoiding interference with taste and potential safety risks associated with additives. All raw materials used in the treatment solution are food-grade, including starch-modified starch, organic acids, and amylase, fully complying with safety standards for oral products. Simultaneously, the maltodextrin in the treatment solution naturally enhances the sweetness of the non-woven fabric, and the Dendrobium extract in some formulations improves oral moisture and effectively neutralizes any slight irritation that organic acids may cause. This achieves core functionality while maintaining a balanced taste, ensuring user comfort during use.

[0096] IV. Strong process stability, suitable for large-scale industrial production.

[0097] The key process parameters of this invention are clear and controllable. The stirring stage employs a rotation speed of 1200 rpm and a temperature of 20 to 25°C to ensure uniform dispersion of all components in the treatment liquid. The drying stage uses a temperature range of 50°C to 180°C and a hot air velocity of 1.5 to 2.5 m / s to precisely achieve the required 5% to 10% weight gain in the nonwoven fabric. The molding stage uses fixed pressure, temperature, and sealing time parameters to ensure stable quality of the cigarette pouches. The amount of treatment liquid applied can be flexibly adjusted within the range of 5 to 50 g / m² through spraying or dip coating processes, and it is compatible with various cigarette pouch sizes such as 30×37 mm and 35×28 mm, meeting the product design needs of different brands. During mass production, the product quality consistency is high, demonstrating strong industrial application value.

[0098] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely preferred examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A nonwoven fabric treatment process that can extend the shelf life of cigarettes held in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Prepare a functionalized treatment liquid, wherein the functionalized treatment liquid contains at least three components selected from starch, polysaccharides, enzymes, and organic acids; S2: A turbine agitator is used to stir and disperse the functionalized treatment liquid to ensure uniform mixing of all components; the functionalized treatment liquid is then applied to the surface of the nonwoven fabric through roller transfer, dip coating, or spray coating processes, while controlling the amount of functionalized treatment liquid applied. S3: Dry the nonwoven fabric with the applied treatment solution at an environment of 50°C to 180°C to increase the weight of the nonwoven fabric by 5% to 10%; S4: The dried nonwoven fabric is formed into a small cigarette pouch using a special mold under the conditions of pressure of 0.5 to 0.8 mPa, horizontal sealing temperature of 150°C, vertical sealing temperature of 190°C, and sealing time of 0.5 s. The vertical sealing position of the pouch has a concave-convex structure. The solid content of the functionalized treatment liquid is 2% to 20%, and the viscosity of the functionalized treatment liquid at 25°C is 5 to 30 mPa·s.

2. The nonwoven fabric treatment process according to claim 1, which can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, is characterized in that... The mass ratio of starch, modified starch, maltodextrin, and pullulan in the functionalized treatment liquid is 1:0.5 to 1.2:1.5 to 2.5:0.3 to 0.

8. The starch and modified starch together fill the pores of the nonwoven fabric, reducing the contact between the contents of the smoke and oxygen. The maltodextrin and pullulan form a continuous film on the surface of the nonwoven fabric, preventing the escape of moisture and volatile aroma components from the contents.

3. The nonwoven fabric treatment process according to claim 1, which can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, is characterized in that... The mass ratio of starch, modified starch, and citric acid in the functionalized treatment solution is 1:0.8 to 1.5:0.05 to 0.2; the degree of substitution of the modified starch is 0.05 to 0.2, which is used to enhance the bonding force with nonwoven fibers; the citric acid can quickly dissolve when the nonwoven fabric comes into contact with saliva and stimulate the oral mucosa to secrete saliva, thereby accelerating the wetting of the contents of the mouth containing tobacco by saliva.

4. The nonwoven fabric treatment process according to claim 1, which can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, is characterized in that... The mass ratio of amylase, citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid in the functionalized treatment solution is 2:0.01 to 0.03:0.01 to 0.05:0.01 to 0.

08. The amylase is a mesophilic α-amylase with an optimal operating temperature of 35°C to 40°C, which can rapidly decompose starch-based fillers in oral cigarette contents in the oral environment. Citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid synergistically regulate the local pH value of the oral cavity to 4.5 to 5.

5.

5. The nonwoven fabric treatment process according to claim 1, which can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, is characterized in that... The mass ratio of starch, citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid in the functionalized treatment liquid is 3:0.5 to 1.3:0.8 to 1.7:1.2 to 2.8; the total mass of citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid accounts for 15% to 30% of the solid components of the functionalized treatment liquid, which can shorten the time for saliva to wet the contents of the mouth containing smoke to less than 30 seconds, which is more than 40% shorter than that of untreated nonwoven fabric.

6. The nonwoven fabric treatment process according to claim 1, which can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, is characterized in that, The turbine mixer operates at a speed of 1200 rpm for 15 to 25 minutes. During mixing, the temperature of the treatment solution is controlled at 20°C to 25°C to prevent excessive temperature from causing amylase inactivation or excessive gelatinization of polysaccharides. The drying process uses hot air circulation drying at a speed of 1.5 to 2.5 m / s until the weight gain of the nonwoven fabric stabilizes within the range of 5% to 10%.

7. The nonwoven fabric treatment process according to claim 1, which can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, is characterized in that... The amount of the functionalized treatment liquid applied is 5 to 50 g / m². When the amount of the liquid applied is 5 to 20 g / m², a spraying process is used with a spraying pressure of 0.2 to 0.4 MPa and a nozzle distance of 15 to 20 cm from the nonwoven fabric surface. When the amount of the liquid applied is 20 to 50 g / m², an immersion coating process is used with an immersion coating time of 10 to 15 seconds. After immersion coating, the amount of excess treatment liquid removed is controlled by a squeeze roller.

8. The nonwoven fabric treatment process according to claim 1, which can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, is characterized in that, The oral cigarette pouch described in step S4 has dimensions of 30×37mm or 35×28mm; the concave-convex structure at the longitudinal seal position is composed of several small squares, each with a height of 0.1mm, a side length of 0.05 to 1mm, and an arrangement density of 50 to 200 squares / cm²; the concave-convex structure formed by the small squares in the longitudinal seal area can increase the contact area between saliva and the contents of the oral cigarette by 20% to 50%.

9. The nonwoven fabric treatment process according to claim 1, which can extend the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerate the release of nicotine and aroma, is characterized in that, After the nonwoven fabric treated by the above process was made into a cigarette pouch, an accelerated storage test was conducted in a constant temperature and humidity environment of 40°C and 60% relative humidity. Samples were taken and tested every 24 hours for 10 consecutive tests. The test results showed that the retention rate of nicotine in the cigarette pouch was still ≥85% after 180 days of storage, and the retention rate of volatile aroma components was ≥80%, which extended the shelf life by more than 60% compared with cigarette pouches made of untreated nonwoven fabric.

10. The nonwoven fabric treatment process according to claim 1, which extends the shelf life of cigarettes in the mouth and accelerates the release of nicotine and aroma, is characterized in that... After the non-woven fabric processed by the above process is made into a mouth pouch, the nicotine release is detected by high performance liquid chromatography, and the detection time is set to 3 minutes after use; the aroma intensity is evaluated by sensory evaluation on a 10-point scale. The evaluation team consists of 10 professionally trained evaluators. The evaluation environment is an odorless room with a temperature of 20°C to 25°C and a relative humidity of 50% to 60%. The evaluators independently score the aroma perception in the mouth and the average value is taken.

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