A tobacco raw material processing method for increasing atomizer loading and its application

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase atomizer loading and its application. The method comprises sequentially subjecting the tobacco raw materials to enzyme treatment, sealed storage, sealed freezing, unsealing, drying, atomizer treatment, balancing, and drying. The enzyme treatment, sealed freezing, and low-temperature drying of the tobacco raw materials achieves high-proportion adsorption of atomizer, enhancing the sensory quality, style, and aroma characteristics of heated cigarettes. The method is simple and can be implemented in online industrial production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of tobacco raw material preparation, and relates to a tobacco raw material processing method for increasing atomizer load and an application thereof. Background Art

[0002] Heated cigarettes, also known as heat-not-burn cigarettes or low-temperature cigarettes, are an emerging strategic development in the tobacco industry. They heat the tobacco using an external heat source. The atomized medium, flavor components, and added fragrances in the tobacco are heated to produce smoke similar to that of traditional cigarettes, providing consumers with a sense of physiological satisfaction. Since the tobacco in heated cigarettes is only heated, not burned, the harmful components and biological toxicity of the smoke are significantly reduced, as are sidestream smoke and ambient smoke, resulting in better health for consumers.

[0003] Tobacco materials, as a key formula component of heated cigarettes, determine the sensory quality, style and aroma characteristics of heated cigarettes, while the atomizer (such as glycerol) content of tobacco materials determines the amount of smoke released during the smoking process. In order to achieve the load of high-content atomizers on tobacco materials, the tobacco materials in existing heated cigarettes are mostly reconstituted tobacco leaves, such as thick pulp method reconstituted tobacco leaves, roller method reconstituted tobacco leaves, papermaking method reconstituted tobacco leaves, etc. On the one hand, the preparation process of reconstituted tobacco leaves is complicated; on the other hand, the non-tobacco components added to reconstituted tobacco leaves are relatively large, which affects the aroma of heated cigarettes. Therefore, using tobacco leaves or tobacco shreds that adsorb atomizers as smoking materials for heated cigarettes is an effective way to increase the atomizer load. Experimental studies have shown that when the atomizer is applied directly to tobacco leaves or tobacco shreds, on the one hand, the atomizer content loaded on the tobacco leaves or tobacco shreds is low, resulting in low smoke volume and a small number of puffs (usually 5-6 puffs) when smoking heated cigarettes; on the other hand, the atomizer is loaded on the surface of the tobacco leaves or tobacco shreds, making the tobacco leaves or tobacco shreds sticky, which brings troubles to the subsequent cigarette rolling.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a method for increasing the tobacco atomizer load while ensuring tobacco drying. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention aims to provide a tobacco raw material processing method and application for increasing the atomizer loading.

[0006] In order to achieve the purpose of the invention, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase atomizer loading, the method comprising:

[0008] (1) The tobacco raw materials are sealed and stored after enzyme treatment;

[0009] (2) sealing and freezing the tobacco raw material sealed and stored in step (1);

[0010] (3) unsealing the sealed and frozen tobacco raw material in step (2) and drying it;

[0011] (4) treating the tobacco raw material dried in step (3) with an atomizer and balancing;

[0012] (5) drying the tobacco raw material after balancing in step (4) to obtain.

[0013] The present invention promotes the absorption of aerosols by tobacco raw materials through enzyme treatment, sealed freezing, and drying. Under the action of an enzyme-containing aqueous solution, the cell walls of the tobacco raw materials are destroyed, and the cell contents are released, which is beneficial to improving the absorption rate of the aerosol. Sealed freezing inactivates the enzyme on the one hand, and on the other hand, the water content of the tobacco raw materials increases after absorbing water and regaining moisture. Since the water in the tobacco raw materials changes from liquid to solid, it damages the tobacco raw materials' organizational structure, causing defects in the tobacco raw materials' organizational structure and improving the tobacco's absorption of aerosols. Low-temperature drying of the water in the tobacco raw materials can also promote the tobacco raw materials' absorption of aerosols. The tobacco raw materials treated by the present invention are dry and convenient for industrial processing.

[0014] Preferably, the tobacco raw material is tobacco leaves and / or tobacco shreds.

[0015] Preferably, the enzyme treatment in step (1) comprises spraying an enzyme-containing aqueous solution onto the tobacco raw material.

[0016] Preferably, the pH of the enzyme-containing aqueous solution is 4-6, such as 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, etc. Other specific values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected and will not be described in detail here.

[0017] Preferably, the enzymes include cellulases and / or hemicellulases;

[0018] Cellulase can break down cell walls into glucose and pectin, and hemicellulase can hydrolyze the polysaccharides (except cellulose and pectin) that make up plant cell walls.

[0019] Preferably, the mass percentage of cellulase in the enzyme-containing aqueous solution is 1‰-2‰, and the mass percentage of hemicellulase is 0.25‰-0.5‰. The mass percentage of the cellulase can be selected from 1‰, 1.1‰, 1.2‰, 1.3‰, 1.4‰, 1.5‰, 1.6‰, 1.7‰, 1.8‰, 1.9‰, 2‰, etc., and the mass percentage of the hemicellulase can be selected from 0.25‰, 0.3‰, 0.35‰, 0.4‰, 0.45‰, 0.5‰, etc. Other specific point values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected, and they will not be repeated here.

[0020] Preferably, the mass ratio of the tobacco raw material to the enzyme-containing aqueous solution is 1:(0.5-3), wherein the specific value of (0.5-3) can be selected from 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, etc. Other specific values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected and will not be repeated here.

[0021] Preferably, the sealed storage temperature is 40-60°C, and the time is 0.5-24h. The sealed storage temperature can be selected from 40°C, 42°C, 44°C, 46°C, 48°C, 50°C, 52°C, 54°C, 56°C, 58°C, 60°C, etc., and the time can be selected from 0.5h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h, 6h, 7h, 8h, 9h, 10h, 11h, 12h, 13h, 14h, 15h, 16h, 17h, 18h, 19h, 20h, 21h, 22h, 23h, 24h, etc. Other specific point values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected, so they will not be repeated here.

[0022] Preferably, the sealed freezing temperature in step (2) is -40°C to 0°C, for example, -40°C, -35°C, -30°C, -25°C, -20°C, -15°C, -10°C, -5°C, 0°C, etc. Other specific point values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected and will not be repeated here.

[0023] Preferably, the sealing and freezing time in step (2) is more than 12 hours, for example, 12 hours, 16 hours, 20 hours, 24 hours, 48 ​​hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, etc. Other specific point values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected and will not be repeated here.

[0024] Sealed freezing is more effective in increasing tobacco aerosol loading than freezing under unsealed conditions, and the freezing time and temperature are very important for the cell destruction effect.

[0025] Preferably, the drying temperature in step (3) is 40-80°C, for example, 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 55°C, 60°C, 65°C, 70°C, 75°C, 80°C, etc. Other specific point values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected and will not be repeated here.

[0026] Preferably, the moisture content of the tobacco raw material after drying in step (3) is 6-10%, for example, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, etc. Other specific values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected and will not be repeated here.

[0027] Preferably, the atomizing agent comprises glycerol and / or propylene glycol;

[0028] Preferably, the mass ratio of the tobacco raw material to the atomizer in step (4) is 100:(0.1-30), wherein the specific point values ​​in (0.1-30) can be selected from 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, etc. Other specific point values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected and will not be repeated here.

[0029] Preferably, the balancing time in step (4) is 1-48 hours, for example, 1 hour, 5 hours, 10 hours, 15 hours, 20 hours, 25 hours, 30 hours, 35 hours, 40 hours, 45 hours, 48 ​​hours, etc. Other specific point values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected and will not be described here one by one.

[0030] Preferably, the drying temperature in step (5) is 40-80°C, for example, 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 55°C, 60°C, 65°C, 70°C, 75°C, 80°C, etc. Other specific point values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected and will not be repeated here.

[0031] Preferably, the moisture content of the tobacco raw material after drying in step (5) is 5-14%, for example, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, etc. Other specific values ​​within the above numerical range can be selected and will not be repeated here.

[0032] In a second aspect, the present invention provides tobacco obtained by processing the tobacco raw material processing method for increasing the atomizer load according to the first aspect.

[0033] In a third aspect, the present invention provides a use of the tobacco according to the second aspect in cigarette manufacturing.

[0034] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0035] (1) When tobacco raw materials are exposed to enzyme-containing aqueous solutions, their cell walls are destroyed, prompting the release of cell contents, which is beneficial to improving the absorption rate of the atomizer.

[0036] (2) Sealed freezing inactivates the enzymes. On the other hand, the moisture content of the tobacco raw material increases after absorbing moisture. Since the moisture in the tobacco raw material changes from liquid to solid, it damages the tissue structure of the tobacco raw material, resulting in defects in the tobacco raw material tissue structure. Combined with low-temperature drying of the moisture in the tobacco raw material, the tobacco raw material is promoted to absorb the atomizer. The present invention is used to dry the tobacco raw material, which is conducive to industrial processing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In order to further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention are further described below in conjunction with the preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments.

[0038] The sources of the functional ingredients contained in the products involved in the following examples and comparative examples are as follows (only the functional ingredients are reflected, and the necessary auxiliary ingredients contained in other commercially available raw materials are not repeated):

[0039] Cellulase was purchased from Sigma under the trade name Cellulase;

[0040] Hemicellulase was purchased from Sigma under the trade name Hemicellulase.

[0041] Example 1

[0042] This embodiment provides a method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase aerosol loading, the method comprising:

[0043] (1) An enzyme-containing aqueous solution is sprayed onto tobacco leaves. After the tobacco leaves are treated with enzymes, they are sealed and stored at 50°C for 12 hours. The enzymes include cellulase and hemicellulase. The mass ratio of tobacco leaves to the enzyme-containing aqueous solution is 1:1.5. The mass percentage of cellulase is 1.5‰, and the mass percentage of hemicellulase is 0.3‰. The pH value is adjusted to 5.0 by citric acid and sodium citrate.

[0044] (2) freezing the tobacco leaves sealed and preserved in step (1) at -20°C for 20 hours;

[0045] (3) unsealing the sealed and frozen tobacco leaves obtained in step (2) and drying them at 50° C. until the moisture content of the tobacco leaves is 8%;

[0046] (4) spraying an atomizer aqueous solution onto the tobacco leaves dried in step (3), wherein the mass percentage of the atomizer is 20%, the atomizer comprising glycerol and propylene glycol in a mass ratio of 1:1, and the mass ratio of the tobacco leaves to the atomizer aqueous solution is 1:1, and equilibration is performed for 12 hours;

[0047] (5) The tobacco leaves balanced in step (4) are dried at 50° C. to a moisture content of 18%, and then cut into shreds. The cut shreds are dried to a moisture content of 10%.

[0048] Example 2

[0049] This embodiment provides a method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase aerosol loading, the method comprising:

[0050] (1) Spraying an enzyme-containing aqueous solution onto cut tobacco, the cut tobacco is treated with enzymes and then sealed and stored at 40°C for 24 hours. The enzymes include cellulase and hemicellulase. The mass ratio of the cut tobacco to the enzyme-containing aqueous solution is 1:3. The mass percentage of the cellulase is 2‰, and the mass percentage of the hemicellulase is 0.25‰. The pH value is adjusted to 4.0 by citric acid and sodium citrate.

[0051] (2) freezing the sealed tobacco obtained in step (1) at -40°C for 12 hours;

[0052] (3) unsealing the frozen tobacco from step (2) and drying the tobacco at 40° C. until the moisture content is 6%;

[0053] (4) spraying an atomizer aqueous solution onto the tobacco cut dried in step (3), wherein the mass percentage of the atomizer is 30%, the atomizer comprising glycerol and propylene glycol in a mass ratio of 2:1, and the mass ratio of the tobacco cut to the atomizer aqueous solution is 1:1, and equilibrate for 48 hours;

[0054] (5) Drying the shredded tobacco after balancing in step (4) at 40° C. until the moisture content of the shredded tobacco is 5%.

[0055] Example 3

[0056] This embodiment provides a method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase aerosol loading, the method comprising:

[0057] (1) An enzyme-containing aqueous solution is sprayed onto tobacco leaves. After the tobacco leaves are treated with enzymes, they are sealed and stored at 60°C for 2 hours. The enzymes include cellulase and hemicellulase. The mass ratio of tobacco leaves to the enzyme-containing aqueous solution is 1:0.5, the mass percentage of cellulase is 1‰, and the mass percentage of hemicellulase is 0.5‰. The pH value is adjusted to 6.0 by citric acid and sodium citrate.

[0058] (2) freezing the tobacco leaves sealed and preserved in step (1) at -4°C for 96 hours;

[0059] (3) unsealing the frozen tobacco leaves sealed in step (2) and drying them at 80° C. until the moisture content of the tobacco leaves is 10%;

[0060] (4) spraying an atomizer aqueous solution onto the tobacco leaves dried in step (3), wherein the mass percentage of the atomizer is 5%, the atomizer comprising glycerol and propylene glycol in a mass ratio of 1:2, and the mass ratio of the tobacco leaves to the atomizer aqueous solution is 1:1, and equilibrate for 4 hours;

[0061] (5) The tobacco leaves balanced in step (4) are dried at 80° C. until the moisture content of the tobacco leaves is 18%, and then cut into shreds. The cut shreds are dried to a moisture content of 14%.

[0062] Example 4

[0063] This embodiment provides a method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase the atomizer load. The difference between this method and embodiment 1 is that step (2) is to "freeze the tobacco leaves sealed and stored in step (1) at -60°C for 20 hours."

[0064] Example 5

[0065] This embodiment provides a method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase aerosol loading. The difference between this method and embodiment 1 is that step (2) is to "freeze the tobacco raw materials sealed and stored in step (1) at -20°C for 8 hours."

[0066] Comparative Example 1

[0067] This comparative example provides a tobacco raw material processing method for increasing the atomizer load, which differs from Example 1 only in that step (1) is not included, and other operations remain unchanged.

[0068] Comparative Example 2

[0069] This comparative example provides a tobacco raw material processing method for increasing the atomizer load, which differs from Example 1 only in that step (2) is not included, and other operations remain unchanged.

[0070] Comparative Example 3

[0071] This comparative example provides a tobacco raw material processing method for increasing the atomizer load, which differs from Example 1 only in that step (3) is not included, and other operations remain unchanged.

[0072] Comparative Example 4

[0073] This comparative example provides a method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase the atomizer load. The method differs from Example 1 only in that step (2) is "unsealing and freezing the tobacco raw materials sealed in step (1) at -20°C for 20 hours", and other operations remain unchanged.

[0074] Test Example 1

[0075] Tobacco treated according to the tobacco raw material treatment method for increasing atomizer loading described in Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-4 and untreated tobacco were respectively made into heated cigarettes. The samples were provided to 6 smoking expert reviewers and heated in smoking utensils for sensory quality evaluation. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0076] Table 1

[0077]

[0078]

[0079] The absorption of the atomizer determines the characteristics of the tobacco shreds. If the atomizer is not absorbed by the tobacco but adheres to the tobacco surface, the tobacco shreds are sticky and not dry. The amount of atomizer content determines the amount of smoke in the heat-not-burn tobacco product. As shown in Table 1, the tobacco raw materials treated with the method of the present invention are dry in appearance, have good smoke release performance under the heat-not-burn state, have good smoke consistency, and can be puffed for 12 consecutive times, which shows strong applicability in heat-not-burn tobacco products. In addition, enzyme-containing aqueous solution treatment, sealed freezing, and low-temperature drying are indispensable for increasing the tobacco atomizer load. Sealed freezing is more effective than non-sealed freezing, and the freezing time and temperature are also very important for increasing the tobacco atomizer load.

[0080] The applicant declares that the present invention uses the above-mentioned embodiments to illustrate a tobacco raw material processing method and application for increasing atomizer loading, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, that is, it does not mean that the present invention must rely on the above-mentioned embodiments to be implemented. Those skilled in the art should understand that any improvements to the present invention, equivalent replacements for various raw materials in the products of the present invention, addition of auxiliary ingredients, and selection of specific methods, etc., all fall within the scope of protection and disclosure of the present invention.

[0081] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific details in the above embodiments. Within the technical concept of the present invention, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solution of the present invention, and these simple modifications all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0082] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any appropriate manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the present invention will not further describe various possible combinations.

Claims

1. A method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase atomizer loading, characterized in that: The tobacco raw material processing method for increasing the atomizer load comprises: (1) The tobacco raw material is treated with enzymes and then sealed and stored; the enzyme treatment comprises spraying an enzyme-containing aqueous solution onto the tobacco raw material; the enzyme is a combination of cellulase and hemicellulase, the mass percentage of cellulase is 1‰-2‰, and the mass percentage of hemicellulase is 0.25‰-0.5‰; the mass ratio of the tobacco raw material to the enzyme-containing aqueous solution is 1:(0.5-3); the sealed storage temperature is 40-60°C, and the storage time is 0.5-24 h; (2) freezing the tobacco raw material sealed and preserved in step (1); the temperature of the sealed freezing is -40°C to 0°C, and the sealed freezing time is more than 12 hours; (3) unsealing the sealed and frozen tobacco raw material in step (2) and drying it; (4) treating the tobacco raw material dried in step (3) with an atomizer and then balancing; the mass ratio of the tobacco raw material to the atomizer is 100:(0.1-30); (5) Drying the tobacco raw material after balancing in step (4) at a temperature of 40-80°C to obtain the product.

2. The tobacco raw material processing method for increasing atomizer loading according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tobacco raw material is tobacco leaves and / or tobacco shreds.

3. The tobacco raw material processing method for increasing atomizer loading according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drying temperature in step (3) is 40-80°C.

4. The tobacco raw material processing method for increasing atomizer loading according to claim 1, characterized in that: The moisture content of the tobacco raw material after drying in step (3) is 6-10%.

5. The tobacco raw material processing method for increasing atomizer loading according to claim 1, characterized in that: The aerosol agent includes glycerin and / or propylene glycol.

6. The method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase atomizer loading according to claim 1, characterized in that: The equilibration time in step (4) is 1-48 h.

7. The method for processing tobacco raw materials to increase atomizer loading according to claim 1, characterized in that: The moisture content of the tobacco raw material after drying in step (5) is 5-14%.

8. Tobacco obtained by processing the tobacco raw material processing method for increasing aerosol loading according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Use of the tobacco according to claim 8 in cigarette manufacturing.

Images