Method of processing tobacco products and method of smoking tobacco
By preparing and consuming ultrafine tobacco powder liquid, the problem of smoke production during tobacco product consumption has been solved, achieving a smoke-free, safe, and comfortable smoking experience that aligns with consumer habits.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOBACCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CHINESE ACADEMY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (QINGZHOU TOBACCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CHINA NATIONAL TOBACCO COMPANY)
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing tobacco products produce smoke during smoking, which is harmful to the environment and health, and the way they are smoked does not conform to consumer habits, resulting in low product acceptance.
Tobacco leaves are processed by blanching and rapid drying to produce ultrafine tobacco powder with an average particle size of 10 nanometers to 100 micrometers. After being mixed with auxiliary materials, the ultrafine tobacco powder liquid is made and smoked using a special smoking device, which does not produce smoke in the traditional way.
It achieves smokeless smoking, reduces the impact on the environment and health, improves smoking comfort and safety, and conforms to consumer habits.
Smart Images
Figure CN116509046B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of smokeless tobacco, specifically relating to a method for processing tobacco products and a method for smoking tobacco. Background Technology
[0002] Tobacco is a long-standing and widely popular addiction, with cigarettes, made from processed tobacco leaves, being the most common form of tobacco product. The smoke produced by smoking cigarettes contains various chemical components such as nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, and benzo[a]pyrene, which can significantly impact the surrounding environment and individual health. While electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, which have gradually developed in recent years, can mitigate these effects to some extent, they still generate a large amount of smoke during use, negatively impacting the surrounding environment and the public.
[0003] While oral and chewing tobacco do not produce smoke, nicotine is primarily obtained through oral patches and chewing via the oral mucosa. These methods result in high nicotine content, significant oral irritation, and adverse effects on oral health. Furthermore, the process requires exhaling the smoke, which is extremely inconvenient and vastly different from traditional tobacco consumption, making it difficult for consumers to accept. Additionally, there are products made from tobacco extracts, including sprays, tablets, and beverages containing nicotine, but these are costly to produce and have limited acceptance due to their usage methods. Patent CN101143025 discloses a method for preparing sprays and tablets using a mixed liquid cigarette and incorporates several traditional Chinese medicines such as angelica and codonopsis, but this significantly alters the utilization of tobacco, limiting its application prospects. Therefore, developing smokeless new tobacco products that align with consumer habits, reducing the public impact of tobacco products, and minimizing their harm to health is of significant social importance. Summary of the Invention
[0004] Existing technologies, in order to reduce the impact of tobacco products on the surrounding environment and human health, employ tobacco products that are inconvenient to smoke, do not conform to consumer habits, and have a poor smoking experience. To address these problems, this invention provides a method for processing tobacco products and a method for smoking tobacco. This invention uses dried tobacco leaves obtained through blanching and rapid drying techniques as raw materials. These leaves are ground into ultrafine powder and prepared into a liquid tobacco powder. After sterilization, the powder is placed in a special device for smoking. The liquid tobacco powder prepared by this invention, using a dedicated smoking device, retains the traditional smoking method of tobacco, making it easily acceptable. It does not produce smoke during smoking and does not contain nitrosamines characteristic of tobacco products, thus exhibiting good safety and low environmental impact.
[0005] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution:
[0006] A method for processing tobacco products includes the following steps:
[0007] (1) Using fresh tobacco leaves as raw material, dry them using microwave rapid drying technology, or use 110℃ temperature conditions to kill the green and then rapidly dry them at 70-80℃ to obtain dried tobacco leaves.
[0008] (2) The dried tobacco leaves are ground and processed into tobacco ultrafine powder with an average particle size of 10 nanometers to 100 micrometers; and the nicotine content of the tobacco ultrafine powder is measured by sampling.
[0009] (3) Design a formula based on the measured nicotine content, and mix the prepared tobacco ultrafine powder with water and auxiliary materials according to the formula to prepare tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food.
[0010] (4) Disinfect the tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food and package it in a drinking device;
[0011] A device for inhaling ultrafine tobacco powder liquid includes a device body, which is tubular with an internal cavity. One end of the device body is a sealed end, and the other end is a conical inhalation end. A suction port is located in the middle of the suction end, and a vent is located on one side of the suction port. The suction port is connected to one end of a suction tube, and the other end of the suction tube is connected to the vent. The suction tube is disposed within the cavity of the device body and is a thin, straight tube with a diameter of 1.5-5.0 mm. The other end of the thin, straight tube is kept at a distance from the bottom of the sealed end of the device body. Ultrafine tobacco powder liquid fills the cavity. Alternatively, the suction tube has a spiral filling cavity in the middle, and the end of the suction tube is a straight tube connected to the vent, with ultrafine tobacco powder liquid filling the filling cavity.
[0012] Furthermore, in step (1), tobacco leaves with a specific nicotine content can be selected as processing raw materials according to product requirements. The tobacco leaves used can be fresh tobacco leaves grown in the field or fresh tobacco leaves grown in a greenhouse.
[0013] Furthermore, step (1) uses fresh tobacco leaves with a nicotine content of less than 0.5% (dry weight) as raw materials. Tobacco leaves with a nicotine content of less than 0.5% (dry weight) have less irritation to the oral cavity and can improve smoking comfort.
[0014] Furthermore, in step (1), the microwave wavelength is 100-300 mm and the frequency is 1000-3000 MHz. Even further, in step (1), the microwave wavelength is 122 mm and the frequency is 2450 MHz. The TSNA content of the tobacco leaves obtained through blanching and rapid drying is below the detection limit, demonstrating good safety.
[0015] Furthermore, in step (2), the tobacco leaf ultrafine powder is first pre-crushed using a conventional crusher and then prepared using an ultrafine powder processing machine.
[0016] Furthermore, the excipients in step (3) are commonly used in tobacco products, such as flavoring agents and coloring agents.
[0017] Furthermore, in step (4), the tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food is sterilized by methods such as ultra-high temperature sterilization, ultra-high pressure sterilization or pasteurization to obtain tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food that meets the conditions for product application.
[0018] Furthermore, the smoking device also includes a sealing cap, the inside of which has a conical groove that fits against the end face of the smoking end.
[0019] Furthermore, the diameter and length of the main body of the device are the same as or approximately the same as the diameter and length of a cigarette or cigar.
[0020] Furthermore, the diameter of the main body of the device is 6-10mm and the length is 80-120mm.
[0021] Ultrafine tobacco powder is incorporated into a smoking device to create a tobacco product that resembles a traditional cigarette or cigar. After inhaling the ultrafine tobacco powder, the tongue pushes the powder to the lips, where nicotine is absorbed through the oral mucosa. The remaining powder, containing trace amounts of nicotine, can be swallowed directly.
[0022] The beneficial effects of this invention are:
[0023] (1) Compared with oral smoking and chewing tobacco, the tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food of the present invention does not produce smoke, does not contain nitrosamines that are currently unique to tobacco products, has a low nicotine content, has low irritation to the oral cavity, has a low impact on the public environment and good safety, and at the same time, it better maintains the traditional way of smoking tobacco, which is more in line with consumers' habits.
[0024] (2) After the nicotine is absorbed through the oral mucosa, the remaining liquid containing trace amounts of nicotine can be swallowed directly, which helps to improve the user's experience. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 Comparison of TSNA content between fresh tobacco leaf powder and traditionally roasted tobacco leaf powder;
[0026] Figure 2 Comparison of TSNA content in dry powder of fresh tobacco leaves with low nicotine content and dry powder of traditionally roasted and processed tobacco leaves.
[0027] Figure 3 Comparison of nicotine extraction yield from fresh tobacco leaf powder of different particle sizes;
[0028] Figure 4 Comparison of the irritant properties of tobacco powder with different nicotine contents;
[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the smoking device for the tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food in Example 3;
[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the smoking device for the tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food in Example 4. Detailed Implementation
[0031] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.
[0032] Example 1
[0033] (1) Plant tobacco varieties with low nicotine content in the field, or control the nicotine content of conventional tobacco varieties to below 0.5% (dry weight) through cultivation measures. Select the appropriate tobacco growth period for harvesting fresh tobacco leaves to ensure the best planting benefits.
[0034] (2) The harvested fresh tobacco leaves are transported to the drying workshop, and after being blanched in an electric oven at 110°C, they are quickly dried at 80°C to obtain dried tobacco leaves.
[0035] (3) The dried tobacco leaves are pre-crushed by simple mechanical processing, and then the pre-crushed tobacco particles are transferred to an ultrafine powder processing machine for further processing to obtain tobacco ultrafine powder with an average particle size of about 10 micrometers. Then, samples are taken and nicotine is extracted with nicotine extract solution, and the nicotine content of the tobacco ultrafine powder is determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to provide reference indicators for subsequent liquid food processing.
[0036] (4) Design a specific formula based on the nicotine content, determine the amount of tobacco ultrafine powder to be added, and determine the amount of flavoring agent (original aroma, tobacco aroma, salty aroma, sweet aroma and other aroma flavoring agents) and coloring agent (food coloring, natural coloring), as well as the amount of water and other auxiliary materials to be added. Prepare a liquid food containing the required nicotine content of tobacco ultrafine powder according to the formula.
[0037] (5) The prepared tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food is sterilized by ultra-high temperature to obtain sterile tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food that can be stored at room temperature for subsequent product packaging.
[0038] (6) The ultra-high temperature sterilized tobacco powder liquid is put into a special smoking device.
[0039] Example 2
[0040] (1) Cultivate low-nicotine tobacco varieties or conventional tobacco varieties in greenhouses, and control the nicotine content of tobacco leaves to within 0.5% (dry weight) through nutrient solution regulation. Select the appropriate tobacco growth period for harvesting fresh tobacco leaves to ensure the best planting benefits.
[0041] (2) The harvested fresh tobacco leaves are dried quickly by microwave drying method with a microwave wavelength of 122 mm and a frequency of 2450 MHz to obtain dried tobacco leaves.
[0042] (3) The dried tobacco leaves are pre-crushed by simple mechanical processing, and then the pre-crushed tobacco particles are transferred to an ultrafine powder processing machine for further processing to obtain tobacco ultrafine powder (i.e., nano powder) with an average particle size of about 100 nanometers. Then, samples are taken and nicotine is extracted with nicotine extract. The nicotine content of the tobacco ultrafine powder is determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to provide reference indicators for subsequent liquid food processing.
[0043] (4) Design the formula according to product requirements, determine the amount of tobacco ultrafine powder to be added, and determine the amount of flavoring agent (original aroma, salty aroma, sweet aroma, other aroma) and coloring agent (food coloring, natural coloring), as well as the amount of water and other auxiliary materials to be added. Prepare a liquid food containing the required nicotine content of tobacco ultrafine powder according to the formula.
[0044] (5) Obtain tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food that requires low-temperature storage by ultra-high pressure sterilization or pasteurization, and use it for subsequent product packaging.
[0045] (6) The pasteurized tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food is put into a special storage bag and stored in a low temperature refrigeration method. When it is needed to be smoked, it is put into a special smoking device.
[0046] Example 3
[0047] The inhalation devices mentioned in Examples 1 and 2 mainly have two structures.
[0048] A structure such as Figure 5 As shown, the smoking device has a diameter of approximately 7.7 mm and a length of approximately 90 mm, similar to the diameter and length of a cigarette. The device includes a body 1, which is tubular with an internal cavity 5. One end of the body 1 is a sealed end, and the other end is a conical smoking end. A smoking port 3 is located in the middle of the smoking end, and a ventilation port 4 is located on one side of the smoking port 3. The conical shape of the smoking end and the position of the smoking port help reduce smoking resistance. The smoking port 3 is connected to one end of a smoking tube 6, which is a thin, straight tube with a diameter of 1.5-5.0 mm. The other end of the smoking tube 6 extends into the bottom of the cavity of the body 1, maintaining a certain distance from the bottom of the cavity, and communicates with the ventilation port 4. Ultrafine tobacco powder fills the cavity 5 between the smoking port 3 and the ventilation port 4.
[0049] Example 4
[0050] Another type of smoking device has the following structure: Figure 6As shown, the diameter and length of the smoking device are similar to those of a cigar. The smoking device includes a body 1, which is tubular with an internal cavity 5. One end of the body 1 is a sealed end, and the other end is a conical sucking end. A sucking port 3 is located in the middle of the sucking end, and a vent 4 is located on one side of the sucking port 3. The sucking port 3 is connected to one end of a sucking tube 6. A spiral filling cavity 8 is located in the middle of the sucking tube 6, and the end 7 of the sucking tube is a straight tube connected to the vent 4. The ultrafine tobacco powder is filled in the spiral filling cavity 8. The spiral filling cavity 8 can better maintain the stability of the sucking flow, making it easier to smoke when the fluid balance is low.
[0051] For ease of use, the device also includes a sealing cap 2, the inside of which has a conical groove that fits against the end face of the sucking end.
[0052] 1. The relationship between tobacco processing methods, alkali content, and TSNA content.
[0053] Fresh tobacco leaves with a nicotine content of 2.5% were processed into ultrafine tobacco powder with a particle size of approximately 10 micrometers using the method of this invention, and into dry tobacco powder prepared using a traditional curing process. The moisture content of both types of tobacco powder was kept consistent. After ultrasonic extraction with TSNA extractant under the same conditions, the TSNA content was determined using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system. The key points of the traditional curing process are that the tobacco leaves turn yellow while the temperature is increased, moisture is removed, and drying is carried out simultaneously; the starting temperature is low, the heating rate is slow, and the drying time is long.
[0054] Depend on Figure 1 It was found that the total TSNA content in the dried powder of roasted tobacco leaves was approximately 221 ng / g, while the TSNA content in the ultrafine powder of fresh tobacco leaves was below the detection limit. Traditional roasting and conditioning processes easily lead to the formation of TSNA, while rapid drying methods for fresh tobacco leaves can effectively reduce TSNA formation.
[0055] Low-nicotine tobacco leaves with a nicotine content of 0.5% were processed using the method of this invention into dry powder of fresh tobacco leaves with an evaluation particle size of approximately 10 micrometers and dry powder of traditionally roasted and processed tobacco leaves. The moisture content of both types of tobacco powder was kept consistent. After ultrasonic extraction with TSNA extraction solution under the same conditions, the TSNA content was determined using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system. Figure 2 It can be seen that the total TSNA content of roasted and processed tobacco leaves is about 76 ng / g, while the TSNA content of fresh tobacco powder is below the detection limit.
[0056] This indicates that the processing method is the key reason why the TSNA content of the tobacco leaves is below the detection limit, while under traditional baking and curing conditions, tobacco leaves with low nicotine content can only reduce the TSNA content to a limited extent.
[0057] 2. Comparison of nicotine extraction yield from fresh tobacco leaf powder with different particle sizes.
[0058] Fresh tobacco leaves with a nicotine content of 2.5% (dry weight) were dried and then pulverized into dry powders of different particle sizes: 0.5 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.01 mm, and 100 nm. Samples of the same mass of fresh tobacco leaf dry powder were extracted with nicotine extract for 5 minutes. The nicotine content was then determined using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system, and the nicotine content was calculated based on the sample mass. The results showed that the smaller the particle size of the tobacco leaf dry powder, the higher the nicotine extraction yield, indicating that smaller particle sizes release nicotine more quickly in the extract. The nicotine extraction yield of the 100 nm particle size fresh tobacco leaf dry powder exceeded 95% of the total nicotine content of the sample.
[0059] 3. Comparison of the irritation of tobacco powder with different nicotine contents.
[0060] Equal masses of ultrafine tobacco powder with different nicotine contents were weighed and prepared into liquid diets with an equal volume of deionized water. These were then used in a feeding experiment on rabbits, with the irritation level of different samples compared based on the rabbits' feeding time. The results showed that rabbits consumed the tobacco powder sample with a nicotine content of 1.00% in less than 3 minutes, the sample with 0.75% nicotine content in approximately 5-10 minutes, the sample with 0.50% nicotine content in approximately 10-20 minutes, the sample with 0.30% nicotine content in more than 30 minutes, and the sample with 0.10% nicotine content in more than 60 minutes. This indicates that tobacco powder liquid diets with lower nicotine content are less irritating, and those with a nicotine content below 0.50% require more than 10 minutes to consume, making them more suitable for the development of products for direct oral inhalation. Human consumption tests also show that tobacco powder with a nicotine content of 1.00% has a strong spiciness and is likely to cause a strong stomach discomfort, while tobacco powder with a nicotine content of less than 0.50% has a weaker spiciness and causes very mild stomach discomfort.
[0061] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method for processing tobacco products, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Using fresh tobacco leaves with a nicotine content of less than 0.5% by dry weight as raw material, dry them using microwave rapid drying technology, or use 110℃ temperature conditions to kill the green and then rapidly dry them at 70-80℃ to obtain dried tobacco leaves. (2) The tobacco leaves are first pre-crushed and then processed into tobacco ultrafine powder with an average particle size of 10 nanometers to 100 micrometers. The nicotine content of the tobacco ultrafine powder is then measured by sampling. (3) Design a formula based on the measured nicotine content, determine the amount of tobacco ultrafine powder to be added, and mix the prepared tobacco ultrafine powder with water and auxiliary materials according to the formula to prepare a tobacco ultrafine powder liquid containing the required nicotine content. (4) The tobacco ultrafine powder liquid is subjected to food sterilization treatment and packaged in a special drinking device; The smoking device includes a device body, which is tubular with an internal cavity. One end of the device body is a sealed end, and the other end is a conical smoking end. A smoking port is located in the middle of the smoking end, and a vent is located on one side of the smoking port. The smoking port is connected to one end of a smoking tube, and the other end of the smoking tube is connected to the vent. The smoking tube is located in the cavity of the device body and is a thin straight tube with a diameter of 1.5-5.0 mm. The other end of the thin straight tube is kept at a distance from the bottom of the sealed end of the device body. The prepared ultrafine tobacco powder liquid fills the cavity; or the middle of the smoking tube has a spiral filling cavity, and the end of the smoking tube is a straight tube connected to the vent. The prepared ultrafine tobacco powder liquid fills the filling cavity.
2. The processing method for tobacco products according to claim 1, characterized in that, The microwave wavelength in step (1) is 100-300mm and the frequency is 1000-3000MHz.
3. The processing method for tobacco products according to claim 1, characterized in that, The microwave wavelength in step (1) is 122 mm and the frequency is 2450 MHz.
4. The processing method for tobacco products according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (2), the tobacco leaf ultrafine powder is first obtained by pre-crushing with a conventional crusher and then by preparing it with an ultrafine powder processing machine.
5. The method for processing tobacco products according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step (4) involves processing the tobacco ultrafine powder liquid food through ultra-high temperature sterilization, ultra-high pressure sterilization, or pasteurization.
6. The method for processing tobacco products according to claim 1, characterized in that, The smoking device also includes a sealing cap, the inside of which has a conical groove that fits against the end face of the smoking end.
7. The method for processing tobacco products according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter and length of the device body are the same as those of a cigarette or cigar.
8. The method for processing tobacco products according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the instrument body is 6-10mm, and the length is 80-120mm.