A method for improving the stability of a thick stock pulp

Abstract

The application discloses a method for improving the stability of thick pulp method slurry, which comprises the following steps: crushing tobacco raw materials into tobacco powder with a size of 30-50 mu m; adding water into additional fibers, and grinding the fibers into fiber pulp with a beating degree of 30-55 degrees SR by using a grinding machine; uniformly stirring a smoking agent, a gluey agent, an additive A and an additive B, and then adding the fiber pulp into the mixture to uniformly mix; and adding the crushed tobacco powder in step (1) to uniformly mix, so as to prepare uniform slurry. In the preparation process of the thick pulp method slurry, different types of gluey agents are used in combination, and additives are added at the same time, so that the thick pulp method slurry obtained has good stability, a long storage time, and no obvious change in slurry state, the wet sheet obtained by scraping and coating has a smooth and uniform surface, and the thick pulp method sheet has good physical strength, flexibility and moisture resistance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of heated cigarette technology, specifically relating to a method for improving the stability of slurry produced by thickening the slurry process. Background Technology

[0002] Heated tobacco products, also known as low-temperature cigarettes, are the closest type of tobacco product to traditional cigarettes. Heated cigarettes are characterized by "heating tobacco shreds or tobacco extracts instead of burning tobacco shreds," reducing the harmful components produced by the high-temperature combustion and decomposition of tobacco, and significantly lowering the release of mainstream smoke chemical components. Thick slurry reconstituted tobacco is produced by pulverizing tobacco raw materials and mixing them evenly with smoking agents, binders, outer fibers, water, etc., to form a slurry. This slurry is then cast onto a metal belt and dried. Its aroma and flavor are close to natural tobacco leaves, and its density and filler content are also close to natural tobacco leaves. It has good machinability, and its tar release is 25% lower than that of natural tobacco leaves.

[0003] The stability of reconstituted tobacco pulp produced using the slurry process plays a crucial role in the product's forming quality and production continuity. Factors such as tobacco powder extracts, binders, refining time, temperature, and settling time can affect pulp stability. Previous studies have shown that after the slurry is prepared using the slurry process, its state changes rapidly with prolonged stirring and settling time, resulting in decreased viscosity and even separation of the material from water, thus affecting the quality of subsequent casting. This may be partly due to the presence of large amounts of calcium and magnesium ions in the tobacco powder extracts, which affect the adhesiveness and dispersibility of the binder, thereby influencing the pulp state.

[0004] Currently, patents related to the thick slurry method mainly focus on manufacturing processes, adhesives, slurry uniformity, and equipment. Patent CN201610870853.X discloses a reconstituted tobacco leaf suitable for heated non-combustible cigarettes, obtained by mixing tobacco raw materials, smoking agents, adhesives, and flavorings to form a slurry, which is then dried. Patent CN202210769438.0 discloses a process method to improve the uniformity of thick slurry preparation, where raw materials are homogenized and mixed using a vertical mixer at a stirring speed of 5000-7000 r / min. Patent CN202010455820.5 discloses a filtration device for slurry clumps in reconstituted tobacco leaf slurry produced by the thick slurry method for heated cigarettes, which can effectively filter clumps in the slurry, improving slurry uniformity and the "paper yield" of reconstituted tobacco leaves. However, no reports have yet been found on improving the stability of slurry produced by the thick slurry method. Based on this, this application was developed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art and provide a method to improve the stability of slurry obtained by the thick slurry method. The thick slurry obtained by the method has good stability, can be stored for a long time without changing the state of the slurry, and the wet film obtained by scraping has a smooth and uniform surface. In addition, the thick slurry film has good physical strength and moisture resistance.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A method for improving the stability of slurry produced by the thick slurry process includes the following steps:

[0008] (1) Pulverize the tobacco raw materials into tobacco powder of 30-50μm;

[0009] (2) Add water to the added fiber and grind it into a fiber pulp with a beating degree of 30-55°SR using a refining machine;

[0010] (3) Stir the smoke generator, adhesive, additive A and additive B evenly, and then add them to the fiber pulp in step (2) and mix evenly.

[0011] (4) Add the pulverized tobacco powder from step (1), mix well, and make a uniform slurry.

[0012] This invention combines different types of adhesives in the preparation of thick slurry, along with the addition of additives A and B, to achieve good stability of the thick slurry, with minimal changes in slurry state over long storage periods. The resulting wet film has a smooth and uniform surface, and the thick slurry film exhibits good physical strength, flexibility, and moisture resistance.

[0013] Specifically, the added fiber in step (2) is one or more of plant fibers such as coniferous wood fiber, broadleaf wood fiber, and flax fiber, and the amount of added fiber can be 3-6% of the weight of tobacco powder.

[0014] Furthermore, in step (2), the mass ratio of added fiber to water can be 1:70-100.

[0015] Specifically, the smoke-generating agent mentioned in step (3) is one or two of propylene glycol, glycerin, etc., and the amount of smoke-generating agent added can be 15-22% of the weight of tobacco powder.

[0016] Specifically, the adhesive in step (3) is composed of adhesive A and adhesive B. Adhesive A is one or more of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, etc., and adhesive B is one or more of guar gum, xanthan gum, tamarind gum, etc. The amount of adhesive added can be 3-5% of the weight of tobacco powder.

[0017] Furthermore, the mass ratio of adhesive A to adhesive B can be 2-5:1.

[0018] Specifically, the additive A mentioned in step (3) is one or more of sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium gluconate, etc., and the amount of additive A added can be 2-8‰ of the weight of tobacco powder.

[0019] Furthermore, the adjuvant B mentioned in step (3) is one or more of polyacrylate, polyethylene glycol, phospholipid, polyglycerol (such as diglycerol, triglycerol), glycerol fatty acid ester (glycerol monolaurate, glycerol cocoate), polyglycerol fatty acid ester, etc., and the amount of adjuvant B added can be 3-5‰ of the weight of tobacco powder.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the method of the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] In this invention, the selected additives A, such as sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, and sodium gluconate, can bind with metal ions such as calcium and magnesium contained in the tobacco powder extract, avoiding the influence of metal ions on the adhesive. They also exhibit good water retention, thereby extending the stable storage time of the pulp. The selected additives B, such as polyacrylate, polyethylene glycol, phospholipids, polyglycerol, and glycerol fatty acid esters, can adsorb onto microparticles or connect several microparticles into loose microparticle clusters with considerable distance between them, hindering the contact and growth of microparticles and allowing them to remain dispersed in the solution for a longer period. Simultaneously, they contribute to the good flexibility of the resulting sheet and reduce breakage.

[0022] In this invention, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose in adhesive A have good adhesion and dispersibility to tobacco powder and fibers in the slurry, and good film-forming properties. However, the viscosity of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose decreases at lower pH and is easily affected by metal ions. Guar gum and xanthan gum in adhesive B have good solubility in both cold and hot water and do not cause clumping. They also have a wide pH range and salt resistance, are less affected by the low pH of the tobacco slurry, and have good stability. The slurry obtained by using the two types of adhesives in combination and adding additives A and B has good stability, can be stored for a long time without changing the state of the slurry, and the wet sheet obtained by scraping has a smooth and uniform surface. The slurry sheet also has good physical strength and moisture resistance. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 The change of stability kinetic index of the slurry prepared in Example 1 and Control Sample 1 over time;

[0024] Figure 2 The change of the stability kinetic index of the slurry prepared in Example 2 and Control Sample 2 over time. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0026] In the following embodiments, the raw materials used, including but not limited to smoke generators, adhesives, additives A and B, are all commercially available products that can be directly purchased or prepared using conventional methods in the art. Processes not described in detail can be performed using conventional techniques in the art.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] A method for improving the stability of slurry produced by the thick slurry process includes the following steps:

[0029] (1) Pulverize the tobacco raw materials into tobacco powder of 30-50μm;

[0030] (2) Add water to the added fiber and grind it into a fiber pulp with a beating degree of 30°SR using a refining machine;

[0031] (3) Stir the smoking agent, adhesive, additive A, and additive B evenly, and then add them to the fiber pulp from step (2) and mix evenly. The added fiber is coniferous wood fiber, and the amount added is 3% of the weight of the tobacco powder. The mass ratio of the added fiber to water is 1:80. The smoking agent is propylene glycol, and the amount added is 15% of the weight of the tobacco powder. The adhesive is composed of adhesive A and adhesive B. Adhesive A is sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and adhesive B is guar gum. The amount of adhesive added is 3% of the weight of the tobacco powder, and the mass ratio of adhesive A to adhesive B is 2:1. Additive A is sodium hexametaphosphate, and the amount added is 2‰ of the weight of the tobacco powder. Additive B is polyacrylate, and the amount added is 3‰ of the weight of the tobacco powder.

[0032] (4) Finally, add the pulverized tobacco powder from step (1), mix well, and make a uniform slurry.

[0033] The difference between Control Sample 1 and Example 1 is that the adhesive is an equal amount of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and no additives A and B are added. Otherwise, refer to Example 1.

[0034] After the slurry was prepared, it was placed in a Turbiscan™ multiple light scattering instrument to measure the change in the slurry's stability kinetic index over time. Scans were performed every 5 minutes for a total of 90 minutes. The stability kinetic index is a comprehensive measure of the changes in concentration and particle size throughout the entire storage time; a higher stability kinetic index value indicates poorer sample stability. The test results are shown below. Figure 1 See Table 1.

[0035] Table 1. State and stability index of the two slurries 90 minutes after preparation.

[0036]

[0037] Depend on Figure 1It can be seen that after adding the two adhesives and additives A and B, the stability of the slurry prepared in Example 1 was significantly improved, and the change in slurry state was small. As shown in Table 1, after 90 minutes, the adhesion of the slurry prepared in Control Sample 1 deteriorated, and the material separated from the water. The slurry prepared in Example 1 had good adhesion, and the stability index of the slurry in Example 1 was 42.33% lower than that of Control Sample 1.

[0038] Example 2

[0039] A method for improving the stability of slurry produced by the thick slurry process includes the following steps:

[0040] (1) Pulverize the tobacco raw materials into tobacco powder of 30-50μm;

[0041] (2) Add water to the added fiber and grind it into a fiber pulp with a beating degree of 40°SR using a pulper;

[0042] (3) Stir the smoking agent, adhesive, auxiliary agent A, and auxiliary agent B evenly, and then add them to the fiber pulp in step (2) and mix evenly. Among them, the added fiber is composed of coniferous wood fiber and broadleaf wood fiber in a mass ratio of 3:2, and the amount added is 4% of the weight of tobacco powder. The mass ratio of added fiber to water is 1:85. The smoking agent is glycerol, and the amount added is 18% of the weight of tobacco powder. The adhesive is composed of adhesive A and adhesive B. Adhesive A is sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, and adhesive B is guar gum. The amount of adhesive added is 4% of the weight of tobacco powder, and the mass ratio of adhesive A to adhesive B is 4:1. Auxiliary agent A is sodium tripolyphosphate, and the amount added is 5‰ of the weight of tobacco powder. Auxiliary agent B is glyceryl monolaurate, and the amount added is 5‰ of the weight of tobacco powder.

[0043] (4) Finally, add the pulverized tobacco powder from step (1) and mix well to make a uniform slurry.

[0044] The difference between control sample 2 and example 2 is that the adhesive is an equal amount of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and no additives A and B are added. Otherwise, refer to example 2.

[0045] After the slurry is prepared, it is poured into Turbiscan. TM The stability kinetic index of the slurry in the bottle was measured over time using a multiple light scattering instrument. The results are shown in [Figure number missing]. Figure 2 And Table 2.

[0046] Table 2. State and stability index of the two slurries after 90 minutes of preparation.

[0047]

[0048] Depend on Figure 2It can be seen that after adding the two adhesives and additives A and B, the stability of the slurry prepared in Example 2 was significantly improved, and the change in slurry state was small. As shown in Table 2, after 90 minutes, the adhesion of the slurry prepared in control sample 2 deteriorated, and the material separated from the water, while the adhesion of the slurry prepared in Example 2 was good. The stability index of the slurry in Example 2 was 49.44% lower than that of control sample 2.

[0049] Example 3

[0050] A method for improving the stability of slurry produced by the thick slurry process, which differs from Example 1 in that additive A is sodium gluconate and additive B is polyethylene glycol.

[0051] Example 4

[0052] A method for improving the stability of slurry in the thick slurry process, which differs from Example 2, is that adhesive B is tamarind gum and additive B is phospholipid and glyceryl cocoate in a mass ratio of 1:2.

[0053] In summary, the addition of additives A and B in the method of this invention results in a lower stability index for the slurry and significantly improved adhesion. Furthermore, the combined use of the two types of adhesives ensures good stability of the resulting thick slurry, allowing it to be stored for a long time without changing its state. The resulting wet film has a smooth and uniform surface, and the thick slurry film exhibits good physical strength and moisture resistance.

[0054] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for improving the stability of slurry produced by the thick slurry process, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Pulverize the tobacco raw materials into tobacco powder of 30-50μm; (2) Add water to the added fiber and grind it into a fiber pulp with a beating degree of 30-55°SR using a refining machine; (3) Stir the smoke generator, adhesive, additive A and additive B evenly, and then add them to the fiber pulp in step (2) and mix evenly. (4) Add the pulverized tobacco powder from step (1), mix well, and make a uniform slurry; The additive A mentioned in step (3) is one or more of sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, and sodium gluconate, and the amount of additive A added is 2-8‰ of the weight of tobacco powder; The auxiliary agent B mentioned in step (3) is one or more of polyacrylate, polyethylene glycol, phospholipid, diglycerol, triglycerol, glyceryl monolaurate, and glyceryl cocoate. The amount of auxiliary agent B added is 3-5‰ of the weight of tobacco powder. The adhesive mentioned in step (3) is composed of a mixture of adhesive A and adhesive B. Adhesive A is sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, or a mixture of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, or a mixture of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. Adhesive B is one or more of guar gum, xanthan gum, and tamarind gum. The amount of adhesive added is 3-5% of the weight of tobacco powder. The mass ratio of adhesive A to adhesive B is 2-5:

1.

2. The method for improving the stability of slurry produced by the thick slurry process as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The added fiber in step (2) is one or more of coniferous wood fiber, broadleaf wood fiber, and flax fiber, and the amount of added fiber is 3-6% of the weight of tobacco powder.

3. The method for improving the stability of slurry produced by the thick slurry process as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step (2), the mass ratio of added fiber to water is 1:70-100.

4. The method for improving the stability of slurry produced by the thick slurry process as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The smoking agent mentioned in step (3) is one or two of propylene glycol and glycerin, and the amount of smoking agent added is 15-22% of the weight of tobacco powder.

Images