A heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco and a preparation method and application thereof

Abstract

The application provides a heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco and a preparation method and application thereof, and the preparation method comprises the following steps: a mixture of tobacco material and an additive is wrapped with at least two layers of reconstituted tobacco, and then pressure is applied to obtain the heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco; the tobacco material is obtained by puffing tobacco powder, and the puffing treatment specifically comprises the following steps: the tobacco powder is mixed with a puffing agent, salt and acid, and then heated and puffed, and the puffing treatment is completed; the additive comprises bentonite and / or aluminum oxide. The application breaks through the single-layer structure of traditional reconstituted tobacco, effectively increases the proportion of tobacco material in the reconstituted tobacco, improves the tobacco aroma of the heated cigarette, effectively improves the tobacco aroma release performance, can effectively absorb glycerol in the outer reconstituted tobacco, reduces the water absorption of the reconstituted tobacco, is beneficial to the storage and processing of the reconstituted tobacco, and reduces the influence of the atomizing agent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of reconstituted tobacco technology, specifically relating to a heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco leaf, its preparation method, and its application. Background Technology

[0002] Heated cigarettes contain a large amount of atomizing agents (such as glycerin) in their smoke-generating materials. The content of these atomizing agents determines the amount of smoke released and the aroma release during inhalation. Currently, the mainstream smoke-generating materials for heated cigarettes are reconstituted tobacco leaves, such as those produced using the slurry method, the rolling method, and the papermaking method. Reconstituted tobacco leaves contain a significant amount of non-tobacco components, which affects the aroma of heated cigarettes. To enhance the natural tobacco aroma in heated cigarette smoke, researchers have explored using tobacco leaves or shredded tobacco that have absorbed atomizing agents as smoke-generating materials. However, this approach has the following problems: firstly, the atomizing agent content on the tobacco leaves or shredded tobacco is low, resulting in a low amount of smoke during inhalation; secondly, the atomizing agent adheres to the surface of the tobacco leaves or shredded tobacco, making them sticky and causing difficulties in subsequent cigarette rolling.

[0003] CN106343600B discloses a post-processing technique for improving the quality and performance of reconstituted tobacco products made using the papermaking method. The post-processing includes the following steps: 1) heating and rehumidifying the slit reconstituted tobacco leaves; then, turning and kneading the heated and rehumidified reconstituted tobacco leaves under heat and moisture retention conditions; 2) grinding and fluffing the reconstituted tobacco leaves obtained in step 1); 3) slowly drying the reconstituted tobacco leaves obtained in step 2) at a low temperature; 4) rapidly cooling the reconstituted tobacco leaves obtained in step 3). This invention can significantly improve the shortcomings of reconstituted tobacco leaves, such as a flat and straight appearance and a brittle and hard feel, giving the reconstituted tobacco leaves a soft and curled appearance and tactile sensory quality, thus improving the quality and performance of reconstituted tobacco products made using the papermaking method.

[0004] CN103141929A discloses a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves with enhanced aroma characteristics. The method uses the residue from the conventional extraction of aroma components from the traditional Tibetan medicinal plant, *Saussurea costus*, as raw material. This residue is mixed with tobacco stems and broken tobacco leaves in a specific ratio and extracted by hot water soaking. The resulting insoluble matter is used to make a substrate using a papermaking method. The resulting aqueous extract is then concentrated under vacuum and used as a coating on the substrate to obtain reconstituted tobacco leaves. When applied to cigarette formulations, reconstituted tobacco leaves enhance woody, fresh, and sweet aromas and strengthen aroma characteristics, while reducing irritation and increasing a smooth, moist feel.

[0005] However, none of the above-mentioned processes have effectively solved the series of problems caused by atomizing agents. Therefore, how to provide a method that can effectively enhance the natural aroma of tobacco while reducing the impact of atomizing agents has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide a reconstituted tobacco leaf for heated cigarettes, its preparation method, and its application. This invention breaks through the traditional single-layer structure of reconstituted tobacco leaves, effectively increasing the proportion of tobacco substances in the reconstituted tobacco leaves, enhancing the natural aroma of heated cigarettes, effectively improving the aroma release performance, and effectively adsorbing glycerol from the outer layer of the reconstituted tobacco leaves, reducing the water absorption of the reconstituted tobacco leaves, facilitating their storage and processing, and minimizing the impact of atomizing agents.

[0007] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves for heated cigarettes, the method comprising the following steps:

[0009] A mixture of tobacco substances and additives is sandwiched between at least two layers of reconstituted tobacco leaves, and then pressure is applied to obtain the heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco leaves.

[0010] The tobacco substance is obtained by puffing tobacco powder, and the specific steps of the puffing process include:

[0011] The tobacco powder is mixed with a bulking agent, salt, and acid and heated to expand, thus completing the expansion process.

[0012] The additives include bentonite and / or alumina.

[0013] The above method uses expanded tobacco material as a core layer to create sandwich reconstituted tobacco leaves, breaking through the traditional single-layer structure of reconstituted tobacco leaves. This effectively increases the proportion of tobacco material in the reconstituted tobacco leaves and enhances the natural aroma of heated cigarettes. The expanded tobacco powder effectively improves the release of tobacco aroma. When used in conjunction with additives, it effectively absorbs glycerol from the outer layer of the reconstituted tobacco leaves, reduces the water absorption of the reconstituted tobacco leaves, facilitates storage and processing, and minimizes the impact of atomizing agents.

[0014] Bentonite possesses excellent water absorption, dispersion, lubrication, and thickening properties, which improve the compactness of reconstituted tobacco sandwiches, prevent cracking, and enhance the flowability of flue gas due to its interlayer structure. Furthermore, bentonite adsorbs glycerol from reconstituted tobacco, reducing its hygroscopicity. Similarly, alumina, with its adsorption properties, also adsorbs glycerol from reconstituted tobacco, reducing its hygroscopicity. Simultaneously, alumina improves the thermal conductivity of reconstituted tobacco, allowing the tobacco powder in the sandwich layer to be effectively heated and release its aroma. These specific additives, combined with a specific puffing process, enable the sandwich material to effectively adsorb glycerol from the outer reconstituted tobacco, reducing its water absorption, facilitating storage and processing, and minimizing the impact of atomizing agents.

[0015] The above-mentioned puffing treatment can loosen the tobacco powder particles, thereby improving the air permeability and smoke release performance of the tobacco powder.

[0016] Preferably, the leavening agent includes alum and / or baking soda.

[0017] Preferably, the salt comprises an inorganic chloride salt and / or an organic alkali metal salt, with inorganic chloride salts being the most preferred.

[0018] Preferably, the inorganic chloride salt includes any one or a combination of at least two of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, or calcium chloride, with sodium chloride being the most preferred.

[0019] Preferably, the organic alkali metal salt includes any one or a combination of at least two of sodium gluconate, potassium gluconate, sodium malate, or sodium lactate.

[0020] The aforementioned inorganic salts can exert osmotic pressure, allowing the internal moisture of tobacco materials to permeate to the surface, accelerating moisture diffusion, enabling the tobacco materials to absorb water quickly and evenly, promoting water absorption and swelling, and breaking down the cuticle of the tobacco materials, allowing the swelling gas to act inside the tobacco material and promoting the swelling effect; at the same time, they can improve the thermal conductivity of tobacco powder, which is conducive to the release of tobacco aroma, and in combination with the synergistic effect of organic acids, they can accelerate the generation of swelling gas and improve the swelling effect.

[0021] Preferably, the acid includes any one or a combination of at least two of citric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, or tartaric acid, with citric acid being the most preferred.

[0022] Preferably, the mass of the expanding agent is 1-5% of the mass of the tobacco powder, such as 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% or 5%, but not limited to the values ​​listed above. Other unlisted values ​​within the above range are also applicable.

[0023] Preferably, the salt is 1-20% of the tobacco powder mass, such as 1%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%, but not limited to the values ​​listed above. Other unlisted values ​​within the above range are also applicable, preferably 3-10%.

[0024] Preferably, the mass of the acid is 1-20% of the mass of the tobacco powder, such as 1%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%, but not limited to the values ​​listed above. Other unlisted values ​​within the above range are also applicable, preferably 3-10%.

[0025] Preferably, the mass of the additive is 1-10% of the mass of the tobacco powder, such as 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9% or 10%, but not limited to the values ​​listed above. Other unlisted values ​​within the above range are also applicable.

[0026] Secondly, the present invention provides reconstituted tobacco leaves for heated cigarettes prepared by the preparation method described above.

[0027] Thirdly, the present invention also provides the application of the reconstituted tobacco leaves for heated cigarettes as described above in the preparation of heated cigarettes.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0029] This invention provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves for heated cigarettes. The method uses expanded tobacco material as a core layer to create sandwich-type reconstituted tobacco leaves, breaking through the traditional single-layer structure of reconstituted tobacco leaves. This effectively increases the proportion of tobacco material in the reconstituted tobacco leaves and enhances the natural aroma of heated cigarettes. The expanded tobacco powder effectively improves the release of tobacco aroma. When used in conjunction with additives, it effectively adsorbs glycerol from the outer layer of the reconstituted tobacco leaves, reduces the water absorption of the reconstituted tobacco leaves, facilitates storage and processing, and minimizes the impact of atomizing agents. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To further illustrate the technical means and effects of the present invention, the following describes the technical solution of the present invention in conjunction with preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes, as follows:

[0033] (1) Pulverize the tobacco leaves, add alum and baking soda (1% and 2% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively), then add sodium chloride and citric acid (10% and 10% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively) solution, mix and stir, feed into an extruder and heat to extrude (extrusion temperature is 130℃, extrusion time is 10s), dry and pulverize to obtain tobacco material, and mix with bentonite and alumina (3% and 3% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively) to obtain a mixture;

[0034] (2) The mixture is sandwiched between two reconstituted tobacco leaves (the solid content of the reconstituted tobacco leaves is 71%, 3%, 6%, and 20% by mass of tobacco powder, fiber, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and glycerol, respectively, and the amount of mixture applied is 5% of the mass of the two reconstituted tobacco leaves), and then rolled to obtain the heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco leaves.

[0035] Example 2

[0036] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes, as follows:

[0037] (1) Pulverize the tobacco leaves, add alum and baking soda (0.5% and 0.5% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively), then add sodium chloride and citric acid (10% and 1% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively) solution, mix and stir, feed into an extruder and heat to extrude (extrusion temperature is 130℃, extrusion time is 10s), dry and pulverize to obtain tobacco material, and mix with bentonite and alumina (0.5% and 0.5% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively) to obtain a mixture;

[0038] (2) The mixture is sandwiched between two reconstituted tobacco leaves (the solid content of the reconstituted tobacco leaves is 71%, 3%, 6%, and 20% by mass of tobacco powder, fiber, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and glycerol, respectively, and the amount of mixture applied is 5% of the mass of the two reconstituted tobacco leaves), and then rolled to obtain the heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco leaves.

[0039] Example 3

[0040] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes, as follows:

[0041] (1) Pulverize the tobacco leaves, add alum and baking soda (2% and 3% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively), then add sodium chloride and citric acid (3% and 20% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively) solution, mix and stir, feed into an extruder and heat to extrude (extrusion temperature is 130℃, extrusion time is 10s), dry and pulverize to obtain tobacco material, and mix with bentonite and alumina (5% and 5% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively) to obtain a mixture;

[0042] (2) The mixture is sandwiched between two reconstituted tobacco leaves (the solid content of the reconstituted tobacco leaves is 71%, 3%, 6%, and 20% by mass of tobacco powder, fiber, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and glycerol, respectively, and the amount of mixture applied is 5% of the mass of the two reconstituted tobacco leaves), and then rolled to obtain the heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco leaves.

[0043] Example 4

[0044] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes, as follows:

[0045] (1) Pulverize the tobacco leaves, add alum and baking soda (0.5% and 0.5% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively), then add sodium chloride and citric acid (20% and 1% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively) solution, mix and stir, feed into an extruder and heat to extrude (extrusion temperature is 130℃, extrusion time is 10s), dry and pulverize to obtain tobacco material, and mix with bentonite and alumina (0.5% and 0.5% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively) to obtain a mixture;

[0046] (2) The mixture is sandwiched between two reconstituted tobacco leaves (the solid content of the reconstituted tobacco leaves is 71%, 3%, 6%, and 20% by mass of tobacco powder, fiber, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and glycerol, respectively, and the amount of mixture applied is 5% of the mass of the two reconstituted tobacco leaves), and then rolled to obtain the heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco leaves.

[0047] Example 5

[0048] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes, as follows:

[0049] (1) Pulverize the tobacco leaves, add alum and baking soda (2% and 3% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively), then add sodium chloride and citric acid (1% and 20% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively) solution, mix and stir, feed into an extruder and heat to extrude (extrusion temperature is 130℃, extrusion time is 10s), dry and pulverize to obtain tobacco material, and mix with bentonite and alumina (5% and 5% of the tobacco leaf mass, respectively) to obtain a mixture;

[0050] (2) The mixture is sandwiched between two reconstituted tobacco leaves (the solid content of the reconstituted tobacco leaves is 71%, 3%, 6%, and 20% by mass of tobacco powder, fiber, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and glycerol, respectively, and the amount of mixture applied is 5% of the mass of the two reconstituted tobacco leaves), and then rolled to obtain the heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco leaves.

[0051] Example 6

[0052] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes. The specific preparation method is the same as in Example 1, except that sodium chloride is replaced with an equal amount of magnesium chloride in step (1).

[0053] Example 7

[0054] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes. The specific preparation method is the same as in Example 1, except that sodium chloride is replaced with an equal amount of sodium gluconate in step (1).

[0055] Example 8

[0056] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes. The specific preparation method is the same as in Example 1, except that citric acid is replaced with an equal amount of acetic acid in step (1).

[0057] Example 9

[0058] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes. The specific preparation method is the same as in Example 1, except that citric acid is replaced with an equal amount of lactic acid in step (1).

[0059] Comparative Example 1

[0060] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes. The specific preparation method is the same as in Example 1, except that citric acid is replaced with an equal amount of sodium chloride in step (1).

[0061] Comparative Example 2

[0062] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves from heated cigarettes. The specific preparation method is the same as in Example 1, except that sodium chloride is replaced with an equal amount of citric acid in step (1).

[0063] Comparative Example 3

[0064] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves for heated cigarettes. The specific preparation method is the same as in Example 1, except that alum and baking soda are not added in step (1).

[0065] Comparative Example 4

[0066] This embodiment provides a method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves for heated cigarettes. The specific preparation method is the same as that in Example 1, except that sodium chloride and citric acid are not added in step (1).

[0067] Comparative Example 5

[0068] This comparative example provides a heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco leaf. The specific preparation method is the same as in Example 1, except that heating and puffing are not performed in step (1).

[0069] Effect test:

[0070] The following tests used reconstituted tobacco leaves that had not undergone wrapping treatment as a control sample.

[0071] Moisture content and glycerol content testing:

[0072] The reconstituted tobacco leaves for heated cigarettes provided in Examples 1-9 and Comparative Examples 1-5 were equilibrated at 35% humidity for 4 days to allow the reconstituted tobacco leaves to dry. After drying, the two outer reconstituted tobacco leaves were separated with tweezers, and residual powdery material was removed as much as possible. The outer reconstituted tobacco leaves were then equilibrated at 50% humidity for 2 days, and their moisture and glycerol content were measured. Reconstituted tobacco leaves without the wrapping treatment were also equilibrated at 50% humidity for 2 days, and their moisture and glycerol content were measured.

[0073] Determination of Nicotine and Glycerol Content in Smoke: The reconstituted tobacco leaves provided in Examples 1-9 and Comparative Examples 1-5, as well as the control sample, were made into heated cigarettes and subjected to smoking tests. The amount of nicotine and glycerol released during heating was measured (to measure the aroma release performance). The results are as follows:

[0074]

[0075] The data above show that the preparation method provided by this invention can increase the transfer of glycerol and nicotine in reconstituted tobacco leaves, thereby improving the smoke release performance of heated cigarettes, reducing the water absorption of reconstituted tobacco leaves, facilitating the storage and processing of reconstituted tobacco leaves, and reducing the influence of atomizing agents. Comparing Examples 1, 6-9 and Comparative Examples 1-2, it can be found that this invention, by selecting specific inorganic salts and combining them with specific organic acids in a synergistic effect, can accelerate the generation of puffing gas, improve the puffing effect, and thus improve the product effect. Comparing Examples 1 and Comparative Examples 3-5, it can be found that this invention, by adopting a specific puffing process, effectively improves the smoke release performance and enhances the product effect.

[0076] The applicant declares that this invention illustrates the heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco leaf, its preparation method, and its application through the above embodiments. However, this invention is not limited to the above embodiments, meaning that this invention does not necessarily rely on the above embodiments for implementation. Those skilled in the art should understand that any improvements to this invention, equivalent substitutions of raw materials, additions of auxiliary components, and selection of specific methods, etc., all fall within the protection and disclosure scope of this invention.

[0077] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific details in the above embodiments. Within the scope of 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 protection scope of the present invention.

[0078] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the present invention will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

Claims

1. A method for preparing reconstituted tobacco leaves for heated cigarettes, characterized in that, The preparation method includes the following steps: A mixture of tobacco substances and additives is sandwiched between at least two layers of reconstituted tobacco leaves, and then pressure is applied to obtain the heated cigarette reconstituted tobacco leaves. The tobacco substance is obtained by puffing tobacco powder, and the specific steps of the puffing process include: The tobacco powder is mixed with a bulking agent, salt, and acid and heated to expand, thus completing the expansion process. The additives include bentonite and / or alumina; The salt is sodium chloride; The acid is citric acid.

2. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The leavening agent includes alum and / or baking soda.

3. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mass of the expanding agent is 1-5% of the mass of the tobacco powder.

4. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The salt is 1-20% of the mass of the tobacco powder.

5. The preparation method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The salt is 3-10% of the mass of the tobacco powder.

6. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mass of the acid is 1-20% of the mass of the tobacco powder.

7. The preparation method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The mass of the acid is 3-10% of the mass of the tobacco powder.

8. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mass of the additive is 1-10% of the mass of the tobacco powder.

9. A reconstituted tobacco leaf for heated cigarettes prepared by any one of claims 1-8.

10. The application of the reconstituted tobacco leaf for heated cigarettes according to claim 9 in the preparation of heated cigarettes.

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