Method for improving quality of heated cigarette core material by embedding method under mild condition

Abstract

The invention belongs to the field of tobaccos, and provides a method for improving the quality of a heated cigarette core material by an embedding method under a mild condition, which comprises the following steps of: reacting a smoke agent with a tobacco matrix at 70-100 DEG C in the presence of micromolecular low-boiling-point alcohol, and loading the smoke agent in the tobacco matrix to obtain the heated cigarette core material. According to the invention, the micromolecular low-boiling-point alcohol is used as the auxiliary agent, so that the reaction temperature of the smoke agent and the tobacco powder is effectively reduced, the loading capacity of the smoke agent and the tobacco quality are improved, and the purpose of improving the quality of the heated cigarette core material by an embedding method under a mild condition is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the tobacco industry and relates to a method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material by embedding under mild conditions. Background Technology

[0002] The information disclosed in this background section is intended only to enhance understanding of the overall background of the invention and is not necessarily to be construed as an admission or in any way implying that such information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art.

[0003] The smoke released by heated cigarettes mainly consists of smoke-generating agents (glycerol, propylene glycol) loaded onto reconstituted tobacco leaves. Traditional reconstituted tobacco processing methods (papermaking, rolling, and slurry processing) externally load the smoke-generating agents onto the tobacco matrix. However, this method only allows the smoke-generating agents to remain on the surface of the tobacco matrix, which not only limits the loading capacity but also easily causes the heated cigarette paper to absorb moisture. Furthermore, the smoke-generating agents tend to evaporate completely within a short time during heating and atomization, resulting in poor stability when smoking.

[0004] Therefore, some studies have used common smoke-generating agents as solvents to perform solvothermal treatment on tobacco stem fragments, thereby reducing the lignin content of the tobacco stems while increasing the loading of the smoke-generating agent. However, this method involves a relatively high reaction temperature, and the loading of the smoke-generating agent still needs to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core materials through an embedded method under mild conditions. This invention uses low-boiling-point alcohols as additives. By disrupting the waxy layer on the tobacco surface with these alcohols, the hydrophobicity and permeability of the tobacco surface are reduced, thereby improving the diffusion performance of the smoking agent molecules on the tobacco. This effectively lowers the reaction temperature between the smoking agent and the tobacco dust, increases the smoking agent loading and tobacco quality, and achieves the goal of improving the quality of heated cigarette core materials through an embedded method under mild conditions.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A first aspect of the present invention provides a method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material by embedding under mild conditions, comprising: In the presence of low-boiling alcohols, a smoking agent is reacted with a tobacco matrix at 70℃-100℃, thereby loading the smoking agent into the tobacco matrix, thus obtaining the product.

[0007] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a tobacco matrix loaded with a smoking agent prepared by the above-described method.

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention provides the application of the above-described tobacco matrix loaded with a smoke-generating agent in the preparation of heated cigarettes.

[0009] Beneficial effects of the present invention (1) The present invention uses a smoke-generating agent and a low-boiling alcohol solvent to heat-treat tobacco powder, and rolls it into thin sheets and forms heated cigarette samples. According to the sensory quality comparison, the sensory quality of the treated tobacco powder heated cigarette samples is significantly higher than that of the untreated heated cigarette samples, mainly in terms of smoke volume, irritation and uniformity.

[0010] (2) The method of the present invention no longer requires a large amount of water washing, the smoke agent loading is higher, the preparation method is simpler, more practical, and easier to promote. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. Exemplary embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0012] Figure 1 This is a picture of a processed sample after solvent heat treatment according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0013] It should be noted that the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used in this invention have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0014] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of skill in the art. The reagents and raw materials used in this invention are readily available through conventional means, and unless otherwise specified, they are used in accordance with conventional methods in the art or product instructions. Similarly, unless otherwise specified, the test methods of this invention are performed in accordance with conventional methods in the art or industry-standard methods or practices. Furthermore, any methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein may be applied to the methods of this invention. The preferred embodiments and materials described herein are for illustrative purposes only.

[0015] This invention mainly proposes a method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material through an embedded method under mild conditions, comprising: In the presence of low-boiling alcohols, a smoking agent is reacted with a tobacco matrix at 70℃-100℃, thereby loading the smoking agent into the tobacco matrix, thus obtaining the product.

[0016] The type of low-boiling alcohols can affect the loading of the smoke-generating agent and the sensory quality of the filler material. Therefore, the types of low-boiling alcohols in this invention have been studied. Preferably, the low-boiling alcohols are methanol, ethanol, or a mixture of the two. More preferably, when methanol and ethanol are mixed in a mass ratio of 2:1, the loading of the smoke-generating agent is higher and the sensory quality of the filler material is better.

[0017] The amount of low-boiling alcohols used can affect the loading of the smoke-generating agent and the sensory quality of the tobacco core material. Therefore, the amount of low-boiling alcohols used in this invention has been studied. Preferably, the amount of low-boiling alcohols used is 1%-5% of the mass of the smoke-generating agent to obtain a higher loading of the smoke-generating agent and better sensory quality.

[0018] The present invention does not impose any special limitation on the type of smoke-generating agent. Preferably, the smoke-generating agent is selected from propylene glycol, glycerin, or a mixture of the two to obtain a better smoke release effect.

[0019] The proportions of the components in a smoke generator affect the loading capacity. Therefore, this invention studies the proportions of the components in a smoke generator. Preferably, the smoke generator is composed of propylene glycol and glycerin in a volume ratio of 4:6 to obtain a better loading capacity.

[0020] The amount of smoking agent used also affects its loading on the tobacco matrix. Therefore, the present invention has studied the amount of smoking agent used. Preferably, the liquid-solid ratio of the smoking agent to the tobacco matrix is ​​20-25:1 to obtain a better loading effect.

[0021] The present invention does not impose any special limitation on the type of tobacco matrix. Preferably, the tobacco matrix is ​​selected from at least one of tobacco leaves, tobacco powder, tobacco stems, and tobacco sticks to meet different product requirements.

[0022] The pressure and time of the reaction also affect the loading of the smoking agent on the tobacco matrix and the subsequent sensory quality. Therefore, the present invention has studied the pressure and time of the reaction. Preferably, the reaction pressure is 0.4-0.6 MPa and the reaction time is 2-3 h to obtain better loading and sensory quality.

[0023] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that the specific embodiments are explanations of the present invention and not limitations thereof.

[0024] In the following examples, the smoke-generating agent loading was determined using the GC-FID method (Agilent Technologies 7820A). This loading was the smoke-generating agent loading of the tobacco powder after solvothermal treatment.

[0025] The particle size of the tobacco dust ranges from 100 to 150 mesh.

[0026] Example 1 (1) In order to facilitate subsequent industrial production, the pilot test was conducted directly using tobacco dust as raw material. It was dried (45℃, 12h) without washing and then used for later use.

[0027] (2) Mix propylene glycol and glycerol in a volume ratio of 4:6, and then add 3% of a mixture of methanol and ethanol (the mass ratio of methanol to ethanol is 2:1 based on the total mass of the smoke generator) to obtain the mixture. (3) Pour the smoke and the mixture into the reactor at a solid-liquid ratio of 1:20, and purge the air with nitrogen. Adjust the nitrogen pressure to 0.4 MPa, heat the reactor to 85°C, and react for 2 hours at a speed of 700 rpm. (3) Take out the reactor and cool it in ice water to terminate the reaction. After the reactor cools to room temperature, open the exhaust valve to release the pressure, take out the mixture in the reactor lining, wash the mixture with deionized water until there is no smoke agent residue, filter under reduced pressure, transfer the solid residue to an evaporating dish, put it in a 45°C oven, take it out after 24 hours, cool and weigh it.

[0028] Example 2 (1) In order to facilitate subsequent industrial production, the pilot test was conducted directly using tobacco dust as raw material. It was dried (45℃, 12h) without washing and then used for later use.

[0029] (2) Mix propylene glycol and glycerol at a volume ratio of 4:6 until homogeneous, then add 3% methanol (based on the total mass of the smoke generator) to obtain a mixture; (3) Pour the smoke and the mixture into the reactor at a solid-liquid ratio of 1:20, and purge the air with nitrogen. Adjust the nitrogen pressure to 0.4 MPa, heat the reactor to 85°C, and react for 2 hours at a speed of 700 rpm. (3) Take out the reactor and cool it in ice water to terminate the reaction. After the reactor cools to room temperature, open the exhaust valve to release the pressure, take out the mixture in the reactor lining, wash the mixture with deionized water until there is no smoke agent residue, filter under reduced pressure, transfer the solid residue to an evaporating dish, put it in a 45°C oven, take it out after 24 hours, cool and weigh it.

[0030] Example 3 (1) In order to facilitate subsequent industrial production, the pilot test was conducted directly using tobacco dust as raw material. It was dried (45℃, 12h) without washing and then used for later use.

[0031] (2) Mix propylene glycol and glycerin at a volume ratio of 4:6 until homogeneous, then add 3% ethanol (based on the total mass of the smoke-generating agent) to obtain a mixture; (3) Pour the smoke and the mixture into the reactor at a solid-liquid ratio of 1:20, and purge the air with nitrogen. Adjust the nitrogen pressure to 0.4 MPa, heat the reactor to 85°C, and react for 2 hours at a speed of 700 rpm. (3) Take out the reactor and cool it in ice water to terminate the reaction. After the reactor cools to room temperature, open the exhaust valve to release the pressure, take out the mixture in the reactor lining, wash the mixture with deionized water until there is no smoke agent residue, filter under reduced pressure, transfer the solid residue to an evaporating dish, put it in a 45°C oven, take it out after 24 hours, cool and weigh it.

[0032] Comparative Example 1 The method adopted is described in Table 4 of the paper (doi:10.16472 / j.chinatobacco.2021.136) under section V. PG :V Gly The result of processing tobacco stem fragments using the processing technology.

[0033] Experimental Example 1 The loading of glycerol and propylene glycol on the samples treated in Example 1 was measured, as shown in Table 1.

[0034] Table 1. Loading of propylene glycol and glycerol in samples after pilot-scale reaction. <![CDATA[Solvent (V PG :V Gly )(4:6)]]> Propylene glycol loading (wt.%) Glycerin loading (wt.%) Tobacco dust 44.8 24.5 It can be seen that propylene glycol can be well loaded in the unwashed and undried samples, providing a good foundation for the subsequent production of cigarettes and heated cigarettes. The process parameters in the pilot-scale test showed good stability, the laboratory data were effectively converted, and corresponding temporary process technical standards were established.

[0035] Compared with Comparative Example 1, the addition of low-boiling alcohols with small molecules effectively reduced the reaction temperature between the smoking agent and the tobacco powder, increased the loading of the smoking agent and the quality of the tobacco, and achieved the goal of improving the quality of heated cigarette core material by embedding under mild conditions.

[0036] Experiment Example 2 1) Take the tobacco dust that has not been heat-treated by solvent (untreated group), the tobacco dust that has been heat-treated by solvent in Example 1, and the tobacco stem fragments that have been heat-treated by solvent in Comparative Example 1. 2) Take wood pulp fiber (commercially available Canadian bleached sulfate softwood pulp), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and water and mix them evenly in a ratio of 2:1:25 to obtain sheet adhesive; then add the tobacco powder from step 1), with a mass ratio of tobacco powder to sheet adhesive of 2:1, mix and stir evenly, press it into a sheet shape using a reconstituted tobacco rolling mill, and dry it in an oven to a moisture state suitable for cutting and rolling.

[0037] 3) The thin sheet is cut into shreds and rolled into tobacco shreds, which are then filled into heated cigarette sticks to obtain shaped heated cigarette samples.

[0038] The sensory quality of the above-mentioned molded heated cigarette samples was compared according to the industry's commonly used sensory evaluation standards, and the results are shown in Table 2.

[0039] Table 2 Summary of Sensory Evaluation of Heated Cigarettes name Fragrance (25) Smoke (30) Motivation (10) Irritating (10) Aftertaste (15) Uniformity (10) Total score (100) Unprocessed group 20.71 25.36 6.36 7.93 12.21 7.36 79.93 Comparative Example 1 20.29 26.00 6.71 8.21 12.57 8.29 82.07 Example 1 20.89 26.31 6.90 8.52 12.75 8.64 84.01 As shown in Table 2, the sensory quality of the rolled-pressed heated cigarette samples prepared from tobacco powder treated with smoke-generating agents and low-boiling-point alcohols was significantly higher than that of the untreated group and the rolled-pressed heated cigarette samples prepared in Comparative Example 1. This was mainly due to superior smoke volume, irritation, and uniformity. Therefore, the addition of low-boiling-point alcohols can further improve the sensory quality of tobacco.

[0040] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material through an embedded method under mild conditions, characterized in that, include: In the presence of low-boiling alcohols, a smoking agent is reacted with a tobacco matrix at 70℃-100℃, thereby loading the smoking agent into the tobacco matrix, thus obtaining the product.

2. The method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material under mild conditions using an embedded method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The small molecule low-boiling alcohol is methanol, ethanol, or a mixture of the two; Alternatively, low-boiling alcohols of small molecules are mixtures of methanol and ethanol in a mass ratio of 2:

1.

3. The method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material under mild conditions using an embedded method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The amount of the small molecule low-boiling alcohol used is 1%-5% of the mass of the smoking agent.

4. The method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material under mild conditions using an embedded method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The smoke-generating agent is selected from propylene glycol, glycerin, or a mixture of the two.

5. The method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material under mild conditions using an embedded method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The smoke-generating agent is composed of propylene glycol and glycerin in a volume ratio of 4:

6.

6. The method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material under mild conditions using an embedded method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid-solid ratio of the smoke-generating agent to the tobacco matrix is ​​20-25:

1.

7. The method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material under mild conditions using an embedded method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The tobacco matrix is ​​selected from at least one of tobacco leaves, tobacco powder, tobacco stems, and tobacco sticks.

8. The method for improving the quality of heated cigarette core material under mild conditions using an embedded method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The reaction is carried out at a pressure of 0.4-0.6 MPa for 2-3 hours.

9. The tobacco matrix loaded with a smoke-generating agent prepared by the method of any one of claims 1-8.

10. The use of the tobacco matrix loaded with a smoke-generating agent as described in claim 9 in the preparation of heated cigarettes.

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