Reconstituted rooibos sheets containing stabilized nicotine

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to reconstituted rooibos sheets containing acid-stabilized nicotine.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a non-combustion heated tobacco product, which is a device that heats tobacco without burning it, and more particularly to a reconstituted rooibos sheet containing stabilized nicotine. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to avoid the generation of harmful substances when tobacco is burned, numerous non-combustion heated tobacco products have been developed, which are devices that heat tobacco without burning it. Examples of such non-combustion heated tobacco products are described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. When a tobacco stick is inserted into a non-combustion heated tobacco product, the tobacco is heated by the non-combustion heated tobacco product at a temperature lower than the combustion temperature without burning, and an aerosol is generated when the user inhales air through the non-combustion heated tobacco product. The aerosol is a substitute for tobacco smoke (mainstream smoke) and provides the user with beneficial sensory properties when inhaled. This allows the user to inhale nicotine and the tobacco aroma while significantly reducing the user's exposure to harmful substances.

[0003] For users to adopt non-combustion heated tobacco products, it is important that the smoking experience achieved by non-combustion heated tobacco products is as close as possible to the smoking experience achieved by conventional cigarettes, i.e., that the same nicotine level is achieved with each puff as with conventional cigarettes.

[0004] Natural tobacco leaves are not suitable for non-combustion heated tobacco products because they do not provide a satisfying smoking experience to users.

[0005] Reconstituted tobacco is suitable for non-combustion heated tobacco because it can easily be applied with high concentrations of aerosol-forming substances, thereby generating a sufficient amount of aerosol containing a satisfactory amount of nicotine.

[0006] The tobacco smell is perceived as unpleasant and may reduce the number of potential users of non-combustion heated tobacco products, therefore it would be beneficial to provide users of non-combustion heated tobacco products with an aerosol that has a neutral smell. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 026810 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2016 / 207407 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a reconstituted rooibos sheet that has an attractive color and produces an aerosol with a satisfying amount of nicotine and a neutral flavor, i.e., an aerosol that is satisfactory to the user.

[0009] The present inventors have discovered that the above problems can be solved by having a reconstituted rooibos sheet that contains a nicotine salt and has a pH within a specific range. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, A reconstituted rooibos sheet, a fibrous support comprising rooibos fiber; an aerosol-generating material; Rooibos extract, nicotine and an organic acid or a salt of nicotine; and Reconstituted rooibos sheets are provided having a pH of 4.9 to 7.0, especially 5.5 to 6.5.

[0011] Advantageously, the reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure can produce an aerosol that contains a satisfactory amount of nicotine and does not have an unpleasant irritating or sour taste, i.e., an aerosol that is satisfactory to the user.

[0012] Without wishing to be bound by any theory, the inventors believe that the above advantages can be explained as follows. The predominant form of nicotine in the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure is the monoprotonated form. The monoprotonated form of nicotine is obtained by the reaction of nicotine with an organic acid to form a nicotine salt. When the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure is used in a non-combustible heat-not-burn tobacco product, the monoprotonated form of nicotine is efficiently released into the aerosol, providing physiological absorption properties comparable to those of conventional tobacco. In reconstituted rooibos sheets with a pH above 7, the proportion of neutral nicotine is increased. Because neutral nicotine is volatile, it is readily released from the reconstituted rooibos sheets during the manufacturing and storage (mainly during storage) of such reconstituted rooibos sheets or non-combustible heated tobacco consumables containing them. Furthermore, neutral nicotine is more stimulating than monoprotonated nicotine and is physiologically absorbed more slowly by the user. In reconstituted rooibos sheets with a pH below 4.9, the amount of organic acids increases. The diprotonated form of nicotine is too stable to be efficiently released from the reconstituted rooibos sheets during aerosol generation, and therefore the aerosol cannot contain a sufficient amount of nicotine. Furthermore, the proportion of free organic acids also increases in reconstituted rooibos sheets. Therefore, aerosols generated from such reconstituted rooibos sheets have an unpleasant sour taste and may have adverse physiological effects in some cases.

[0013] Furthermore, the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure has a warm, i.e., attractive, color and can produce an aerosol with a neutral scent.

[0014] Without wishing to be bound by any theory, the inventors believe that the above advantages can be explained by the high amount of coloring compounds and the low amount of aromatic compounds in rooibos extract.

[0015] Furthermore, the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure contains an aerosol-forming substance, thereby being able to generate a sufficient amount of aerosol.

[0016] In another aspect, according to the present disclosure, A method for producing a reconstituted rooibos sheet as defined above, comprising: (a) passing rooibos fiber through a papermaking machine to produce a substrate web; (b) rooibos extract, aerosol-forming substances, and preparing a solution containing nicotine and an organic acid or a salt of nicotine; (c) contacting the solution with a substrate web to form a wet reconstituted rooibos sheet; (d) drying the wet reconstituted rooibos sheet to produce a reconstituted rooibos sheet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] According to the present disclosure, A reconstituted rooibos sheet, comprising: a fibrous support comprising rooibos fiber; an aerosol-generating material; Rooibos extract, nicotine and an organic acid or a salt of nicotine; and Reconstituted rooibos sheets are provided having a pH of 4.9 to 7.0, especially 5.5 to 6.5.

[0018] The pH of the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure can be measured using the following method. A sample of reconstituted rooibos sheets is crushed to particles smaller than 1mm. 5.0±0.1 mg of ground reconstituted rooibos sheets are mixed with 100.0±0.1 g of deionized water, which has a resistivity of approximately 18.2 megaohms / cm. The above mixture is magnetically stirred in water at a temperature of 20°C for 15 minutes. Then measure the pH.

[0019] The pH of the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure depends on the pKa (acid dissociation constant) of the organic acid. For example, when an organic acid with a pKa of 4 or less is used, the pH of the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure can be in the range of 5.0 to 5.5. Alternatively, when an organic acid with a pKa of more than 4 is used, the pH of the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure can be in the range of 5.5 to 6.5.

[0020] As used herein, "nicotine salt" refers to a form of nicotine characterized by the interaction between the monoprotonated form of nicotine and the carboxylate form of an organic acid. The structural formula of nicotine contains two nitrogen atoms that can accept protons from the organic acid. Thus, nicotine can exist in a neutral form (unprotonated form), a monoprotonated form, and / or a diprotonated form.

[0021] The total solid content of nicotine in the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure may be in the range of 0.1 to 4% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 3% by weight, and more preferably 0.75 to 2.5% by weight.

[0022] Advantageously, the aerosol produced from the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure containing nicotine in this range can provide the user with a smoking experience similar to that provided by aerosols produced by conventional non-combustion heated tobacco products and smoke (mainstream smoke) produced by combustible tobacco products.

[0023] The molar ratio of nicotine to organic acid in the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure may be in the range of 1:0.1 to 1:10, preferably 1:0.4 to 1:5, more preferably 1:0.5 to 1:3.

[0024] Advantageously, the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure having a molar ratio in such a range can have a pH in the above range.

[0025] In general, organic acids are has a pKa of 5 or less, preferably 4 or less, more preferably 3 or less, and Vapor pressure at 25°C is 10 -10 ~20mmHg, preferably 10 -8 ~10mmHg, more preferably 10 -8 ~1mmHg range, or a boiling point above 300°C, or both.

[0026] Advantageously, organic acids having such pKa and vapor pressure and / or boiling point are In the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure, a small amount of organic acid is used to promote the formation of a salt of nicotine. limiting the transfer of organic acids into the aerosol generated from the reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure, thereby reducing the sour taste of the aerosol; and Reduces the loss of organic acids during the production of the reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure.

[0027] An organic acid may have several pKa values. For example, a dicarboxylic acid may have two pKa values. In this case, the lowest pKa value of the organic acid may be 5 or less, preferably 4 or less, and more preferably 3 or less.

[0028] The organic acid may be alginic acid, aspartic acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, glutamic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, pectinic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, tartaric acid, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, myristic acid, or any combination thereof, preferably benzoic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, or any combination thereof, more preferably citric acid, fumaric acid, glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, or any combination thereof.

[0029] As used herein, the term "fibrous substrate" refers to a substrate web made from rooibos fiber, in particular finely divided rooibos fiber. The substrate web is typically obtained by a papermaking process.

[0030] As used herein, the term "rooibos extract" refers to any water-soluble product of rooibos.

[0031] As used herein, the term "aerosol-forming material" means a compound that forms an aerosol when heated.

[0032] As used herein, the term "micronized rooibos fiber" refers to rooibos fiber that has been subjected to a micronization step that allows the rooibos fiber to be fibrillated and / or cut. This micronization step is conventionally carried out in papermaking processes, such as those that produce reconstituted paper tobacco. However, this micronization step is not carried out in processes that produce cast leaf reconstituted tobacco.

[0033] For example, the finely divided rooibos fibre may have a beating degree (freeness) (°SR) in the range of 15 to 75°SR, preferably 20 to 65°SR, more preferably 25 to 55°SR.

[0034] Generally, the solid content of rooibos fiber contained in the reconstituted rooibos sheet may be in the range of 15 to 70% by weight, preferably 20 to 61% by weight, more preferably 30 to 57% by weight.

[0035] Generally, the fibrous support of the reconstituted rooibos sheet may comprise cellulosic plant fibres.

[0036] Cellulosic plant fibers are fibers obtained, for example, from wood pulp, hemp, or annual plants (e.g., flax) by chemical, mechanical, or thermomechanical treatment. Combinations of these cellulosic plant fibers may also be used.

[0037] Advantageously, these cellulosic plant fibers can improve the mechanical strength properties of the reconstituted rooibos sheets.

[0038] Generally, the cellulosic plant fiber may account for 0.5 to 20% by weight, preferably 3 to 17.5% by weight, more preferably 5 to 15% by weight of the solid content of the reconstituted rooibos sheet. The remaining fiber in the reconstituted rooibos sheet is rooibos fiber.

[0039] The total content (wt%) of solids of the aerosol-forming material contained in the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure is referred to as SAG, which may range from 10 to 40 wt%, preferably from 12 to 35 wt%, and more preferably from 15 to 30 wt%.

[0040] The SAG depends on the organic acid. For example, a SAG in the range of 15 to 20% by weight is suitable for organic acids that are soluble in solvents, especially water. A SAG in the range of 20 to 30% by weight is suitable for organic acids that are insoluble or slightly soluble in solvents, especially water.

[0041] Aerosols generated from reconstituted rooibos sheets having a SAG above the above range cause an unpleasant burning sensation in the mouth and / or throat (the so-called "hot puff" phenomenon).

[0042] Furthermore, the amount of aerosol generated from a reconstituted rooibos sheet having a SAG below the above range is not sufficient to be perceived as comfortable.

[0043] The aerosol generating material may be a polyol, a non-polyol, or a combination thereof. In general, a polyol aerosol generating material may be glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, triethylene glycol, or a combination thereof. A non-polyol aerosol generating material may be glyceryl diacetate, glyceryl triacetate, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate, or any combination thereof.

[0044] Preferably, the aerosol generating material is glycerol, propylene glycol, or a combination of glycerol and propylene glycol, more preferably glycerol.

[0045] The color of the reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure depends on the solid content of rooibos extract contained in the reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure.

[0046] The total content (wt%) of solids in the rooibos extract contained in the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure is referred to as SP, which may be in the range of 6 to 70 wt%, preferably 8 to 50 wt%, and more preferably 10 to 35 wt%.

[0047] Advantageously, having an SP in the above range makes it possible to produce reconstituted rooibos sheets with warm colours, i.e. attractive colours.

[0048] SP can be determined using the following method. First, a sample of the reconstituted rooibos sheet to be measured is crushed to particles of 1 mm or less. Next, the crushed reconstituted rooibos sheet is mixed with boiled water for 45 minutes to extract all of the rooibos extract. The difference between the dry weight of the reconstituted rooibos sheet sample and the dry weight of the fibrous residue after extracting the rooibos extract is the SP.

[0049] The density of the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure is 0.60 g / cm 3 less than 0.20 to 0.59 g / cm 3 , more preferably 0.45 to 0.58 g / cm 3 The range may be:

[0050] Advantageously, a density within the above range allows for a comfortable resistance to draw and the production of a sufficient amount of aerosol.

[0051] The density of a reconstituted rooibos sheet can be determined by dividing its basis weight by its thickness.

[0052] The basis weight of the reconstituted rooibos sheet can be determined using the following method. First, a 0.25 mm template (dimensions: 57.5 × 43.5 cm) is used to measure the basis weight of the reconstituted rooibos sheet at a position approximately 15 cm from the edge of the sheet. 2 The sample is then folded in quarters and placed on a hot plate to dry, removing the moisture without removing the aerosol-forming materials. The dried sample is then weighed to determine the basis weight of the reconstituted rooibos sheet.

[0053] The thickness of the reconstituted rooibos sheets can be determined using the method described in the standard NF EN ISO 534 (December 2011) suitable for reconstituted rooibos sheets. Measure the average thickness of the parchment sheets used to measure the thickness of the reconstituted rooibos sheets (measure at least six times at pinpoint locations on each parchment sheet). Place a sample of reconstituted rooibos between two pieces of parchment paper. Place the micrometer probe in position and wait 30 seconds (to allow the sample to stabilize for thickness measurement) before starting the measurement. Take at least six measurements at pinpoint locations on the parchment paper. The thickness of the reconstituted rooibos sheet can be calculated by subtracting twice the average thickness of the parchment paper from the average measured total thickness (reconstituted rooibos sheet + two sheets of parchment paper).

[0054] Typically, the basis weight of the reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure is 300 g / m 2 less than 20 to 250 g / m 2 , more preferably 80 to 200 g / m 2 , and more preferably 90 to 130 g / m 2 The range may be:

[0055] Generally, the thickness of the fibrous support of the reconstituted rooibos sheet may be in the range of 100 to 500 μm, preferably 120 to 450 μm, more preferably 140 to 425 μm, and even more preferably 180 to 400 μm.

[0056] Further, according to the present disclosure, A method for producing a reconstituted rooibos sheet as defined above, comprising: (a) passing rooibos fiber through a papermaking machine to produce a substrate web; (b) rooibos extract, aerosol-forming substances, and preparing a solution containing nicotine and an organic acid or a salt of nicotine; (c) contacting the prepared solution with a substrate web to form a wet reconstituted rooibos sheet; (d) drying the wet reconstituted rooibos sheet to produce a reconstituted rooibos sheet.

[0057] The rooibos fiber, rooibos extract, aerosol-forming substance, organic acid, and salt of nicotine are as defined above with respect to the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure.

[0058] The molar ratio of nicotine to organic acid in the solution prepared in step (b) above may be in the range of 1:0.1 to 1:10, preferably 1:0.4 to 1:5, more preferably 1:0.5 to 1:3.

[0059] The fibrous support can be manufactured using a papermaking machine. Thus, the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure can be a reconstituted rooibos sheet obtained by a papermaking process.

[0060] The pH of the solution prepared in step (b) above and used in step (c) above is acidic and may be preferably in the range of 4.0 to 6.5, more preferably 5.0 to 6.0.

[0061] Advantageously, by using a solution having a pH in the above range, it is possible to produce the reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure.

[0062] The pH of the solution depends primarily on the amount of acid, nicotine, and / or nicotine salt in the solution, and those skilled in the art will know how to adjust the amount of acid, nicotine, and / or nicotine salt in the solution to prepare a solution having a pH within the above range.

[0063] The pH of the solution can be measured using a pH electrode. The pH of the substrate web can be measured using the method described above for measuring the pH of the reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure.

[0064] Rooibos fiber and rooibos extract are (e) mixing one or more rooibos parts with a solvent to extract a rooibos extract from the rooibos fibres; or (f) separating the rooibos extract from the rooibos fiber.

[0065] Thus, the rooibos extract and rooibos fiber are obtained using an extraction step or separation process. In step (e) above, the rooibos extract can be extracted from the rooibos fiber by mixing one or more rooibos parts with a solvent, for example, in a digester. In step (f) above, the rooibos extract can be separated from the rooibos fiber, for example, by passing the rooibos fiber through a screw press.

[0066] Generally, the solvent can be a non-polar solvent, an aprotic polar solvent, a protic polar solvent, or any combination thereof, preferably methanol, dichloromethane, ethanol, acetone, butanol, water, or any combination thereof, more preferably ethanol, acetone, water, or any combination thereof.

[0067] The solvent may be an aqueous solvent. Preferably, the solvent is water.

[0068] A person skilled in the art will know how to adapt the temperature of the solvent in step (e) above to the rooibos part being treated: generally, the temperature of the solvent when treating the roots and bark is set higher than the temperature of the solvent when treating the leaves and petals.

[0069] Generally, the temperature of the solvent in step (e) above may range from 10 to 100°C, preferably from 30 to 90°C, more preferably from 40 to 80°C.

[0070] Generally, the rooibos fiber is refined in a refiner before being subjected to step (a) above.

[0071] In the above step (b), a solution is prepared by mixing a solvent (preferably water), an organic acid, nicotine, an aerosol-generating substance, and a rooibos extract. Thus, a nicotine salt is formed in situ in the solution by the reaction of the organic acid with nicotine. The organic acid is preferably added to the solvent before adding nicotine. This is advantageous for the formation of a nicotine salt. The above step (b) is used when an organic acid soluble in the solvent (preferably water) of the solution is used.

[0072] Alternatively, in the above step (b), the solution is prepared by mixing a solvent (preferably water), a nicotine salt, an aerosol-generating substance, and a rooibos extract. Thus, the nicotine salt can be formed ex-situ or purchased before being added to the solvent (preferably water). This alternative step (b) is used when an organic acid that is insoluble or slightly soluble in the solvent (preferably water) of the solution is used. Examples of such organic acids include salicylic acid, benzoic acid, or a combination thereof.

[0073] Generally, the rooibos extract may be concentrated before being added to the solution in step (b) above. Concentration of the rooibos extract may be carried out using equipment such as a vacuum evaporator.

[0074] Generally, step (b) above can be carried out by impregnation or spraying, especially by impregnation. Generally, impregnation can be carried out using a size press.

[0075] The above step (d) can be carried out using infrared lamps, American battery drying drums, hot air drying in a tunnel dryer, vertical dryer, fluidized bed dryer, or air dryer, especially a tunnel dryer.

[0076] The reconstituted rooibos sheet produced in step (d) above can be formed into particles, crimped sheets, or shredded sheets.

[0077] The reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure can be used in non-combustion heated tobacco products, which are devices that heat tobacco without burning it.

[0078] Thus, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a consumable product for non-combustion heated tobacco, comprising the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure as defined above.

[0079] As used herein, the term "consumable" for non-combustion heated tobacco refers to the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure itself, a pouch containing the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure, a capsule containing the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure, or a stick containing the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure.

[0080] As used herein, the term "non-combustion heated tobacco product, which is a device that heats tobacco without burning it" refers to any heating device that can generate an aerosol that is inhaled by a user. The aerosol is an alternative to traditional tobacco smoke (mainstream smoke), and when inhaled by a user, it can provide the aroma of tobacco and significantly reduce the user's exposure to harmful components. Throughout this application, the term "non-combustion heated tobacco product, which is a device that heats tobacco without burning it" can be interchanged with the term "heating device."

[0081] The consumables of the present disclosure are configured to be inserted into a dedicated receptacle for non-combustion heated tobacco products. A person skilled in the art will know how to configure the consumables of the present disclosure to fit into a dedicated receptacle for non-combustion heated tobacco products.

[0082] The reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure can be formed into a shape suitable for use in a dedicated container for a non-combustible heat-not-burn tobacco product. For example, the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure can be formed into particles, a crimped sheet, or shredded sheets, particularly shredded sheets having a width of 0.5 to 1 mm.

[0083] The pouch can be made of paper defining an interior space that contains the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure, and the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure is contained in the interior space of the pouch. The reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure contained in the interior space of the pouch can be formed into particles, a crimped sheet, or a shredded sheet, among others.

[0084] The pouch may have a cylindrical shape with opposite sealed ends and a third sealed portion connecting the ends.

[0085] Alternatively, the pouch has a first paper layer and a second paper layer and is constructed as follows. consists of two sheets of paper, sealed on all sides, or It consists of a single sheet of paper, one edge folded over and all remaining edges sealed.

[0086] The paper of the pouch can be cigarette paper, cigarette rolling paper, or vegetable fiber paper, especially cigarette paper.

[0087] The reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure may be formed into particles and contained, for example, in a pouch or capsule.

[0088] Alternatively, the reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure may be formed into shredded sheets and contained within sticks for non-combustible tobacco heating, among others.

[0089] In one embodiment, the reconstituted rooibos sheets included in the consumable product can be produced using the methods of the present disclosure described above.

[0090] The present disclosure also provides the use of the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure as defined above or the consumable product of the present disclosure as defined above in a non-combustion heated tobacco product.

[0091] Generally, a non-combustion heated tobacco product has, along the direction of airflow, an air inlet, a heating section, a container for containing and holding in place the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure containing an aerosol-forming substance, and an air outlet for introducing the aerosol into the user's oral cavity. Generally, the air inlet, heating section, container, and air outlet are fluidly connected to each other.

[0092] Generally, when using a non-combustion heated tobacco product, a user inhales air from the air outlet, thereby introducing air into the non-combustion heated tobacco product through the air inlet. The introduced air passes through the heating section and is heated, and the heated air comes into contact with the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure, which contains an aerosol-generating substance held in the storage section, to generate an aerosol, and the generated aerosol is inhaled by the user through the air outlet.

[0093] Furthermore, non-combustion heated tobacco does not burn the reconstituted rooibos sheet, so nicotine can be provided to the user while significantly reducing the user's exposure to harmful substances.

[0094] The reconstituted rooibos sheets of the present disclosure can also be used as wrapper paper (cigarette paper).

[0095] Example

[0096] Example 1: Preparation

[0097] Example 1A: The plant is rooibos and the organic acid is benzoic acid.

[0098] The rooibos leaf mixture was placed in a laboratory water bath at 85°C for 30 minutes with manual stirring. The rooibos extract was separated from the rooibos by centrifugation.

[0099] The rooibos fibre is run through a laboratory paper machine to produce a substrate web.

[0100] Benzoic acid and nicotine are mixed to form a mixture. Rooibos extract is mixed with this mixture to form a mixture. Glycerol (an aerosol-forming agent) is mixed with this mixture to form a solution having a pH of 5.5.

[0101] The solution is impregnated into a substrate web in a size press and dried to produce a reconstituted rooibos sheet having a pH of 6.1.

[0102] In the reconstituted rooibos sheet, The total solids content of nicotine is 1.89%. The total solids content of the rooibos extract is 10.4%. The total solids content of glycerol was 17.1%; The molar ratio of nicotine to benzoic acid is 1:1.07.

[0103] Comparative Example 1: The plant is rooibos, and no organic acids are added.

[0104] The rooibos leaf mixture was placed in a laboratory water bath at 85°C for 30 minutes with manual stirring. The rooibos extract was separated from the rooibos fiber by centrifugation.

[0105] The rooibos fibre is run through a laboratory paper machine to produce a substrate web.

[0106] Rooibos extract and nicotine are combined to form a mixture, which is then mixed with glycerol to produce a solution with a pH of 7.9.

[0107] The solution is impregnated into a substrate web in a size press and dried to produce a reconstituted rooibos sheet having a pH of 7.4.

[0108] Reconstituted rooibos sheet The total solids content of nicotine is 2.12%. The total solids content of the rooibos extract is 12.2%; The total solids content of glycerol is 17.6%.

[0109] Example 2: Measurement of nicotine release

[0110] Room temperature aging

[0111] The reconstituted rooibos sheets of Example 1A and Comparative Example 1 were stored at 22°C and 60% relative humidity for 7 days.

[0112] The total solids content of nicotine in these examples was measured by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), and the results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0113] [Table 1]

[0114] The measurement results shown in Table 1 indicate that nicotine is stabilized in the reconstituted rooibos sheet of the present disclosure, which has a pH in the range of 4.9 to 7.

Claims

1. A method for producing a reconstituted rooibos sheet, The reconstituted rooibos sheet is a fibrous support comprising rooibos fiber; an aerosol-generating material; Rooibos extract, nicotine and an organic acid or a salt of nicotine; and having a pH of 4.9 to 7.0, in particular 5.5 to 6.5, The method comprises: (a) passing rooibos fibre through a papermaking machine to produce a substrate web; (b) rooibos extract; aerosol-forming substances, and preparing a solution containing nicotine and an organic acid or a salt of nicotine; (c) contacting the solution with the substrate web to form a wet reconstituted rooibos sheet; (d) drying the wet reconstituted rooibos sheet to produce a reconstituted rooibos sheet.

2. 10. The method of claim 1, The organic acid is has a pKa of 5 or less, and The vapor pressure at 25°C is 10 －１０ 20 mmHg, or the boiling point is 300°C or higher, or both.

3. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, The method of claim 1, wherein the organic acid is alginic acid, aspartic acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, glutamic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, pectinic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, tartaric acid, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, myristic acid, or any combination thereof.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The method, wherein the total solid content of the nicotine in the reconstituted rooibos sheet is 0.1 to 4% by weight.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The method, wherein the molar ratio of the nicotine to the organic acid in the reconstituted rooibos sheet is 1:0.1 to 1:

10.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The method, wherein the total solid content of the aerosol-forming material in the reconstituted rooibos sheet is 10 to 40% by weight.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The method, wherein the total solid content of the rooibos extract in the reconstituted rooibos sheet is 6 to 70% by weight.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The method wherein the solution has an acidic pH.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, In the above step (b), the solution or by mixing the rooibos extract, the aerosol-forming substance, the nicotine, and the organic acid in a solvent; or The method is prepared by mixing the rooibos extract, the aerosol-forming substance, and the salt of nicotine in a solvent.

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