Tobacco composition

Abstract

To provide a tobacco composition, in particular for use in a tobacco heating product (THP).SOLUTION: A tobacco composition 102 contains a tobacco component in an amount of 60 to 90 wt.% of the tobacco composition, a filler component in an amount of 0 to 20 wt.% of the tobacco composition, and an aerosol generating agent in an amount of 10 to 20 wt.% of the tobacco composition. The tobacco composition has a nicotine content of 0.5 to 1.5 wt.% of the tobacco composition. The tobacco component comprises papermaking reconstituted tobacco in an amount of 70 to 100 wt.% of the tobacco component.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to tobacco compositions, particularly to their use in heated tobacco products (THPs).

[0002] Cigarettes, cigars, and other articles burn tobacco to produce tobacco smoke during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these types of articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are so-called non-combustion, heat-not-burn products, also known as tobacco heating products or tobacco heating devices, which release compounds by heating the material rather than burning it. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products or combinations, such as mixed formulations, which may or may not contain nicotine.

[0003] Devices are known that heat smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material without burning or combusting the smoking material, typically to form an inhalable aerosol. Such devices are sometimes referred to as "heat-not-burn" devices, or "heated tobacco products" (THPs) or "heat-not-burn tobacco devices." A variety of different configurations for volatilizing at least one component of the smoking material are known. Overview

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, A tobacco composition comprising a tobacco component in an amount of 60-90% by weight of the tobacco composition, a filler component in an amount of 0-20% by weight of the tobacco composition, and an aerosol-generating agent in an amount of 10-20% by weight of the tobacco composition, the tobacco composition has a nicotine content of 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of the tobacco composition; There is provided a tobacco composition in which the tobacco component comprises paper-process reconstituted tobacco in an amount of 70 to 100% by weight of the tobacco component.

[0005] In an embodiment, the tobacco component may include a component selected from leaf tobacco, extruded tobacco, band-cast tobacco, and mixtures thereof, in an amount of 0 to 30% by weight of the tobacco component.

[0006] In embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may include an agent selected from sorbitol, glycerin, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, lactic acid, diacetin, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, ethyl myristate, isopropyl myristate, methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, dimethyl tetradecanedioate, and mixtures thereof.

[0007] In embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may include glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0008] In an embodiment, the tobacco component may include leaf tobacco in an amount of 10 to 30% by weight of the tobacco composition.

[0009] In an embodiment, the tobacco component may include extruded tobacco in an amount of 10-30% by weight of the tobacco composition.

[0010] In an embodiment, the tobacco component may include band-cast tobacco in an amount of 10 to 30% by weight of the tobacco composition.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for generating an inhalable aerosol, the device comprising a tobacco composition as described herein and heating means for volatilizing the components upon use to form the aerosol.

[0012] In an embodiment, the heating means is an electrical heating means.

[0013] In an embodiment, the electrical heating means is an electrical resistive heating element.

[0014] In an embodiment, the device is a heated tobacco product.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a smoking article for use with an appliance for heating smokable material, comprising: Smoking materials comprising the tobacco compositions described herein; and A mouthpiece attached to one end of the smoking material A smoking article comprising:

[0016] In an embodiment, the mouthpiece comprises a hollow tube.

[0017] In embodiments, the smoking article comprises an aerosol cooling element between the smoking material and the mouthpiece for cooling the vaporized smoking material produced when the smoking material is heated.

[0018] In an embodiment, the smoking article comprises a spacer between the smokable material and the aerosol cooling element.

[0019] In an embodiment, the spacer is a hollow spacer tube.

[0020] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge for use with an appliance for heating smokable material, the cartridge containing smokable material comprising a tobacco composition as described herein.

[0021] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a process flow diagram for producing paper-process reconstituted tobacco. [Figure 2] 1 is a flow diagram of a process for producing extruded tobacco. [Figure 3] A device for producing extruded tobacco. [Figure 4] 1A-1C illustrate embodiments of smoking articles containing tobacco compositions described herein. [Figure 5] 1A-1C illustrate further embodiments of smoking articles containing the tobacco compositions described herein and including an aerosol cooling element. Detailed Description

[0023] In the tobacco compositions described herein, the tobacco component comprises reconstituted paper-process tobacco. The tobacco component may also comprise leaf tobacco, extruded tobacco, and / or band-cast tobacco.

[0024] In the tobacco compositions described herein, the tobacco composition may include a filler component. The filler component is typically a non-tobacco component, i.e., a component that does not contain tobacco-derived materials. The filler component may be a non-tobacco fiber, such as wood fiber or pulp or wheat fiber. The filler component may also be an inorganic material, such as chalk, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, or magnesium carbonate. The filler component may also be a non-tobacco cast material or a non-tobacco extrusion material. The filler component may be present in an amount of 0-20% by weight of the tobacco composition, or in an amount of 1-10% by weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the filler component may be absent.

[0025] In the tobacco compositions described herein, the tobacco composition includes an aerosol-generating agent. In this context, an "aerosol-generating agent" is an agent that facilitates the generation of an aerosol. The aerosol-generating agent may facilitate the generation of an aerosol by promoting the initial vaporization and / or condensation of the gas into an inhalable solid and / or liquid aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating agent may improve the delivery of flavor from the aerosol-generating material.

[0026] In general, any suitable aerosol-generating agent(s) may be included in the aerosol-generating materials of the present invention. Suitable aerosol-generating agents include, but are not limited to: polyols such as sorbitol, glycerin, and glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; non-polyols such as monohydric alcohols and high-boiling hydrocarbons; acids such as lactic acid; glycerin derivatives; esters such as diacetin, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, or myristates, including ethyl myristate and isopropyl myristate; and aliphatic carboxylic acid esters such as methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.

[0027] In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may be glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerin and propylene glycol. Glycerin may be present in an amount of 10-20% by weight of the tobacco composition, e.g., 13-16% by weight of the composition, or 14-15% by weight of the composition. Propylene glycol, when present, may be present in an amount of 0.1-0.3% by weight of the composition.

[0028] The aerosol-generating agent may be included in any component, such as any tobacco component and / or filler component, if present, of the tobacco composition. Alternatively, or in addition, the aerosol-generating agent may be added separately to the tobacco composition. In either case, the total amount of aerosol-generating agent in the tobacco composition should be as defined herein.

[0029] The tobacco compositions described herein contain nicotine. The nicotine content may be 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of the tobacco composition, for example, 0.8 to 1.2% by weight of the tobacco composition. In embodiments, the nicotine content may be 0.8 to 1.0% by weight of the tobacco composition. Surprisingly, it has been found that when used in heated tobacco products, too high a nicotine content can result in a harsh sensation when the aerosol is inhaled.

[0030] For the avoidance of doubt, when amounts are expressed in weight percent for the compositions described herein, they are expressed on a dry weight basis unless otherwise indicated. Accordingly, any water that may be present in the tobacco composition, or any of its components, is completely ignored for purposes of determining weight percent. The moisture content of the tobacco compositions described herein may vary, e.g., between 5 and 15% by weight. The moisture content of the tobacco compositions described herein may vary, e.g., depending on the temperature, pressure, and humidity conditions under which the composition is maintained. The moisture content may be determined by Karl Fischer analysis or gas chromatography, as described herein.

[0031] However, for the avoidance of doubt, any components other than water are included in the weight of the tobacco composition, even if the aerosol-generating agent is a liquid-phase component such as glycerin or propylene glycol. However, if the aerosol-generating agent is provided in the tobacco component of the tobacco composition or in the filler component (if present) of the tobacco composition instead of or in addition to being added separately to the tobacco composition, the aerosol-generating agent is not included in the weight of the tobacco component or filler component, but is included in the weight of the "aerosol-generating agent" in weight percent terms as defined herein. Any other materials present in the tobacco component are included in the weight of the tobacco component, even if they are of non-tobacco origin (e.g., non-tobacco fiber in the case of reconstituted tobacco).

[0032] In some embodiments, the tobacco composition comprises a tobacco component as defined herein and an aerosol-generating agent as defined herein. In some embodiments, the tobacco composition consists essentially of a tobacco component as defined herein and an aerosol-generating agent as defined herein. In some embodiments, the tobacco composition consists of a tobacco component as defined herein and an aerosol-generating agent as defined herein.

[0033] Paper-made recycled tobacco The reconstituted paper-processed tobacco is present in the tobacco component of the tobacco compositions described herein in an amount of 70-100% by weight of the tobacco component. In embodiments, the reconstituted paper-processed tobacco is present in an amount of 80-100% by weight, or 90-100% by weight of the tobacco component. In further embodiments, the tobacco component consists essentially of reconstituted paper-processed tobacco, or consists of reconstituted paper-processed tobacco.

[0034] Papermaking reconstituted tobacco refers to tobacco material formed by a process in which tobacco feedstock is extracted with a solvent to obtain a residue containing a soluble extract and fibrous material, and then the extract (usually after concentration and optionally further processing) is recombined with the fibrous material from the residue (usually after purification of the fibrous material and optionally the addition of a portion of non-tobacco fiber) by depositing the extract onto the fibrous material. The recombination process is similar to that of papermaking.

[0035] The paper-process reconstituted tobacco may be any type of paper-process reconstituted tobacco known in the art. In certain embodiments, the paper-process reconstituted tobacco is produced from a feedstock including one or more of tobacco strip, tobacco stem, and whole tobacco. In further embodiments, the paper-process reconstituted tobacco is produced from a feedstock composed of tobacco strip and / or whole tobacco, and tobacco stem. However, in other embodiments, chips, fines, and windrowers may alternatively or additionally be used in the feedstock.

[0036] Reconstituted papermaking tobacco for use in the tobacco compositions described herein may be produced by methods known to those skilled in the art of producing reconstituted papermaking tobacco.

[0037] In some embodiments, paper-process reconstituted tobacco can be produced as follows.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, tobacco furnish, such as leaves, strips, stems, chips, fines, and / or windrowers (in some embodiments, leaves, strips, and stems), is first mixed with an aqueous solvent (e.g., water, a water-miscible solvent such as water and ethanol). Distilled water, deionized water, or tap water may be used. The suspension of tobacco in the solvent is agitated, for example, by stirring or shaking, to increase the rate of extraction of the soluble portion from the tobacco fiber portion. Agitation is typically carried out for 30 minutes up to 6 hours. Agitation is carried out in a vessel and an agitator equipped with a blade for agitation. The amount of solvent in the suspension may vary widely, from about 75 to 99% by weight of the suspension, depending on the tobacco furnish, the solvent, the type of agitator (especially the blade type), and the temperature of the suspension. Typical suspension temperatures range from about 10°C to about 100°C.

[0039] The soluble portion of the tobacco furnish is separated from the insoluble fiber portion of the tobacco by, for example, pressing with a pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical press, or by filtration.

[0040] After separation, the tobacco fiber fraction is typically subjected to mechanical refining to produce a fiber pulp. Suitable refiners may typically be disc refiners or conical refiners. The fiber pulp is then formed into a base paper web containing tobacco fiber pulp in a papermaking station, such as a Fourdrinier-type papermaking machine. The fiber pulp is typically laid on a flat wire belt, where excess water is removed by gravity drainage and suction drainage. At this stage, non-tobacco fibers, such as cellulose, wheat fiber, or wood fiber, may also be included in the tobacco-derived fiber fraction.

[0041] The soluble portion of the tobacco feedstock is concentrated using any known type of concentrator, such as a membrane evaporator or a vacuum evaporator. After concentration, ingredients such as an aerosol-generating agent (as defined herein), a casing, an acid such as cocoa, licorice, and malic acid, or a flavoring (as defined herein) may be added and mixed with the concentrated tobacco solubles.

[0042] The concentrated tobacco solubles, potentially including aerosol generating agents and / or casings and / or flavorings, are then recombined with the dried tobacco fiber sheet to form reconstituted tobacco. The concentrated solubles can be added back to the fiber web in a variety of ways, such as by spraying, painting, impregnating, sizing, etc.

[0043] Finally, the reconstituted tobacco is dried. The reconstituted tobacco is optionally cut into strips or wound into rolls, and then cut into bobbins or shredded into sections.

[0044] As used herein, the terms "flavoring agent" and "flavoring substance" refer to materials that may be used, where local regulations permit, to create a taste or fragrance in a product that is desirable for an adult consumer. These include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, peppermint, aniseed, cinnamon, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, Scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essential oil, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, etc.). The compositions may contain other additives such as spices, flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or mouth fresheners. These may be imitation, synthetic, or natural sources, or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, such as an oil, liquid, or powder.

[0045] Examples of paper-process reconstituted tobacco that can be used in the present invention are listed in Table 1.

[0046] [Table 1]

[0047] Tobacco leaves Leaf tobacco may optionally be included in the tobacco compositions described herein, and if included, the leaf tobacco may be present in an amount of, for example, 10-30% by weight, or 10-20% by weight of the tobacco component.

[0048] The tobacco that may be used in the tobacco compositions described herein may be any suitable tobacco, such as a single grade or blend, cut rag or whole leaf, including Virginia (flue-aged) and / or Burley and / or Orient varieties.

[0049] The tobacco leaf may include ingredients such as an aerosol-generating agent (as defined herein), a casing (as defined herein), and a flavoring (as defined herein).

[0050] Extruded tobacco Extruded tobacco may optionally be included in the tobacco compositions described herein, and if included, the extruded tobacco may be present in an amount of, for example, 10-30% by weight, or 10-20% by weight of the tobacco component.

[0051] Extruded tobacco that may be used in the tobacco compositions described herein may be produced by methods known to those skilled in the art of producing extruded tobacco.

[0052] In some embodiments, extruded tobacco can be produced as follows.

[0053] The tobacco furnish may include Virginia (flue-aged), Burley, and / or Orient tobacco. The tobacco furnish may be in the form of stems, chips, strips, fines, or winnowers.

[0054] Additional ingredients may include non-tobacco fibers, such as straw fiber or wheat fiber; binders, such as cellulose or modified celluloses, such as hydroxypropyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose; and casings, such as acids, such as malic acid.

[0055] As shown in Figure 2, the tobacco furnish and any additional ingredients are mixed in a mixing silo and conveyed by injection and conveyor screws to the extruder where they are mixed with water; an aerosol generating agent may also be added at this stage. After extrusion, the extruded tobacco is cooled on a cooling belt.

[0056] The extruder is shown schematically in Figure 3. Referring to Figure 3, the tobacco furnish (and any additional ingredients) is added to tobacco feed zone 1 and conveyed through a screw in housing 2 to extruder head 3, which is equipped with tooling set 4 and hydraulic cylinder 5. Water is injected at 6 and an aerosol generating agent, such as glycerin, at 7. Screw housing 2 is equipped with temperature sensors 8, 9, and pressure sensors 10, 11, and 12. The extruded tobacco product is discharged in discharge zone 13.

[0057] Examples of extruded tobacco that can be used in the present invention are set forth in Table 2.

[0058] [Table 2]

[0059] Materials similar to those described above in this section, but made exclusively with non-tobacco fibers, such as wheat fiber or wood fiber, may also be used in the filler component of the tobacco composition.

[0060] Bandcast Cigarettes Banded cast tobacco may optionally be included in the tobacco compositions described herein, and if included, may be present in an amount of, for example, 10-30% by weight, or 10-20% by weight of the tobacco component.

[0061] Banded cast tobacco that may be used in the tobacco compositions described herein may be produced by methods known to those skilled in the art of producing banded cast tobacco.

[0062] Band-cast tobacco may include tobacco or tobacco extract (or both), a filler, an aerosol-generating agent (as defined herein), and a binder.

[0063] As a source of band-cast tobacco, the fillers discussed in this section are different from the filler components that may be present in the tobacco compositions defined herein, although similar materials to the filler components may be used.

[0064] Band-cast tobacco containing tobacco extract can be produced as follows.

[0065] Tobacco extracts may be obtained by processes that include treating tobacco with a solvent, and may further include other processing steps (such as concentration). The extract may be formed by processing any suitable tobacco, such as a single grade or blend, cut rag or whole leaf, including Virginia and / or Burley and / or Orient tobaccos.

[0066] In some embodiments, the tobacco extract may be obtained by a process comprising treating the tobacco with water. In some embodiments, treating the tobacco with water may include adding water to the tobacco, extracting the resulting aqueous liquid extract from the insoluble portion of the tobacco feedstock, and optionally removing excess water to form the tobacco extract. Any suitable filtration method, such as centrifugal solids filtration or vacuum fluidized bed filtration, may be used. Any suitable evaporative concentration method, such as vacuum spinning disk, vacuum falling, or rising thin film evaporation, may be used. Techniques including spray drying or freeze drying may also be used to reduce / remove the water content. Such processes will be known to those skilled in the art of filtration and evaporative concentration. The pH of the tobacco extract may be adjusted to between 6 and 10.5.

[0067] In some embodiments, the tobacco extract may be obtained by a process involving extraction with a supercritical fluid, such as supercritical carbon dioxide. In some other embodiments, the tobacco extract may be obtained by a process involving extraction with a solvent, which may include a polyol or other suitable high-boiling point liquid. In some cases, the extraction solvent may include glycerin and / or propylene glycol (and optionally water).

[0068] In some embodiments, the tobacco extract may be obtained by a process including steam distillation.

[0069] In some embodiments, tobacco extracts may be produced by processes that include steps to remove or reduce the concentration of certain substances, for example, tobacco extracts may be treated with bentonite to reduce the protein content and / or with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone to reduce the polyphenol content.

[0070] In some embodiments, the tobacco extract may be produced by a process that includes adding or increasing the concentration of one or more substances. In some of these embodiments, for example, an aerosol generating agent and / or a flavoring substance may be added.

[0071] Fillers may be required to impart a hard consistency to band-cast tobacco materials, which means that the material can be processed downstream (e.g., chopped, blended, rolled, crimped, molded, etc.). Fillers may include one or more inorganic fillers, including, but not limited to, chalk, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium carbonate, and suitable inorganic sorbents such as molecular sieves. Chalk is particularly suitable. In some cases, fillers may include one or more organic fillers, including, but not limited to, wood pulp, cellulose, and cellulose derivatives.

[0072] In some embodiments, the filler may act as a sorbent and / or carrier for other substances in the band-cast tobacco. In some embodiments, the filler may act as a structure to adsorb other substances before releasing them when heated. In some embodiments, the filler may act as a sorbent and / or carrier for an aerosol-generating agent (as defined herein).

[0073] Binders may include one or more of alginate, cellulose or modified cellulose, starch or modified starch, gelatin and natural or synthetic gums.

[0074] Suitable binders include, but are not limited to, alginates containing any suitable cation; cellulose or modified celluloses such as hydroxypropyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose; starch or modified starches; pectins containing any suitable cation, such as polysaccharides such as sodium pectinate, potassium pectinate, calcium pectinate, or magnesium pectinate; xanthan gum, guar gum, and any other suitable natural gum; and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the binder comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of one or more alginates selected from sodium alginate, calcium alginate, potassium alginate, or ammonium alginate.

[0075] Band-cast tobacco may further comprise additional ingredients such as flavorings (as defined herein) and casings (as defined herein).

[0076] The band-cast tobacco may further include thermally conductive particles, which may improve the rate of heat transfer when used throughout the band-cast tobacco.

[0077] In some embodiments, the banded cast tobacco may additionally comprise, in addition to tobacco extract, additional tobacco materials such as ground tobacco, tobacco fiber, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stems, and / or reconstituted tobacco.

[0078] Band-cast tobacco may be produced from a slurry comprising the components aerosol-generating material and water. In some embodiments, the slurry is extruded or cast and then dried to form the aerosol-generating material. In alternative embodiments, the slurry is sprayed and then dried to form the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the method of producing an aerosol-generating material further comprises the initial step of producing a slurry.

[0079] To form the slurry, the components of the band cast tobacco may be added in any suitable order. In some embodiments, the slurry may be mixed between and / or after the addition of the components, and in these embodiments, may be mixed for any suitable length of time. The length of time the slurry is mixed will depend on its composition and volume and may vary accordingly. In some embodiments, the slurry may be mixed as needed to ensure that the composition of the slurry is substantially homogenous and that the slurry has the desired flow and viscosity characteristics for casting.

[0080] In some embodiments, a method for producing a slurry may include the steps of: (1) mixing an aerosol-generating agent and a binder; (2) adding water and mixing; (3) adding a filler and mixing; and (4) adding tobacco extract and mixing to form a smooth slurry. The mixing after the addition of the tobacco extract is typically high shear mixing. In embodiments where the binder is a solid, step (1) results in a dispersion / suspension of the binder in the aerosol-generating agent.

[0081] In some embodiments, a method of making a slurry may include the steps of: (1) adding a binder to water and mixing; (2) adding an aerosol generating agent and mixing; (3) adding a filler and mixing; and (4) adding tobacco granules, ground tobacco, or tobacco extract and mixing thoroughly to form a smooth slurry.

[0082] The slurry may be cast into a sheet on a casting plate or band of a band caster. The slurry may then be dried using any suitable drying method. In some embodiments, the slurry may be dried at room temperature (i.e., about 20-25°C). In some embodiments, the slurry may be heated to affect drying. In some embodiments, the slurry may be dried in hot air (i.e., an oven). In some embodiments, the plate or band on which the wet slurry is placed may be heated to affect drying. In embodiments in which the slurry is heated, the slurry may be dried at any suitable temperature and for any suitable length of time.

[0083] The cast sheet may be removed from the casting plate or band of a band casting machine by any suitable method. In some cases, the sheet and plate / band are separated simply by the application of force. In some cases, the sheet may be removed using an implement, such as a knife or blade ("doctor knife"), to reach the space between the structure and the plate. Alternatively, or in addition, the structure may be removed by increasing the temperature at the junction between the structure and the plate. In some such embodiments, in addition to increasing the temperature at the junction between the structure and the plate, the structure may be removed from the plate using steam, which causes water absorption by the band-cast tobacco, which aids in the removal of the band-cast tobacco.

[0084] An example of band cast tobacco containing tobacco extract is as follows:

[0085] tobacco extract Seven batches of whole leaf burley tobacco (4.5 kg per batch) were extracted with 80 kg of water (reverse osmosis quality) at 60°C for 25-30 minutes with gentle agitation. The resulting mixture was filtered and centrifuged, and the combined resulting extract (480 L) was concentrated using an evaporation process to a solids content of 41.1% (in this context, "solids content" refers to the non-aqueous portion of the water extract). The extract had a nicotine content of 3.37% (wet weight basis) and 1.21 g / cm 3 The density was 1.02g.

[0086] Bandcast Cigarettes Water (756 g - reverse osmosis purified) was placed in a high shear mixer. While mixing, sodium alginate powder (15.01 g) was gradually added, ensuring a uniform mixture and sufficient hydration for a smooth, viscous fluid. Glycerin (24.99 g) was added to the high shear mixer with continuous mixing. Chalk (156.99 g) was then added in a slow powder stream with continuous high shear mixing. Finally, tobacco extract (61.26 g, prepared as described above) was added with continuous high shear mixing until a smooth, free-flowing slurry was formed.

[0087] After a smooth, free-flowing slurry was formed, the material was ready to be cast into sheets.

[0088] The slurry was then cast onto a stainless steel casting plate at a thickness of 2 mm using a casting knife. Casting provided a consistent thickness of the slurry, which was then dried. Drying can be carried out by air drying at ambient conditions for approximately 24 hours or in an oven at approximately 45-55°C for 0.5-5 hours (the minimum time used to reduce volatile loss). The dried sheet was then removed from the plate and conditioned by exposure to 60% relative humidity (RH) at 22°C for 48 hours. In some cases, the dried sheet was separated from the casting plate using a "doctor" knife.

[0089] The resulting cast tobacco material had a nicotine content of 6.7 mg / g (WWB), 7.15 mg / g (DWB), a glycerin content of 90.3 mg / g (WWB), 96.4 mg / g (DWB), and a moisture content of 6.3%.

[0090] Cigarettes containing banded cast tobacco typically contain tobacco powder, a binder, e.g., modified cellulose such as hydroxypropyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), an organic filler, such as wood pulp, and an inorganic filler, such as chalk. Cigarettes containing banded cast tobacco can be produced as follows.

[0091] Organic fillers such as wood fibers are pre-modified to meet desired specifications such as fiber length, curling property, and kink angle.

[0092] Tobacco (lamina and stem) is ground into a powder having a particle size of less than 200 μm, e.g., less than 100 μm, which is then added to a hydrated binder, an organic filler such as wood fiber, and glycerin. Optionally, an inorganic filler such as chalk is added.

[0093] The resulting slurry is then cast, for example, onto an endless steel casting belt and dried as a sheet material which may be further shredded or cut into strips.

[0094] Examples of band-cast tobacco-containing cigarettes that can be used in the present invention are listed in Table 3.

[0095] [Table 3]

[0096] This section does not include tobacco extract or tobacco powder, although materials similar to those listed above may be used in the filler component of the tobacco composition.

[0097] Moisture content determination In the compositions described herein, weight percent refers to a dry weight basis unless otherwise indicated. Thus, any water in the tobacco composition, or any of its components, is completely ignored for purposes of determining weight percent. However, other liquid components, such as aerosol-generating agents, are included in the weight percent. The moisture content of the tobacco compositions described herein may vary, for example, from 5 to 15 weight percent. Moisture content can be measured by Karl Fischer analysis or by gas chromatography (GC).

[0098] Water content by Karl Fischer analysis Karl Fischer water analysis was performed on a Mettler Toledo Karl Fisher V30 Volumetric Titrator. Prior to testing of the samples, the background water content of the extraction solvent (methanol) was measured and the value recorded in the analytical method.

[0099] Approximately 0.5 g of the material to be analyzed was accurately weighed (to four decimal places) into a 100 mL conical flask and the weight was recorded. 50 mL of dry methanol was dispensed into the conical flask, which was then sealed and agitated on a flat-bed shaker (155 rpm) for 30 minutes. Approximately 2 mL of the extracted sample was taken into a syringe and injected into the titration apparatus (weight was determined by reweighing the syringe). Results were reported as the % water content by weight of the sample. Samples were measured in triplicate and the average value was reported along with the standard deviation.

[0100] Water content by gas chromatography GC Method - Brief Description: Weigh 2.0000 g±0.1 g of sample into a 150 mL conical flask. To this add 50 mL of extraction solution (HPLC grade methanol with 1.5 mg / mL n-heptadecane and 1.5 mg / mL IPA internal standard). The flask is then stoppered and placed on a shaker (orbital or reciprocating) at 160 rpm for 4 hours. The flask is then removed from the shaker and allowed to stand for 1 hour before transferring an aliquot of the extract into a GC vial. The extract in the GC vial is analyzed by dual column GC (see Table 4 below for parameters) against pre-prepared calibration solutions (see Table 5 below).

[0101] [Table 4] TIFF0007764450000005.tif74149

[0102] [Table 5]

[0103] Respirable aerosol generating devices The tobacco compositions described herein can be used in devices that generate inhalable aerosols. The devices include a tobacco composition described herein and a heating means that vaporizes the components in use to form an aerosol. A variety of such devices are known in the art, and examples are disclosed in International Application PCT / EP2014 / 072828, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0104] In some embodiments, the heating means is an electrical heating means. In some embodiments, the electrical heating means is an electrical resistance heating element. In some embodiments, heating the aerosol-generating material does not result in any significant combustion of the material. In some embodiments, heating does not result in any or essentially no combustion of the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the device is a non-combustion, heated device, also known as a heated tobacco device or heated tobacco product. Such devices are non-combustion smoking articles developed as alternatives to traditional combustion cigarettes. These devices heat the tobacco material to volatilize the tobacco components, avoiding thermal decomposition or combustion of the tobacco or volatile substances. The volatilized components condense to form an inhalable aerosol. The aerosol often contains water, an aerosol-generating agent (as defined herein), nicotine, and optionally other tobacco components such as flavors and aromas. Thus, in some embodiments, the device heats tobacco to volatilize the components without thermal decomposition or combustion of the tobacco.

[0105] Heating tobacco compositions in smoking articles using electricity has many advantages. In particular, heating has many advantages over using combustion. Combustion is a complex process that generates aerosols through a combination of interactive physicochemical processes that may include oxidative decomposition, pyrolysis, thermosynthesis, and distillation. This complex process generally results in the generation of complex aerosols. For example, smoke produced from a tobacco-containing combustion smoking article is a complex, active mixture of over 5,000 identified components. The exothermic process of combustion may be self-sustaining and may generate a heat release rate and amount of heat output sufficient to decompose the combustible matrix. In some cases, the matrix may be completely decomposed to an ash residue that may include inorganic, non-combustible materials. Extremely high temperatures can be reached in a burning cigarette due to the exothermic reaction of combustion. During a puff (during the flameless combustion period between puffs), the center of the combustion zone of the tobacco rod of the cigarette can reach temperatures as high as 800°C. During smoking, the tobacco rod of a cigarette can reach temperatures as high as 910°C around the combustion zone.

[0106] The use of electrical resistance heating systems (such as some non-combustion heating devices, also known as heated tobacco products or heated tobacco devices) is advantageous because it is easier to control the rate of heat generation and to generate lower levels of heat than using combustion to generate heat. In some embodiments, the device includes an actuator that allows the user to initiate electrical heating.

[0107] Thus, the use of an electrical heating system allows for greater control of aerosol generation from a tobacco composition. Additionally, the use of an electrical heating system allows for aerosol generation without combustion, rather than via combustion decomposition.

[0108] In some embodiments, the device of the present invention is capable of delivering multiple aerosol deliveries or doses. This means that the tobacco composition can be heated to generate aerosol sufficient to allow multiple puffs. This can be achieved by heating the tobacco composition for a time sufficient to generate a volume of aerosol suitable for multiple deliveries. In some embodiments, this can involve constantly heating the tobacco composition. Alternatively, it can involve heating the tobacco composition for successive shorter periods of time, optionally with a single delivery or dose of aerosol during each period.

[0109] In some embodiments, the device may be configured to heat the tobacco composition to a temperature between about 50-350°C, 100-350°C, 150-350°C, 150-330°C, or 180-300°C.

[0110] In some embodiments, the tobacco composition, or smoking material including the tobacco composition, may be supplied in a cartridge that can be fitted into the device. In some of these embodiments, the cartridge may be replaceable. In some embodiments, the cartridge may be combined with other components of the aerosol-generating device in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the cartridge may be attached to other components of the device by a friction fit and / or a threaded fit and / or a press fit. Thus, the tobacco composition may be supplied in a consumable smoking article for use in combination with an appliance that heats smoking material.

[0111] smoking articles As used herein, the term "smoking material" includes materials that, upon heating, release volatilized components, typically in the form of an aerosol. "Smoking material" includes any tobacco-containing material, and may include, for example, but is not limited to, one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, cut tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes, without limitation to the tobacco compositions described herein. "Smoking material" may also include other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine, depending on the product.

[0112] Devices that heat smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material without burning or combusting the smoking material, typically forming an inhalable aerosol, are known. Such devices are sometimes referred to as "heat-not-burn" devices, "heated tobacco products," "heated tobacco devices," or similar. The devices are typically generally elongated and have an open end, sometimes referred to as a mouthpiece. The smoking material may be in the form of, or provided as part of, a cartridge, cassette, or rod that can be inserted into the device. A filter may be disposed in the mouthpiece to filter and / or cool the volatilized material as the user draws on it. The heater for heating and volatilizing the smoking material may be provided as a "permanent" component of the device, or as part of a smoking article or a consumable item that is discarded and replaced after use. In this context, a "smoking article" is a device, article, or other component containing smoking material that is heated during use to volatilize the smoking material, and optionally other components. In use, and particularly in the primary application of the present invention, the smoking material does not burn or combust. The tobacco compositions described herein are particularly useful in such smoking articles, and the smoking material can include a tobacco composition.

[0113] 4, there is shown a schematic diagram of an example of a consumable product 100 for use with an appliance for heating smokable material. The consumable product 100 comprises a mouthpiece 101 and a cylindrical rod of smokable material 102.

[0114] The mouthpiece 101 may be formed from, for example, paper, cellulose acetate, cardboard, crepe paper such as heat-resistant crepe paper or crepe parchment paper, for example in the form of a spiraled paper tube, and polymeric materials such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or some other suitable material. The mouthpiece 101 may comprise a tube. The tube may be hollow. Such a hollow tube may be provided with a filtering function to filter out vaporized smoking material. As shown, the mouthpiece 101 may be elongated to provide a space from the hot portion(s) of the device body that heats the smoking material.

[0115] In certain embodiments not shown, the mouthpiece may include a filter element, which may be a filter plug and may be made of, for example, cellulose acetate. If present, the filter element may be located at the downstream end of the mouthpiece.

[0116] Referring now to FIG. 5, the mouthpiece assembly 201 may include a cooling element 204. The element 204 may be a unitary rod having first and second ends and including a plurality of through-holes extending between the first and second ends. As shown in FIG. 5, the other end of the cooling element 204 may include a second hollow tube 206, which serves to separate the cooling element 204 from the hotter portion(s) of the appliance body that heats the smokable material, thereby protecting the cooling element 204 from high temperatures and helping to prevent condensation, thereby improving aerosol generation. The second tube 206 may again be formed from, for example, paper, cellulose acetate, cardboard, crinkled paper such as heat-resistant crinkled paper or crinkled parchment paper, and polymeric materials such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), for example, in the form of a spiraled paper tube, or some other suitable material. The tip tube 205 and the second tube 206 provide support for the cooling element 204. The mouthpiece tube 205 may have a filtering function and is sometimes called a tube filter.

[0117] The cooling element 204 in this example is generally located in the center of the mouthpiece assembly 201, but in other examples it may be located more or less towards one end or the other of the mouthpiece assembly 201. In the example of Figure 5, the tip tube 205, cooling element 204 and secondary tube 206 are held together by covering paper 203, which is wrapped tightly around the tip tube 205, cooling element 204 and secondary tube 206 to bond them together. In this sense, the mouthpiece assembly 201 is "pre-assembled."

[0118] In one particular example, first, mouthpiece tube 205 may be 11 mm long, cooling element 204 may be 19 mm long, second tube 206 may be 11 mm long, and the outer diameter of the entire mouthpiece assembly 201 may be 5.4 mm. The outer diameters of cooling element 204, mouthpiece tube 205, and second tube 206, excluding cover paper 203, may range, for example, from 5.13 mm to 5.25 mm, with 5.25 mm being one preferred option. Other dimensions may be used depending, for example, on the particular application, the typical temperature of the incoming aerosol or vapor, the properties (materials) of the aerosol or vapor and smoking material, etc.

[0119] 5, the mouthpiece assembly 201 may then be coupled to the smokable material 202 by a further covering paper 207, the covering paper wrapping around at least adjacent ends of the mouthpiece assembly 201 and the smokable material 202. In other examples, the mouthpiece assembly 201 is not pre-assembled, and instead the consumable 200 is effectively formed in one operation by wrapping the covering paper 207 around the cooling element 204, the tipping tube 205, the second tube 206 and the smokable material 202, without providing separate covering paper for the components of the mouthpiece portion.

[0120] As shown in Figure 5, the mouthpiece assembly 201 may include a cooling element. The cooling element may have a through-hole that extends substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the wand.

[0121] The through holes may be generally radially arranged on the element when viewed in cross section. That is, in one example, the element has an interior wall defining the through holes and having two primary structures: a radial wall and a central wall. The radial wall extends along the radius of the cross section of the element, and the central wall is centered over the center of the cross section of the element. The central wall is, in one example, circular, although other regular or irregular cross-sectional shapes may be used. Similarly, the cross section of the element is, in one example, circular, although other regular or irregular cross-sectional shapes may be used.

[0122] In one embodiment, the majority of the through-holes have a hexagonal or approximately hexagonal cross-sectional shape, and in this embodiment, the element has what may be referred to as a "honeycomb" structure when viewed from one end.

[0123] The element may be substantially incompressible. The element may be formed from a ceramic material or a polymer, for example a thermoplastic polymer (which may be an extrudable plastic material).

[0124] In some embodiments, the porosity of the element ranges from 60% to 75%. Porosity in this sense may be a measure of the percentage of the cross-sectional area of ​​the element that is occupied by through-holes. In some embodiments, the porosity of the element is about 69% to 70%.

[0125] Other embodiments of the aerosol cooling element are disclosed in International Application PCT / GB2015 / 051253, in particular Figures 1-8 and the description on pages 8, lines 11 to 18, line 16, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0126] In further embodiments, the aerosol cooling element may be formed from a sheet material that is folded, crinkled, or pleated to form holes. The sheet material may be made from, for example, a metal such as aluminum; a polymeric plastic material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or polyvinyl chloride; or paper.

[0127] The various embodiments described herein are merely provided to aid in understanding and teaching of the claimed features. These embodiments are presented merely as representative examples of embodiments and are not intended to be exhaustive and / or limiting. It is understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or as constraints on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be used and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of any suitable combination of elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. of the present disclosure other than those specifically described in the specification. Furthermore, the present disclosure may encompass other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. 1. A smoking article for use with an appliance for heating smoking material, comprising: The smoking article is a) a smoking material comprising a tobacco composition; b) a mouthpiece attached to one end of the smokable material; c) an aerosol cooling element between the smokable material and the mouthpiece for cooling vaporized smokable material produced when the smokable material is heated; and d) heating means to volatilize the ingredients when used to form an aerosol; Equipped with the tobacco composition comprises a tobacco component in an amount of 60 to 90% by weight of the tobacco composition, a filler in an amount of 0 to 20% by weight of the tobacco composition, and an aerosol-generating agent in an amount of 10 to 20% by weight of the tobacco composition; the tobacco composition has a nicotine content of 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of the tobacco composition; the tobacco component comprises paper-process reconstituted tobacco in an amount of 70 to 100% by weight of the tobacco component; The smoking article is configured to heat the tobacco composition to a temperature between 180 and 300°C. Smoking articles.

2. 2. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco component comprises a component selected from leaf tobacco, extruded tobacco, band-cast tobacco, and mixtures thereof in an amount of 0 to 30% by weight of the tobacco component.

3. 3. The smoking article of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the aerosol-generating agent comprises an agent selected from sorbitol, glycerin, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, lactic acid, diacetin, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, ethyl myristate, isopropyl myristate, methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, dimethyl tetradecanedioate, and mixtures thereof.

4. 4. The smoking article of claim 3, wherein the aerosol generating agent comprises glycerin and propylene glycol.

5. A smoking article as described in claim 3, wherein the aerosol generating agent contains glycerin in an amount of 13 to 16% by weight of the tobacco composition.

6. 6. The smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco component comprises leaf tobacco in an amount of 10 to 30% by weight of the tobacco composition.

7. 6. The smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tobacco component comprises extruded tobacco in an amount of 10 to 30% by weight of the tobacco composition.

8. 6. The smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco component comprises band-cast tobacco in an amount of 10 to 30% by weight of the tobacco composition.

9. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece comprises a hollow tube.

10. The smoking article of claim 1 , comprising a spacer between the smokable material and the aerosol cooling element.

11. 11. The smoking article of claim 10, wherein the spacer is a hollow spacer tube.

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