Reconstituted tobacco for non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler and method for manufacturing same, non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler, and non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaling system

Abstract

Provided is a reconstituted tobacco enabling control of power consumption per one non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler during use. The reconstituted tobacco for a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler contains a tobacco material and a tobacco component, wherein the tobacco material has a maximum absorbance of 0.40 or more in the wavelength range of 3200 to 3600 cm-1 in a FT-IR analysis, and the specific heat of the tobacco material is 5 mJ / mg ・℃ or less.

Description

Regenerated tobacco for non-combustion heated flavor inhaler and its manufacturing method, non-combustion heated flavor inhaler, and non-combustion heated flavor inhaler system

[0001] The present invention relates to reconstituted tobacco for a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler and a method for producing the same, a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, and a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system.

[0002] In combustion-type flavor inhalers (cigarettes), flavor is obtained by burning a tobacco filler containing tobacco leaves. As an alternative to combustion-type flavor inhalers, non-combustion-heating flavor inhalers have been proposed, which heat the tobacco filler instead of burning it to obtain flavor. The heating temperature of non-combustion-heating flavor inhalers is lower than the combustion temperature of combustion-type flavor inhalers, for example, about 400°C or lower. Because the heating temperature of non-combustion-heating flavor inhalers is thus low, in order to increase the amount of smoke, an aerosol generator such as glycerin is added to the tobacco filler in non-combustion-heating flavor inhalers. The aerosol generator vaporizes upon heating, generating an aerosol. The aerosol is supplied to the user together with flavor components such as tobacco components, allowing the user to obtain a sufficient flavor.

[0003] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler can be used by heating a tobacco-containing segment filled with a tobacco filler, for example, with a heater in a heating device. The heating device usually has a battery unit, and the heater is heated by being supplied with power from the battery unit. From the perspective of user convenience, when using a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler with a heating device, it is desirable to reduce power consumption and increase the usable time and number of usable cigarettes.

[0004] On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses that black liquor with a high vanillin content can be obtained by cooking tobacco raw materials under alkaline conditions.

[0005] Patent No. 6019216

[0006] One possible way to reduce power consumption without changing the size of the product is to reduce the power consumption per non-combustion heating flavor inhaler by devising the tobacco material contained in the non-combustion heating flavor inhaler.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a regenerated tobacco, a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, and a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system that can reduce the amount of power consumed per non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler during use.

[0008] The present invention includes the following embodiments.

[0009] [1] A regenerated tobacco for a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, comprising a tobacco material and a tobacco component, wherein the tobacco material has a wavelength of 3200 to 3600 cm in FT-IR analysis. －１ a maximum absorbance of 0.40 or more, and a specific heat of the tobacco material of 5 mJ / mg·°C or less.

[0010] [2] The regenerated tobacco according to [1], wherein the water absorption amount of the tobacco material when immersed in water at 23°C for 900 seconds is 4.0 to 6.0 g / g.

[0011] [3] Regenerated tobacco according to [1] or [2], wherein the angle of repose of the tobacco material is 40° or less.

[0012] [4] Regenerated tobacco according to any one of [1] to [3], which contains a tobacco extract obtained by extracting tobacco components from tobacco raw materials.

[0013] [5] The reconstituted tobacco according to any one of [1] to [4], further comprising a binder.

[0014] [6] The reconstituted tobacco according to any one of [1] to [5], further comprising a fiber material.

[0015] [7] The regenerated tobacco according to any one of [1] to [6], which is a sheet-shaped regenerated tobacco or a shredded sheet-shaped regenerated tobacco obtained by cutting the sheet-shaped regenerated tobacco.

[0016] [8] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler having a tobacco-containing segment filled with the reconstituted tobacco according to any one of [1] to [7].

[0017] [9] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system comprising: the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to [8]; and a heating device that heats the tobacco-containing segment.

[0018]

[10] A method for producing reconstituted tobacco according to any one of [1] to [7], comprising: a step of extracting tobacco components from tobacco raw materials to obtain a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue; a step of subjecting the tobacco residue to an alkaline cooking treatment and then adjusting the pH to 4.0 to 6.5; and a step of pouring the tobacco extract back into the tobacco residue after the pH adjustment.

[0019]

[11] The method according to

[10] , wherein the alkaline cooking treatment is a treatment in which an alkali metal hydroxide is added to the tobacco residue and the mixture is heated at 130 to 230°C for 5 minutes to 6 hours.

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a regenerated tobacco, a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, and a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system that can reduce the amount of power consumption per non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler during use.

[0021] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system according to the present embodiment, showing (a) a state before the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler is inserted into a heating device, and (b) a state in which the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler is inserted into a heating device and heated. 3 is a graph showing the amount of nicotine delivered in each puff in Example 1, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 3. 4 is a graph showing the amount of glycerin delivered in each puff in Example 1, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 3. 5 is a graph showing the rate of nicotine transfer into mainstream smoke per amount of power consumption (energy) relative to the specific heat of the reconstituted tobacco base material in Example 1, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 3.

[0022] The regenerated tobacco according to this embodiment is a regenerated tobacco for a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, which contains a tobacco material and a tobacco component. －１ The maximum absorbance of the tobacco material is 0.40 or more. The specific heat of the tobacco material is 5 mJ / mg·°C or less.

[0023] The present inventors have considered that by using a tobacco material with a low specific heat as the tobacco material contained in a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, the heating efficiency can be improved, and as a result, the amount of power consumed per non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler can be reduced. －１ The inventors have found that by using a regenerated tobacco containing a tobacco material having a maximum absorbance of 0.40 or more and a specific heat of 5 mJ / mg ° C or less, and a tobacco component, as the tobacco material for a non-combustion heat-type flavor inhaler, it is possible to reduce the amount of power consumed per non-combustion heat-type flavor inhaler. －１ The absorption of α-H is due to the stretching vibration of hydroxyl groups. For example, by subjecting tobacco raw materials to an alkali cooking process and then a neutralization process, the amount of hydroxyl groups in the resulting tobacco material increases, thereby increasing the maximum absorbance. In this case, since the tobacco raw materials are neutralized after the alkali cooking process, the increase in the maximum absorbance is not due to free OH, but rather to hydroxyl groups covalently bonded to the tobacco material. Thus, it has been discovered that the specific heat of the tobacco material decreases when the amount of hydroxyl groups in the tobacco material exceeds a certain level. By using this tobacco material as a base material for regenerated tobacco, the specific heat of the regenerated tobacco can be reduced, and when heating the regenerated tobacco, the temperature of the regenerated tobacco can be increased with less power. Therefore, the power consumption per non-combustion heating flavor inhaler can be reduced. Note that "regenerated tobacco" refers to tobacco material that has been reconstituted by mixing tobacco components with other materials.

[0024] The reconstituted tobacco according to this embodiment may contain, in addition to the tobacco material and tobacco components, for example, a binder, a fiber material, an aerosol generating agent, and the like.

[0025] (Tobacco Material) The tobacco material according to this embodiment is characterized by a wavelength of 3200 to 3600 cm in FT-IR analysis. －１ The maximum absorbance is 0.40 or more. －１By setting the maximum absorbance in the wavelength range of 3200 to 3600 cm to be 0.40 or more, the specific heat of the tobacco material can be reduced, and the specific heat of the entire regenerated tobacco can be reduced, thereby suppressing the power consumption per non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler. －１ The maximum absorbance at the wavelength of 3200 to 3600 cm is preferably 0.42 or more, and more preferably 0.45 or more. －１ The upper limit of the range of the maximum absorbance is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 1.0 or less.

[0026] FT-IR analysis of tobacco material can be carried out by the following method. A sample of the tobacco material is placed in close contact with a diamond crystal for ATR measurement, and the infrared absorption spectrum is measured. A Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (trade name: Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50, manufactured by Thermo Scientific) can be used as the measurement device. Measurement method: ATR method, resolution: 4 cm －１ Measurement can be performed under the condition of 32 times of accumulation (n=2).

[0027] An example of a method for achieving a maximum absorbance of 0.40 or greater for tobacco materials is a method of subjecting tobacco raw materials to alkaline cooking followed by neutralization. Examples of tobacco raw materials include tobacco leaf, tobacco veins, stems, roots, and flowers, which may be shredded or in powder form. The type of tobacco leaf is not particularly limited, and any variety can be used, including flue-cured, burley, native, oriental, and fermented leaves thereof. These tobacco raw materials may be used alone or in combination. In particular, the tobacco raw material to be alkaline cooked is preferably tobacco residue obtained after extracting a tobacco extract containing tobacco components from the tobacco raw material. This is because the tobacco residue, which is usually discarded, can be reused, reducing environmental impact and providing cost advantages. Furthermore, the resulting tobacco extract can be used as a tobacco component for regenerated tobacco. Examples of alkaline cooking and neutralization methods include the alkaline cooking and neutralization methods used in the regenerated tobacco manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, which will be described later.

[0028] The specific heat of the tobacco material is 5 mJ / mg°C or less. By having a specific heat of 5 mJ / mg°C or less, the specific heat of the entire regenerated tobacco can be sufficiently reduced, and the power consumption per non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler can be suppressed. The specific heat is preferably 4 mJ / mg°C or less, more preferably 3 mJ / mg°C or less, and even more preferably 2 mJ / mg°C or less. The lower the specific heat, the better, and there is no particular restriction on the lower limit of the range of the specific heat, but it can be, for example, 0.1 mJ / mg°C or more. The specific heat of the tobacco material can be measured, for example, by FT-IR analysis at a wavelength of 3200 to 3600 cm －１ By making the maximum absorbance of 0.40 or more, it is possible to make it 5 mJ / mg·° C. or less.

[0029] The specific heat of a tobacco material is measured by DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and is expressed as the maximum specific heat capacity (mJ / mg·°C) up to 300°C. For example, it can be measured using a differential scanning calorimeter (trade name: DSC7020, manufactured by Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation) under the following conditions: heating rate: 10°C / min, holding time: 2 minutes, pan: Al, sample mass: 10 mg, reference: Al ２ O ３ .

[0030] The tobacco material preferably has a water absorption of 4.0 to 6.0 g / g when immersed in water at 23°C for 900 seconds. A water absorption of 4.0 to 6.0 g / g results in less stickiness and excellent handleability, facilitating the addition of raw materials. Furthermore, the tobacco material is easier to roll up during the manufacture of a non-combustion heating flavor inhaler. The water absorption is more preferably 4.2 to 5.8 g / g, and even more preferably 4.5 to 5.5 g / g.

[0031] The water absorption amount of a tobacco material can be measured by the following method. A cylindrical container is prepared, which is a stainless steel tube measuring φ55 x 80 mm with 19 1 mm diameter holes. A filter paper is placed in the cylindrical container, and 3 to 6 g of a tobacco material sample is placed on top of the filter paper. A tray is filled with tap water, the cylindrical container is placed in the tray, and the mass is measured after 900 seconds to determine the amount of water absorption per gram. This measurement is performed three times, and the average value is taken as the amount of water absorption.

[0032] The angle of repose of the tobacco material is preferably 40° or less. A repose angle of 40° or less facilitates the addition of raw materials during the production of reconstituted tobacco, which is preferable from a manufacturing perspective. The angle of repose is more preferably 10 to 40°, and even more preferably 20 to 30°.

[0033] The angle of repose of a tobacco material can be measured by the following method. A sample of the tobacco material is dropped using a funnel from 4 cm above a 25 mm x 25 mm measuring platform (Peak material). Once the sample has been dropped to the point where it spills over the measuring platform, a photograph is taken and the angle is measured using image analysis software (Keyence microscope). This measurement is performed three times, and the average value is used as the angle of repose.

[0034] The amount of tobacco material contained in the reconstituted tobacco is preferably 20 to 80% by mass, more preferably 20 to 65% by mass, and even more preferably 30 to 50% by mass, when the mass of the reconstituted tobacco is 100% by mass.

[0035] (Tobacco Components) Tobacco components are tobacco-derived components contained in the tobacco raw material, and the main components include components that contribute to the aroma and flavor of the tobacco. The regenerated tobacco according to this embodiment may contain the tobacco components alone, but preferably contains them as a tobacco extract obtained by extracting the tobacco components from the tobacco raw material. In this case, the tobacco residue after extracting the tobacco extract can be used as a raw material for tobacco material, which reduces the environmental impact and is also advantageous in terms of cost. The amount of tobacco components contained in the regenerated tobacco can be appropriately set depending on the desired flavor.

[0036] (Binder) The regenerated tobacco according to this embodiment preferably contains a binder. By including a binder in the regenerated tobacco, the various raw materials can be bound together, and the regenerated tobacco can be suitably molded into a desired shape. The type of binder is not particularly limited, and examples include guar gum, xanthan gum, CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose), CMC-Na (sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose), waxy cornstarch, potato, and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The amount of binder contained in the regenerated tobacco is preferably 1 to 10% by mass, and more preferably 3 to 6% by mass, when the mass of the regenerated tobacco is taken as 100% by mass.

[0037] (Fiber material) The regenerated tobacco according to this embodiment preferably contains a fiber material. The inclusion of a fiber material in the regenerated tobacco makes it easier to mold the regenerated tobacco and allows it to maintain its shape. The type of fiber material is not particularly limited, but examples include pulp. Pulp may be wood pulp such as softwood pulp or hardwood pulp, or non-wood pulp commonly used in cigarette paper for tobacco products, such as flax pulp, sisal pulp, or esparto. The amount of fiber material contained in the regenerated tobacco is preferably 1 to 15% by mass, and more preferably 3 to 10% by mass, when the mass of the regenerated tobacco is 100% by mass.

[0038] (Aerosol Generating Agent) The regenerated tobacco according to this embodiment may contain an aerosol generating agent. The aerosol generating agent refers to a material that generates an aerosol when heated and then cooled. Examples of aerosol generating agents include polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, xylitol, and erythritol, triacetin, and 1,3-butanediol. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The amount of the aerosol generating agent contained in the regenerated tobacco is preferably 5 to 40% by mass, and more preferably 10 to 25% by mass, when the mass of the regenerated tobacco is taken as 100% by mass.

[0039] (Other Materials) The regenerated tobacco according to this embodiment may contain other materials such as flavorings in addition to the tobacco material, tobacco components, binder, fiber material, and aerosol-generating agent. The type of flavoring is not particularly limited, and menthol is particularly preferred from the viewpoint of imparting a good flavor. Furthermore, one type of flavoring may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination. The amount of other materials contained in the regenerated tobacco is preferably 10% by mass or less, and more preferably 5% by mass or less, when the mass of the regenerated tobacco is 100% by mass. The regenerated tobacco according to this embodiment may not contain other materials.

[0040] (Shape of Regenerated Tobacco) The regenerated tobacco according to this embodiment is preferably regenerated tobacco in the form of a sheet, or regenerated tobacco in the form of shredded sheets obtained by cutting the regenerated tobacco in the form of a sheet. The sheet-like regenerated tobacco allows for homogenization of the components, such as the tobacco material, tobacco components, binder, and aerosol-generating agent, and allows for efficient heating and atomization of the aerosol-generating agent and flavor components during heating. Furthermore, shredded sheets allow for manufacturing optimization, such as improved efficiency during rolling. When the regenerated tobacco is in the form of a sheet, the length and width of the sheet are not particularly limited and can be adjusted appropriately depending on the filling mode. When the regenerated tobacco is in the form of shredded sheets, for example, the width of the shredded sheets can be 0.4 to 1.5 mm, and the length of the shredded sheets can be 5 to 15 mm. The thickness of the sheet or shredded sheets is preferably 50 to 800 μm, more preferably 100 to 600 μm, in terms of the balance between heat transfer efficiency and strength.

[0041] The reconstituted tobacco according to this embodiment may also be a nonwoven tobacco sheet (laminated sheet). The laminated sheet is obtained by sandwiching a mixture containing tobacco material, tobacco components, and a binder between nonwoven fabrics and then forming the resulting laminate into a specific shape by heat welding.

[0042] [Method for producing reconstituted tobacco] The method for producing reconstituted tobacco according to this embodiment includes the following steps: a step of extracting tobacco components from tobacco raw materials to obtain a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue (hereinafter also referred to as the "extraction step"); a step of subjecting the tobacco residue to an alkaline cooking treatment and then adjusting the pH to 4.0 to 6.5 (hereinafter also referred to as the "alkaline cooking treatment step"); and a step of pouring the tobacco extract back onto the tobacco residue after adjusting the pH (hereinafter also referred to as the "re-cooking step"). This method allows the reconstituted tobacco according to this embodiment to be produced simply and efficiently. It also reduces environmental impact and costs. The method according to this embodiment may include other steps, such as a molding step, in addition to the extraction step, alkaline cooking treatment step, and re-cooking step.

[0043] (Extraction Process) In this process, tobacco components are extracted from the tobacco raw material to obtain a tobacco extract and tobacco residue. The method for extracting tobacco components from the tobacco raw material is not particularly limited, and the tobacco components can be extracted, for example, by immersing the tobacco raw material in a solvent. Alternatively, the tobacco raw material can be heated to volatilize the tobacco components from the tobacco raw material, and the resulting vapor can be collected.

[0044] When tobacco components are extracted by immersing the tobacco raw material in a solvent, examples of the solvent include water, alcohols such as ethanol, and ethyl acetate. The extraction temperature and extraction time vary depending on the extraction solvent, but can be, for example, 10 to 60°C and 1 to 3 hours. When the tobacco raw material is heated to volatilize the tobacco components from the tobacco raw material and the resulting vapor is recovered, the heating temperature of the tobacco material can be, for example, 150 to 300°C. The method for recovering the vapor is not particularly limited, but examples include cooling and recovering the generated vapor, passing the generated vapor through a solvent such as distilled water, ethanol, hexane, 2-propanol, 1-propanol, propylene glycol, or glycerin and collecting it in the solvent, or collecting the vapor using an adsorbent, column, filter, or the like, followed by elution.

[0045] (Alkaline Cooking Treatment Step) In this step, the tobacco residue obtained in the extraction step is subjected to an alkaline cooking treatment, and then the pH is adjusted to 4.0 to 6.5. Alkaline cooking refers to adding an alkaline substance to a raw material and then heat treating it. Examples of alkaline cooking include the kraft pulp method, which uses a mixed solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfate, the soda pulp method, which uses an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, the acidic sulfite method, which uses bisulfite and sulfurous acid gas, and the neutral sulfite method, which uses sodium hydroxide and bisulfite. The alkaline substance is not particularly limited, but is preferably an alkali metal hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide. The alkaline substance may be added as an aqueous alkaline substance solution. When the alkaline substance is added as an aqueous solution of the alkaline substance (chemical solution), the amount of chemical solution to be added depends on the pH of the chemical solution, but for example, the ratio of tobacco residue (g) to chemical solution (mL) is preferably 1:2 to 1:100, more preferably 1:3 to 1:100, even more preferably 1:3 to 1:50, even more preferably 1:5 to 1:50, and particularly preferably 1:10 to 1:50.

[0046] The alkaline cooking treatment is generally carried out at a temperature of 120 to 180°C. In this embodiment, the alkaline cooking treatment can also be carried out at the above-mentioned general temperatures, but is preferably carried out at a temperature of 130 to 230°C, and more preferably at a temperature of 150 to 180°C. The treatment time for the alkaline cooking treatment is not particularly limited as long as it is a time that allows the tobacco residue to be sufficiently cooked. Although this differs depending on the pH of the chemical solution used, for example, 5 minutes to 6 hours is preferable, 30 minutes to 6 hours is more preferable, and 1 hour to 6 hours is even more preferable.

[0047] After the alkaline cooking treatment, the pH of the tobacco residue is adjusted to 4.0 to 6.5. The pH can be adjusted using a pH adjuster such as citric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or nitric acid. The pH is preferably 4.5 to 6.0, and more preferably 5.0 to 6.0. The pH of the tobacco residue can be measured by the following method. 10 mL of ultrapure water is added to 1 g of a tobacco residue sample, and the mixture is shaken at 200 rpm for 10 minutes. The pH of the resulting liquid is measured using a benchtop pH meter (product name: SS211, manufactured by HORIBA).

[0048] (Recycle Process) In this process, the tobacco extract is recycled to the tobacco residue after pH adjustment. This process returns the tobacco components previously removed from the tobacco raw material to the tobacco residue. By using the tobacco residue with a reduced specific heat as a base material and returning the tobacco components to the base material, regenerated tobacco with a low specific heat can be obtained. The method for recycling the tobacco extract to the tobacco residue is not particularly limited. For example, recycling can be achieved by adding and mixing the tobacco extract to the tobacco residue and allowing the tobacco extract to soak into the tobacco residue. After recycling, the tobacco residue containing the tobacco extract may be dried.

[0049] (Forming step) In the method according to the present embodiment, the obtained reconstituted tobacco may be formed into a sheet, a shredded sheet, or the like. For example, the tobacco residue containing the tobacco components obtained in the rewinding step, the binder, and the fiber material may be mixed and formed into a sheet by a known method such as a papermaking method, a casting method, or a rolling method. Furthermore, the reconstituted tobacco formed into a sheet can be shredded to form into a shredded sheet.

[0050] [Non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler] The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to this embodiment includes a tobacco-containing segment filled with the regenerated tobacco according to this embodiment. Because the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to this embodiment includes a tobacco-containing segment filled with the regenerated tobacco according to this embodiment, the temperature of the tobacco-containing segment can be increased with less power when heating the tobacco-containing segment. Therefore, the amount of power consumed per non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler can be reduced.

[0051] An example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to this embodiment is shown in Figure 1. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a tobacco-containing segment 2 filled with reconstituted tobacco according to this embodiment, a cylindrical cooling segment 3 having perforations 8 on its circumference, a center hole segment 4, and a filter segment 5. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to this embodiment may have other segments in addition to the tobacco-containing segment, cooling segment, center hole segment, and filter segment.

[0052] The axial length of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to this embodiment is not particularly limited, but is preferably 40 mm or more and 90 mm or less, more preferably 50 mm or more and 75 mm or less, and even more preferably 50 mm or more and 60 mm or less. The circumferential length of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler is preferably 16 mm or more and 25 mm or less, more preferably 20 mm or more and 24 mm or less, and even more preferably 21 mm or more and 23 mm or less. For example, the tobacco-containing segment may be 20 mm long, the cooling segment may be 20 mm long, the center hole segment may be 8 mm long, and the filter segment may be 7 mm long. The length of the filter segment may be selected within a range of 4 mm or more and 10 mm or less. The airflow resistance of the filter segment in this case is 15 mmH per segment. ２ O / seg or more, 60mmH ２ The length of each segment can be appropriately changed depending on manufacturing suitability, required quality, etc. Furthermore, even if a filter segment alone is disposed downstream of the cooling segment without using a center hole segment, the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler can still function.

[0053] (Tobacco-Containing Segment) In the tobacco-containing segment 2, the reconstituted tobacco according to this embodiment is filled into cigarette paper (hereinafter also referred to as wrapper). The method for filling the reconstituted tobacco into the cigarette paper is not particularly limited, and for example, the reconstituted tobacco may be wrapped in a wrapper, or the reconstituted tobacco may be filled into a tubular wrapper. When the reconstituted tobacco has a longitudinal direction, such as a rectangular shape, the reconstituted tobacco may be filled so that the longitudinal direction is in an unspecified direction within the wrapper, or may be filled so that the reconstituted tobacco is aligned in the axial direction of the tobacco-containing segment 2 or perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0054] (Cooling Segment) As shown in Fig. 1, the cooling segment 3 may be configured as a cylindrical member 7. The cylindrical member 7 may be, for example, a cardboard tube formed into a cylindrical shape.

[0055] The tubular member 7 and the mouthpiece lining paper 12 (described later) are provided with perforations 8 that penetrate both. The presence of the perforations 8 allows outside air to be introduced into the cooling segment 3 during inhalation. As a result, the vaporized aerosol components generated by heating the tobacco-containing segment 2 come into contact with the outside air, their temperature drops, and they liquefy, forming an aerosol. The diameter (distance across) of the perforations 8 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 0.5 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less. The number of perforations 8 is not particularly limited, and may be one, two, or more. For example, a plurality of perforations 8 may be provided around the circumference of the cooling segment 3.

[0056] The amount of outside air introduced through the perforations 8 is preferably 85% by volume or less, more preferably 80% by volume or less, of the total volume of gas inhaled by the user. By setting the ratio of the amount of outside air to 85% by volume or less, it is possible to sufficiently suppress the reduction in flavor due to dilution by the outside air. This is also referred to as the ventilation ratio. From the viewpoint of cooling performance, the lower limit of the ventilation ratio range is preferably 55% by volume or more, more preferably 60% by volume or more.

[0057] The cooling segment may also be a segment comprising a sheet of suitable construction material that has been wrinkled, pleated, gathered, or folded. The cross-sectional profile of such an element may exhibit randomly oriented channels. The cooling segment may also comprise a bundle of longitudinally extending tubes. Such a cooling segment may be formed, for example, by wrapping a pleated, gathered, or folded sheet material with a wrapping paper.

[0058] The axial length of the cooling segment can be, for example, 7 mm to 28 mm, for example, 18 mm, and the axial cross section of the cooling segment can be substantially circular, with a diameter of, for example, 5 mm to 10 mm, for example, about 7 mm.

[0059] (Center Hole Segment) The center hole segment is composed of a filling layer having one or more hollow portions and an inner plug wrapper (inner wrapping paper) covering the filling layer. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the center hole segment 4 is composed of a first filling layer 9 having a hollow portion and a first inner plug wrapper 10 covering the first filling layer 9. The center hole segment 4 functions to increase the strength of the mouthpiece segment 6. The first filling layer 9 can be, for example, a rod with an inner diameter of 1.0 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, which is densely packed with cellulose acetate fibers and hardened by adding a plasticizer containing triacetin in an amount of 6% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less relative to the mass of cellulose acetate. Because the first filling layer 9 has a high fiber packing density, during inhalation, air and aerosol flow only through the hollow portions, with almost no flow within the first filling layer 9. Because the first filling layer 9 inside the center hole segment 4 is a fiber-packed layer, the feel from the outside during use is less likely to cause discomfort to the user. It is also possible for the center hole segment 4 not to have the first inner plug wrapper 10 and for its shape to be maintained by thermoforming.

[0060] (Filter Segment) The configuration of the filter segment 5 is not particularly limited, and may be composed of one or more packed layers. The outside of the packed layer may be wrapped with one or more sheets of wrapping paper. The airflow resistance per filter segment 5 can be appropriately changed depending on the amount, material, etc. of the packing filled in the filter segment 5. For example, when the packing is cellulose acetate fiber, the airflow resistance can be increased by increasing the amount of cellulose acetate fiber filled in the filter segment 5. When the packing is cellulose acetate fiber, the packing density of the cellulose acetate fiber is 0.13 to 0.18 g / cm. ３ The airflow resistance is a value measured using an airflow resistance measuring device (product name: SODIMAX, manufactured by SODIM).

[0061] The circumferential length of the filter segment 5 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 16 to 25 mm, more preferably 20 to 24 mm, and even more preferably 21 to 23 mm. The axial length of the filter segment 5 can be selected from 4 to 10 mm, and the airflow resistance thereof is preferably 15 to 60 mmH. ２ The filter segment 5 has an axial length of preferably 5 to 9 mm, more preferably 6 to 8 mm. The cross-sectional shape of the filter segment 5 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, circular, elliptical, polygonal, or the like. Furthermore, a flavor-containing breakable capsule, flavor beads, or flavor may be directly added to the filter segment 5.

[0062] As shown in Figure 1, the center hole segment 4 and the filter segment 5 can be connected by an outer plug wrapper (outer wrapping paper) 11. The outer plug wrapper 11 can be, for example, a cylindrical piece of paper. The tobacco-containing segment 2, the cooling segment 3, and the connected center hole segment 4 and filter segment 5 can be connected by a mouthpiece lining paper 12. These connections can be made, for example, by applying glue such as vinyl acetate glue to the inner surface of the mouthpiece lining paper 12, and then inserting and winding the three segments. Note that these segments may also be connected in multiple places using multiple lining papers.

[0063] [Non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system] The non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system according to this embodiment comprises the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to this embodiment and a heating device that heats the tobacco-containing segment of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler. Because the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system according to this embodiment comprises the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the amount of power consumed per non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system according to this embodiment may have other configurations in addition to the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to this embodiment and the heating device.

[0064] An example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system according to this embodiment is shown in Figure 2. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system shown in Figure 2 includes a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 1 according to this embodiment and a heating device 13 that heats the tobacco-containing segment of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 1 from the outside.

[0065] Figure 2(a) shows the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 1 in a state before it is inserted into the heating device 13, and Figure 2(b) shows the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 1 inserted into the heating device 13 and being heated. The heating device 13 shown in Figure 2 comprises a body 14, a heater 15, a metal tube 16, a battery unit 17, and a control unit 18. The body 14 has a cylindrical recess 19, and the heater 15 and metal tube 16 are disposed on the inner side of the recess 19 at a position corresponding to the tobacco-containing segment of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 1 to be inserted into the recess 19. The heater 15 may be an electric resistance heater, and is heated by being supplied with power from the battery unit 17 in response to instructions from the control unit 18, which controls the temperature. The heat generated by the heater 15 is transmitted to the tobacco-containing segment of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 1 through the metal tube 16, which has high thermal conductivity.

[0066] 2(b) is a schematic illustration, and therefore there is a gap between the outer periphery of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 1 and the inner periphery of the metal tube 16, but in reality, for the purpose of efficient heat transfer, it is preferable that there is no gap between the outer periphery of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 1 and the inner periphery of the metal tube 16. Note that although the heating device 13 heats the tobacco-containing segment of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 1 from the outside, it may also heat from the inside.

[0067] The heating temperature by the heating device is not particularly limited, but is preferably 400° C. or less, more preferably 150° C. or more and 400° C. or less, and even more preferably 200° C. or more and 350° C. or less. The heating temperature refers to the temperature of the heater of the heating device.

[0068] Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to examples, but the present embodiment is not limited to these examples. －１ Measurement of maximum absorbance, measurement of water absorption, measurement of angle of repose, measurement of specific heat, and evaluation of stickiness were carried out by the following methods.

[0069] [FT-IR analysis wavelength: 3200 to 3600 cm －１Measurement of maximum absorbance at wavelengths of 3200 to 3600 cm in FT-IR analysis of tobacco material －１ The maximum absorbance of the tobacco material was measured by the following method. A sample of the tobacco material was placed in close contact with a diamond crystal for ATR measurement, and the infrared absorption spectrum was measured. The measurement device used was a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (product name: Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50, manufactured by Thermo Scientific). Measurement method: ATR method, resolution: 4 cm －１ The measurement was carried out under the conditions of: 32 times of accumulation (n=2).

[0070] [Measurement of Water Absorption] The water absorption of the tobacco material was measured by the following method. A cylindrical container was prepared, consisting of a φ55 × 80 mm stainless steel tube with 19 1 mm diameter holes. Filter paper was placed in the cylindrical container, and 3 to 6 g of a tobacco material sample was placed on top of it. A tray was filled with tap water, and the cylindrical container was placed in the tray. The mass was measured after 900 seconds, and the water absorption per gram was measured. This measurement was performed three times, and the average value was taken as the water absorption at each time point.

[0071] [Measurement of Angle of Repose] The angle of repose of the tobacco material was measured using the following method. A sample of the tobacco material was dropped using a funnel from 4 cm above a 25 mm x 25 mm measuring platform (Peak material). Once the sample had fallen to the point where it spilled over the measuring platform, a photograph was taken, and the angle was measured using image analysis software (Keyence microscope). This measurement was performed three times, and the average value was used as the angle of repose.

[0072] [Measurement of specific heat] The specific heat of the tobacco material was measured by DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) to determine the maximum specific heat capacity (mJ / mg ° C) up to 300 ° C. Specifically, a differential scanning calorimeter (trade name: DSC7020, manufactured by Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation) was used under the following conditions: heating rate: 10 ° C. / min, holding time: 2 minutes, pan: Al, sample mass: 10 mg, reference: Al ２ O ３ .

[0073] [Evaluation of Stickiness] The stickiness of the tobacco material was evaluated by five panelists who touched the tobacco material with their hands and evaluated it on a 5-point scale (n=1). Specifically, the evaluation was made on a scale of 0 to 5, with 0 being "not sticky at all" and 5 being "very sticky." The panelists were thoroughly trained, and it was confirmed that the evaluation thresholds for stickiness were the same and standardized among the panelists.

[0074] Example 1 (Preparation of reconstituted tobacco) Yellow leaves were prepared as tobacco raw materials. Water 12 times the mass of the raw material was added to the tobacco raw material, and the mixture was stirred at 50°C and 300 rpm for 1 hour. An extract was then collected by hand squeezing. This allowed tobacco components to be extracted from the tobacco raw material, yielding a tobacco extract and tobacco residue. Next, 100 g / L of a 2 mol / L aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added to the tobacco residue, and the mixture was heated at 180°C for 3 hours. Citric acid was then added to adjust the pH to 5.6, yielding a tobacco material. The tobacco material was analyzed by the above-mentioned method using FT-IR at wavelengths of 3200 to 3600 cm. －１ The maximum absorbance, water absorption, angle of repose, and specific heat of each sample were measured, and the stickiness was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0075] The obtained tobacco material was used as a base material, and the tobacco extract was poured back onto the tobacco material. 100 parts by mass of the tobacco material to which the tobacco extract was poured back was mixed with 3.7 parts by mass of guar gum as a binder, 3.7 parts by mass of softwood pulp as a fiber material, and 14.6 parts by mass of glycerin as an aerosol generating agent, and the mixture was formed into a sheet by a casting method. Thus, a reconstituted tobacco sheet was prepared. The reconstituted tobacco had a thickness of 428 μm and a density of 0.67 mg WB / mm ３ , basis weight 285gWB / m ２ The glycerin content was 12.7% by mass WB, and the water content was 12.1% by mass WB.

[0076] (Evaluation) The sheet-like reconstituted tobacco was packed into the tobacco-containing segment 2 of a non-combustion heat-type flavor inhaler 1 shown in FIG. 1 to obtain a non-combustion heat-type flavor inhaler. A heating test was conducted on the non-combustion heat-type flavor inhaler, and the nicotine delivery amount and glycerin delivery amount were measured. Specifically, the non-combustion heat-type flavor inhaler 1 was inserted into the heating device 13 shown in FIG. 2, and the tobacco-containing segment was heated to 200°C. After 30 seconds of preheating, the non-combustion heat-type flavor inhaler 1 was inhaled through the mouthpiece, and the amounts of nicotine and glycerin contained in the inhaled mainstream smoke were measured. An inhaler (product name: RM-20, manufactured by Borgwaldt) was used for inhalation. A total of 10 puffs were taken, with 55 ml puffed for 2 seconds once every 30 seconds. The nicotine and glycerin amounts were measured for each puff. The nicotine and glycerin amounts were measured using GC-FID. The amount of nicotine delivered in each puff is shown in Figure 3, and the amount of glycerin delivered in each puff is shown in Figure 4. The rate of nicotine transfer into mainstream smoke per unit of power consumption (energy) is also shown in Table 1. However, nicotine and glycerin are shown as indicators of components among the multiple components contained in the reconstituted tobacco of this embodiment, and are not intended to specifically indicate that nicotine or glycerin are easily delivered.

[0077] Comparative Example 1: Yellow leaves were prepared as tobacco raw materials. Water 12 times the mass of the raw material was added to the tobacco raw material, and the mixture was stirred at 50°C and 300 rpm for 1 hour. The extract was then collected by hand squeezing. This allowed tobacco components to be extracted from the tobacco raw material, yielding a tobacco extract and tobacco residue. The tobacco residue was then placed in an oven and heated under N ２ The tobacco residue was heated at 230°C for 1 hour while a mixed gas of 92% O2 and 8% O2 (oxygen concentration: 1.7%) was passed through the tobacco residue at a rate of 1 L / min. This resulted in carbonization of the tobacco residue, yielding carbonized tobacco. The carbonized tobacco was analyzed by the above-mentioned method using FT-IR at a wavelength of 3200 to 3600 cm. －１ The maximum absorbance, angle of repose, and specific heat of each sample were measured, and the stickiness was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0078] The obtained carbonized tobacco was used as a base material, and the tobacco extract was reconstituted onto the carbonized tobacco. 100 parts by mass of the carbonized tobacco reconstituted with the tobacco extract, 3.7 parts by mass of guar gum as a binder, 3.7 parts by mass of softwood pulp as a fiber material, and 14.6 parts by mass of glycerin as an aerosol generator were mixed and formed into a sheet by a casting method. Thus, a sheet-shaped reconstituted tobacco was prepared. A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler was fabricated using the reconstituted tobacco in the same manner as in Example 1, and evaluated. The results are shown in Figures 3 and 4 and Table 1.

[0079] Comparative Example 2 The tobacco extract obtained in Example 1 was added to activated carbon (trade name: Kuraray Coal, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.). Except for using the activated carbon instead of the tobacco residue to which the tobacco extract had been reconstituted, a sheet-shaped reconstituted tobacco was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. The measurement results of the specific heat and water absorption of the activated carbon itself, as well as the evaluation results of stickiness, are shown in Table 1.

[0080] Comparative Example 3 Tobacco extract and tobacco residue were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. Thereafter, the tobacco extract was poured back onto the tobacco residue without subjecting the tobacco residue to alkaline cooking treatment. Otherwise, a sheet of reconstituted tobacco was prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. The measurement results of the physical properties of the tobacco residue itself are shown in Table 1. The evaluation results of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler are shown in Figures 3, 4 and Table 1.

[0081]

[0082] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, FT-IR analysis showed that the －１ In Example 1, reconstituted tobacco was prepared using a tobacco material as a base material having a maximum absorbance of 0.40 or more and a specific heat of 5 mJ / mg °C or less. Evaluation of a non-combustion heat-type flavor inhaler containing the reconstituted tobacco revealed that the amount of nicotine and glycerin delivered was high, particularly when the number of puffs increased. This was accompanied by a high rate of nicotine transfer into mainstream smoke per unit of power consumption (energy) (Table 1). Meanwhile, FT-IR analysis revealed that the nicotine transfer rate in the 3200-3600 cm wavelength range was 1.2%. －１In Comparative Examples 1 and 3, in which reconstituted tobacco was prepared using a tobacco material as the substrate with a maximum absorbance of less than 0.40 or a specific heat of more than 5 mJ / mg°C, the nicotine and glycerin delivery amounts were lower than in Example 1 when a non-combustion heating flavor inhaler containing the reconstituted tobacco was evaluated (FIGS. 3 and 4). Therefore, the nicotine transfer rate to mainstream smoke per unit of power consumption (energy) was lower than in Example 1 (Table 1). As shown in the graph of FIG. 5, which shows the nicotine transfer rate to mainstream smoke per unit of power consumption (energy) versus the specific heat of the reconstituted tobacco substrate, in Example 1, the tobacco material substrate had a maximum absorbance of 0.40 or higher and a specific heat of 5 mJ / mg°C or lower, which indicates that the nicotine transfer rate to mainstream smoke per unit of power consumption (energy) was improved. Furthermore, Table 1 reveals that the substrate of Example 1 had a lower angle of repose than the substrates of Comparative Examples 1 and 3, which made it easier to add raw materials and provided superior manufacturing suitability. Furthermore, the substrate of Example 1 exhibited the same water absorption amount and stickiness evaluation as the substrates of Comparative Examples 1 and 3. This indicates that the alkali cooking treatment did not significantly affect the stickiness of the substrate, and that the substrates were similarly excellent in handleability and easy to charge with raw materials.

[0083] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 2 Tobacco-containing segment 3 Cooling segment 4 Center hole segment 5 Filter segment 6 Mouthpiece segment 7 Cylindrical member 8 Perforation 9 First filling layer 10 First inner plug wrapper 11 Outer plug wrapper 12 Mouthpiece lining paper 13 Heating device 14 Body 15 Heater 16 Metal tube 17 Battery unit 18 Control unit 19 Recess

Claims

1. A reconstituted tobacco for a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, comprising a tobacco material and a tobacco component, The tobacco material was analyzed by FT-IR at a wavelength of 3200 to 3600 cm －１ The maximum absorbance is 0.40 or more, The regenerated tobacco has a specific heat of 5 mJ / mg·°C or less.

2. 2. The regenerated tobacco according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco material has a water absorption of 4.0 to 6.0 g / g when immersed in water at 23° C. for 900 seconds.

3. 2. The regenerated tobacco according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco material has an angle of repose of 40° or less.

4. The reconstituted tobacco according to claim 1 , comprising a tobacco extract obtained by extracting tobacco components from tobacco raw materials.

5. The reconstituted tobacco of claim 1 further comprising a binder.

6. The reconstituted tobacco of claim 1 further comprising a fibrous material.

7. The reconstituted tobacco according to claim 1, which is a sheet-shaped reconstituted tobacco or a shredded sheet-shaped reconstituted tobacco obtained by cutting the sheet-shaped reconstituted tobacco.

8. A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler comprising a tobacco-containing segment filled with the reconstituted tobacco according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to claim 8, a heating device for heating the tobacco-containing segment; A non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation system comprising:

10. A method for producing reconstituted tobacco according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: A step of extracting tobacco components from the tobacco raw material to obtain a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue; adjusting the pH of the tobacco residue to 4.0 to 6.5 after subjecting the tobacco residue to an alkaline cooking treatment; pouring the tobacco extract back into the tobacco residue after pH adjustment; A method comprising:

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the alkaline cooking treatment comprises adding an alkali metal hydroxide to the tobacco residue and heating the mixture at 130 to 230° C. for 5 minutes to 6 hours.