Reconstituted Plant Material With Nicotine Salt Extract Reapplication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reconstituted tobacco products made by the paper-making process suffer from reduced aroma and nicotine content due to volatile compound losses during processing, making them unsuitable for heat-not-burn devices without additional humectant incorporation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the extraction of fibrous plant material to separate an extract and fibrous portion, combining a nicotine salt with the extract, and applying it to a base sheet to enhance nicotine content and flavor retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the paper-making process is used to manufacture reconstituted tobacco, then the processing efficiency is improved, but the nicotine content and aroma/flavour are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding nicotine salt to the extract before the paper-making process begins. This ensures nicotine is present in the stock solution before fiber formation, preventing loss during subsequent processing steps and ensuring the final product achieves the required nicotine content while maintaining processing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the extract by adding nicotine salt, transforming it from a nicotine-deficient solution to a nicotine-enriched stock solution. This parameter change occurs before the paper-making process, allowing the subsequent steps to proceed efficiently while producing tobacco with adequate nicotine content
2Productivity
If the paper-making process is used to manufacture reconstituted tobacco, then the processing efficiency is improved, but the aroma/flavour is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding flavour compounds to the extract before the paper-making process begins. This ensures flavour is present in the stock solution before fiber formation, preventing loss during subsequent processing steps and ensuring the final product maintains aroma and flavour while achieving processing efficiency
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional reconstituted tobacco is made by paper-making process, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the suitability for heat-not-burn devices is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the extract by adding nicotine salt and flavour compounds, transforming conventional reconstituted tobacco into a product suitable for heat-not-burn devices. This maintains the simplicity of the paper-making process while achieving the required nicotine content and flavour profile for HNB application
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method ensures improved sensory experience by minimizing nicotine and flavor losses, enabling a consistent and enhanced nicotine content in reconstituted tobacco products for heat-not-burn devices.
Implementation Method 1
water soluble compounds present in the tobacco are extracted into the aqueous solvent
Implementation Method 2
The aqueous extract is concentrated and then reapplied to the base sheet
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a reconstituted plant material includes the steps of extracting a fibrous plant material with a solvent to provide an extract and a fibrous portion, separating the extract from the fibrous portion, forming a base sheet from the fibrous portion, combining a nicotine salt with the extract and applying the extract to the base sheet.