Liquid Tobacco Extract Production via Controlled Thermal Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing liquid tobacco extracts often result in products with low nicotine content, limited flavor species, and high levels of undesirable compounds, requiring additional supplementation for use in vaporizable formulations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving heating tobacco starting material at an extraction temperature of 100-160°C for at least 90 minutes to collect volatile compounds, which are then formed into a liquid tobacco extract with improved balance of desirable to undesirable compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If maceration methods are used to produce liquid tobacco extract, then the extraction process is simple, but the nicotine content and flavor species are low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling extraction temperature within the specific range of 100-160°C and maintaining extraction time of at least 90 minutes. These optimized parameters enable efficient nicotine and flavor compound extraction while preventing degradation, thereby increasing nicotine content and flavor species without complicating the manufacturing process.
2Quantity of substance
If high temperature extraction is used to increase nicotine content, then nicotine extraction efficiency improves, but undesirable compounds like furans and phenols increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by precisely controlling the extraction temperature within 100-160°C. This optimized temperature range maximizes nicotine extraction efficiency while preventing the formation of undesirable compounds like furans and phenols that occur at higher temperatures. The method also controls extraction time (at least 90 minutes) to ensure complete nicotine extraction without excessive heat exposure.
3Productivity
If extraction temperature is increased to improve extraction speed, then productivity increases, but the balance of desirable to undesirable compounds deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes both temperature and time parameters together: extraction temperature of 100-160°C combined with extraction time of at least 90 minutes. This parameter combination achieves fast extraction speed (high productivity) while maintaining excellent compound balance quality, as the controlled temperature prevents degradation and the sufficient time ensures complete extraction of desirable compounds.
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 produces a liquid tobacco extract with enhanced nicotine content and flavor characteristics, minimizing undesirable compounds like furans and phenols, thereby providing a more authentic heated tobacco taste.
Implementation Method 1
heating the tobacco starting material at an extraction temperature of between about 100 degrees Celsius and about 160 degrees Celsius for at least about 90 minutes; collecting the volatile compounds released from the tobacco starting material during the heating step
Data Source
AI summary
A method of producing a liquid tobacco extract is provided, including: preparing a tobacco starting material including natural tobacco material; heating the tobacco starting material in a non-sealed extraction chamber at an extraction temperature of between 125° C. and 160° C. for between 90 minutes and 270 minutes to release gaseous volatile compounds from the tobacco starting material, the tobacco starting material not being in a liquid suspension during the heating step, a flow of inert gas being passed through the tobacco starting material during the heating in the extraction chamber, and the inert gas carrying the gaseous volatile compounds released from the tobacco starting material during heating away from the chamber; collecting the volatile compounds released and carried away from the tobacco starting material by the inert gas flow during the heating; and forming a liquid tobacco extract including the collected volatile compounds.