Abstract: A method for reducing the content of nitrosamines in a tobacco material is provided herein, the method involving the steps of contacting a tobacco material with a treatment solution so as to form a treatment composition containing, in addition to the tobacco material, an acid, a complexing agent, a solvent, and, optionally, a salt, at a pH of about 5.5 or less, to obtain a tobacco material having a tobacco-specific nitrosamine content that is lower than the initial tobacco-specific nitrosamine content. The method can optionally include further processing of the tobacco material. Smoking articles and other tobacco products incorporating such treated tobacco materials are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for reducing the effects of wetlapping, drying, and hornification of pulp fibers and consequently increasing the pulp drainage and strength properties in the final product (i.e., paper) are provided. The method which has been developed creates a “value-added” product by the wastepaper supplier or at the pulp and/or deinking (recycled paper) mill—a wastepaper load/bale, wet pulp stock or wet lap, or dried pulp treated with or impregnated with enzymes that enhance the quality of the pulp or paper product when it is repulped and processed at the paper mill.

Abstract: A soft, chewable and orally dissolvable and/or disintegrable product includes a biopolymer-sugar based matrix and botanical powder dispersed throughout the biopolymer-sugar based matrix. The biopolymer-sugar based matrix includes at least one biopolymer, at least one sugar and optional additives. Soft, chewable and orally dissolvable and/or disintegrable product can also include flavor beads.

Abstract: A method of treating a tobacco extract solution includes bringing an extract solution, which is obtained by extracting a natural tobacco material with an aqueous extracting solvent, into contact with a polymer containing, in its side chain, a functional group which traps metal ions including at least magnesium, thereby obtaining an extract solution with an amount of at least magnesium reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for hindering formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines during processing of dark fire tobacco, as well as a facility in which at least portions of these methods may be conducted. According to the present invention, dark fire tobacco that has been harvested and that is generally green and/or yellow is exposed to an uncontrolled, yet active, ambient airflow so as to provide a substantially aerobic environment about the tobacco. This exposure of the dark fire tobacco to the ambient airflow may be done until the tobacco is substantially brown and/or substantially free of enzymatic activity. Subsequently, the tobacco is exposed to gaseous emissions (e.g., smoke) from combusting sawdust/wood. This step may be conducted at least until the tobacco exhibits a moisture content of no more than about 16% and/or until the tobacco exhibits a gloss or shine on a surface of the tobacco.

Abstract: Processes for producing flavorful and aromatic compounds from flue-cured tobacco material are provided. The processes involve providing a tobacco suspension comprising finely ground flue-cured tobacco material in intimate contact with ammonia, and subjecting the tobacco suspension to heat treatment for a time and under conditions sufficient to generate a flavorful and aromatic composition. The composition can be applied to smoking articles such as cigarettes to improve the flavor and aroma character thereof.

Abstract: A process for preparing tobacco, which process comprises the steps of treating a tobacco material with a phenol oxidising enzyme, such as by extracting tobacco with a solvent to provide an extract and a residue; and treating the extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme such as a laccase. An improved tobacco product having a reduced amount of phenolic compounds. This is an alternative or a supplement to a process in which the phenolic compounds are adsorbed onto the insoluble carrier polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP). In preferred embodiments, the process includes further steps of removing the oxidised phenolic compound, adding adsorbents such as bentonite; removing and/or inactivating the enzyme; and concentrating the extract. Preferred phenol oxidising enzymes are peroxidases and laccases. The thus treated extract is advantageously re-combined with the tobacco residue and further processed to provide a tobacco article for smoking.

Abstract: The diameters of successive rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are ascertained while the articles advance sideways at the periphery of a rotary drum-shaped conveyor and are rotated about their longitudinal axes as a result of frictional engagement with a rolling member which is adjacent the periphery of the conveyor. Successive articles which are being rotated by the rolling member are caused to interrupt a beam of radiation issuing from a laser, either once or more than once, and the amounts of intercepted radiation are indicative of the diameters of the respective articles. Such amounts of intercepted radiation are monitored by a video camera which generates electric signals, and the electric signals are processed into second signals denoting the diameters of discrete successively tested articles and/or the average diameters of series of two or more successively tested articles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reducing the protein content of tobacco material which includes either: (1) extracting the tobacco material with an anionic surfactant; (2) treating the tobacco material with a proteolytic enzyme followed by extraction with a surfactant; (3) applying a surfactant solution to the tobacco material, separating the solution from the tobacco material, removing the surfactant and polypeptides from the tobacco material, optionally with the use of an insoluble adsorbent, and combining the tobacco material with the remaining solution; or (4) first extracting the tobacco material with an aqueous solvent and then with a surfactant. The invention further provides a tobacco material of reduced protein content produced by extraction with an anionic surfactant.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for reducing the protein content of tobacco material which includes extracting the tobacco material with a solution containing a surfactant. The tobacco material may be first extracted with an aqueous solvent to produce an aqueous extract before being treated with the solution containing a surfactant. This invention also provides a method for removing polypeptides from an aqueous extract of tobacco material which includes treating the extract with an insoluble adsorbent selected from the group comprising hydroxyapatite and a fuller's earth mineral such as bentonite. Treatment of the aqueous extract with bentonite will produce an extract having a reduced pigment and polypeptide content.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for improving the taste and aroma of tobacco by finely dispersing over it an emulsion comprising an emulsifier, an aqueous phase and an oil phase containing at least 10% by weight of a non-volatile oil. The non-volatile oil comprises hydrocarbons, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols and vegetable waxes, all having between 10 and 40 carbon atoms. The emulsifier is preferably water-soluble or water dispersible. The emulsions may be used as vehicles for applying other water-soluble and/or oil-soluble additives such as flavors, casing, humectants etc.

Abstract: Tobacco-derived components of a tobacco extract are provided by fermenting the tobacco extract within a fermentation bath. The extract may be subjected to heat treatment in a pressure controlled environment prior to and/or after fermenting.The fermented tobacco extract is then distilled at a temperatrue to provide a distillate which includes tobacco-derived components of the tobacco extract. If the extract has not previously been subjected to heat treatment, the distillate can be subjected to heat treatment in a pressure controlled environment.

Abstract: Tobacco material having a reduced protein content is provided by first extracting water soluble components from tobacco. The extracted residue then is subjected to enzyme treatment using an enzyme which can decompose water insoluble protein molecules to smaller sized water soluble molecular components. The enzyme treated extracted tobacco material then is isolated. The extracted tobacco components then are subjected to ultrafiltration treatment, and the extracted tobacco components having the high molecular weight components thereof so removed are reapplied to the protein-reduced tobacco material. As such, a reconstituted tobacco material is provided. The reconstituted tobacco material so provided is useful as smokable material for cigarette manufacture.

Abstract: Aromatized reconstituted tobacco is prepared from tobacco particles by extracting the particles with water to form an extract containing between 5 and 20 g/l of sugar, fermenting the extract with a yeast of the genera kluyveromyces, saccharomyces or candida, forming sheets from the extracted particles, and incorporating the fermented extract into those sheets.

Abstract: An improved process for removing insoluble nitrogen-containing compounds from cured tobacco uses alkali or a combination of protease and nonprotease depolymerase, rather than simple protease extraction.The method of the invention is more efficient and results in a more effective extraction of protein.

Abstract: A culture of microorganisms requiring oxygen but capable of living anaerobically while using nitrates and/or nitrites as oxygen source, which are brought to their exponential growth phase under anaerobic conditions, and are made to react under like conditions on the nitrates and/or nitrites, until the nitrates and/or nitrites are reduced to the desired level and the effect of the microorganisms is then stopped.

Abstract: Lettuce and leafy vegetables are processed and enzymatically treated with proteolytic or amylolytic enzymes under predetermined temperature and pH conditions for the production of tobaccoless smokes and edible products such as pita-like pockets and chips which may be treated with desired flavoring and coloring ingredients.

Abstract: High temperature processes and thermophilic organisms for use in those processes for reducing the levels of certain nitrogen-containing compounds in tobacco materials. Tobacco materials are contacted with at least one thermophilic organism characterized by an anaerobic, dissimilatory, metabolic pathway for denitrification of tobacco materials under anaerobic and high temperature conditions that promote such metabolism. Tobacco materials treated in accordance with these high temperature processes and thermophilic organisms, when incorporated into a smoking product, deliver a significantly reduced amount of oxide of nitrogen in smoke. Moreover, such tobacco materials also afford the product of other tobacco products having lower amounts of nitrates and other nitrogen-containing compounds.

Abstract: A dry pre-mix is provided whereby a moist snuff can be prepared by addition of water. The pre-mix consists of a mixture of snuff-type tobaccos, cut to a predetermined size and having a moisture level between 6% and 16%.

Abstract: Process for the start-up of high-temperature processes for the denitrification of tobacco materials via an anaerobic dissimilatory metabolic pathway of thermophilic organisms. The process advantageously permits the induction of denitrification activity through the use of a seed culture which, itself, is the product of a previous thermophilic denitrification treatment of the same type as that to which the start-up process is directed.

Abstract: A method for modifying the smoking flavor characteristics of bright tobacco, involves treating the tobacco with liquid ammonia, separating the resulting ammonia solution from the tobacco, concentrating the solution by evaporating the ammonia, dissolving the concentrate in a solvent and reapplying the dissolved residue to the once-treated tobacco.

Abstract: An improved method of reducing the nitrate, nitrite and ammonium compound content of an aqueous tobacco extract employing microorganisms is described. The nitrates, nitrites and ammonium compounds are eliminated on a continuous basis via an aerobic assimilatory metabolic pathway by introducing aqueous tobacco extract and necessary additives into a work mixture, containing suitable microorganisms, at a dilution rate which does not exceed the growth rate of the microorganisms while withdrawing a portion of the work mixture at a rate such that the volume of the work mixture remains constant. Optionally the biomass may be removed from the withdrawn mixture.

Abstract: A process for reducing the content of nitrate and/or nitrite salts contained in tobacco is disclosed whereby tobacco is treated, under controlled aerobic conditions, with microorganisms capable of degrading nitrates and/or nitrites to other nitrogen-containing compounds, such as proteins and amino acids.

Abstract: An improved process for the reduction of the nitrate content of tobacco materials via dissimilatory denitrification is disclosed wherein more rapid reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas is effected by utilizing a vacuum during incubation. The process comprises inoculating nitrate-containing tobacco material with a microorganism capable of dissimilatory denitrification and thereafter incubating the tobacco material under conditions whereby the nitrate is reduced to nitrogen gas via dissimilatory denitrification while applying a vacuum.

Abstract: A process for the reduction of the nitrate and nicotine contents of tobacco by microbial treatment is disclosed wherein tobacco materials are subjected, under controlled conditions, to the action of a microorganism effective to degrade nitrates and alkaloids (nicotine) through a biochemical reaction. The microorganism is combined or grown in the presence of a nitrate containing compound in relatively small quantities. Tobacco treated in accordance with this process has a reduced nitrate and nicotine content, and when incorporated into a tobacco smoking product thereby produces a mild smoke, having reduced nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide and nicotine content. However, there is no loss of desirable flavor, taste and smoking properties.

Abstract: A process for the reduction of the nitrate content of tobacco materials by microbial treatment is disclosed wherein tobacco materials are subjected, under controlled conditions, to the action of a microorganism effective to degrade nitrates through a biochemical reaction. Tobacco materials treated in accordance with this process, when incorporated into a tobacco smoking product, produce a mild smoke having reduced nitrogen oxides and hydrogen cyanide deliveries without loss of desirable flavor, taste or other smoking properties.

Abstract: A method for producing tobacco flavors which comprises the steps of hydrolytically degrading into amino acids the proteins of biomass produced by the assimilation of low molecular weight nitrogen compounds from an aqueous tobacco extract, isolating the amino acid mixture and converting that mixture into flavors by the use of reducing sugars and heat. The flavors of this invention may be added to smoking products to improve their aroma and taste.

Abstract: Microbial degradation of nitrates in a tobacco extract takes place in a first fermenter under exponential growth conditions of the micro-organisms employed and subsequently in a second fermenter under stationary growth conditions of the degrading micro-organisms. In the first fermenter, carbohydrates are added, while in the second fermenter the depot carbohydrates which the micro-organisms have stored in the first fermenter are utilized.

Abstract: A tobacco-treatment process comprises mechanically expressing cell-sap from yellowed, substantially undried, tobacco-leaf material, impregnating the fibrous material remaining after the expression with said cell-sap or with parts or components of said cell-sap or with cell-sap expressed from other yellowed, substantially undried, tobacco leaf material, and drying the sap-impregnated material. The tobacco leaf material may comprise leaves harvested in a fully developed and mature state. The leaves may be at least partly yellow when harvested. They may have been yellowed by the application of a yellowing agent to tobacco plants or yellowing may have been effected or completed by heaping or rack-hanging the harvested leaves in an enclosed atmosphere, suitably with a relative humidity of 70% or more and a temperature in the range of 20.degree. to 40.degree. C. Ethylene gas may be introduced into the atmosphere to promote the yellowing.

Abstract: A mixed complementary culture of bacteria and fungi are used to degrade pectin and cellulose components of tobacco materials.

Abstract: For the preparation of tobacco, the insoluble proteins are initially made soluble by enzymatic treatment, dissolved and then eliminated in the solution by metabolic assimilation. The remaining solution components are then returned to the tobacco.

Abstract: A method of fermenting and aging tobacco under endothermic conditions in which the tobacco is fermented in an atmosphere containing more than 25% by volume oxygen and preferably in either pure oxygen or oxygen-enriched air. The tobacco product is thereby fermented more rapidly than with earlier endothermic techniques, with reduction in the nicotine content, less condensate, and reduced pesticide content.

Abstract: Natural tobacco is extracted with water to produce a soluble extract and an insoluble fibrous residue. The aqueous extract is contacted by microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi, capable of converting nitrate in the extract to nitrogen. Contacting may be done by adding a microorganism culture to a batch of the extract, or by passing the aqueous extract through a filter carrying a supply of the microorganisms. In either case, the contacting should take place in a substantially anaerobic environment. The culture may be produced by cycling a quantity of tobacco extract through a filtering medium to promote the growth of microorganisms occurring naturally in tobacco. Carbohydrate and/or protein is added to the denitrated extract to replace compounds depleted during the denitrating procedure. Ultimately, the denitrated extract is recombined with the fibrous tobacco residue.

Abstract: A method for utilizing waste cellulosic material by conversion to sugars suitable for use in tobacco manufacturing is disclosed. The method comprises comminuting waste cellulose products, which are generated during tobacco product manufacturing, deesterifying any waste cellulose acetate present in the waste products, enzymatically saccharifying the deesterified and comminuted products to simple sugars and recovering the sugars produced. The recovered sugars may be utilized in tobacco treatment processes. Enzymatic saccharification is preferably effected with Trichoderma viride cellulases.