Abstract: A method of manufacturing calcium alginate sheets, without the use of an adhesive binder, by use of a Fourdrinier paper making machine is disclosed. Alginate material in fibrous form is obtained by squirting an aqueous solution of water-soluble alginate via a spinneret into a bath of an inorganic salt, whose cation will react with the alginate to produce a water-insoluble alginate. This fibrous alginate material is then fed into a Fourdrinier machine and formed into a sheet, and the pH value of the fibrous alginate slurry at the screen wire of the machine is at or below 7.0.

Abstract: A smokeable material comprises a base material, consisting of calcium-alginate fibers, and additional material which renders the smokeable material suitable for use in place of smoking tobacco. The additional material may consist of tobacco alone, but alternative or other additional materials include cellulosic fibers (wood pulp), a coloring agent, a nicotine donor, flavor-modifiers, and a burning sustainer. It is also disclosed that calcium-alginate fibers will (unexpectedly) papermake in the traditional manner used for non-synthetic fibers, and the above additional material may, or may not, be incorporated during such papermaking. Any incorporated tobacco is preferably 55% or less, by weight, added by blending or otherwise. Where there is no tobacco, there may be preferably (by weight) at least 80% of calcium-alginate fibers, and 10% each of the cellulosic fibers, and total other constituents.

Abstract: A smokeable material comprises a base material, consisting of calcium-alginate fibers, and additional material which renders the smokeable material suitable for use in place of smoking tobacco. The additional material may consist of tobacco alone, but alternative or other additional materials include cellulosic fibers (wood pulp), a coloring agent, a nicotine donor, flavor-modifiers, and a burning sustainer. It is also disclosed that calcium-alginate fibers will (unexpectedly) papermake in the traditional manner used for non-synthetic fibers, and the above additional material may, or may not, be incorporated during such papermaking. Any incorporated tobacco is preferably 55 percent or less, by weight, added by blending or otherwise. Where there is no tobacco, there may be preferably (by weight) at least 80 percent of calcium-alginate fibers, and 10 percent each of the cellulosic fibers, and total other constituents.