Abstract: A method of preparing a whitened tobacco material is provided, including: (i) extracting a tobacco material with a first extraction solution to provide a tobacco solids material and a tobacco extract; (ii) cooking the tobacco solids material in an alkaline cooking liquid comprising sodium sulfide and having a pH of greater than 11 to form a tobacco pulp; (iii) treating the tobacco pulp with an acid to lower the pH of the tobacco pulp and provide a neutralized tobacco pulp; (iv) extracting the neutralized tobacco pulp with a second extraction solution comprising at least one chelating agent to provide an extracted tobacco pulp; and (v) bleaching the extracted tobacco pulp with a bleaching solution to provide a whitened tobacco material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of preparing whitened tobacco composition including chemically pulping a tobacco material to form a tobacco pulp, extracting the tobacco pulp with an extraction solution, treating the tobacco pulp with a solution comprising an oxidizing agent for a time and at a temperature sufficient to lighten the color of the tobacco pulp to give a whitened tobacco pulp, and drying the whitened tobacco pulp to provide the whitened tobacco composition. Alternative bleaching processes and treatment methods effective for preparing whitened tobacco compositions are also provided herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of preparing whitened tobacco composition including chemically pulping a tobacco material to form a tobacco pulp, extracting the tobacco pulp with an extraction solution, treating the tobacco pulp with a solution comprising an oxidizing agent for a time and at a temperature sufficient to lighten the color of the tobacco pulp to give a whitened tobacco pulp, and drying the whitened tobacco pulp to provide the whitened tobacco composition. Alternative bleaching processes and treatment methods effective for preparing whitened tobacco compositions are also provided herein.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a product including a plurality of beads configured for oral use, the plurality of beads containing bleached plant material, a filler, a binder, water, and at least one flavoring agent, active ingredient, or a combination thereof. Further provided are pouched products including the plurality of beads, and a process for preparing the beads.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a product including a plurality of beads configured for oral use, the plurality of beads containing bleached plant material, a filler, a binder, water, and at least one flavoring agent, active ingredient, or a combination thereof. Further provided are pouched products including the plurality of beads, and a process for preparing the beads.

Abstract: The disclosure provides pouched products configured for oral use, including a material within a porous pouch, where the porous pouch has four sides of small dimension, where the porous pouch has four sides of large dimension, and/or wherein the porous pouch has a shape other than square or rectangular, e.g., a rounded shape. The disclosure further provides methods of providing a modified mouthfeel with respect to conventional pouched products by providing pouched product in such sizes and/or shapes.

Abstract: A pouched product adapted for release of a water-soluble component therefrom is provided herein. The pouched product can include an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity containing a composition that includes a water-soluble component capable of being released through the water-permeable pouch and has a surface area, wherein the outer water-permeable pouch can include a nonwoven web including fibers, wherein at least a portion of the fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyester fibers in an amount of 20% or greater based on the total weight of the fibers, tobacco-derived viscose, sisal fibers, corn silk fibers, long wood fibers, MCC fibers, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate oxygenase (RuBisCO) protein fibers and a method of producing them are disclosed herein. The method of producing one or more RuBisCO protein fibers including obtaining RuBisCO, tbr example from tobacco, combining the RuBisCO with one or more plasticizers, heating the combination of the RuBisCO and the one or more plasticizers up to about 140 degrees C., filtering the heated combination through an about 20 ?m filter, and passing the filtered combination through an orifice to produce one or more RuBisCO protein fibers.

Abstract: Alternative methods for sealing pouch materials, for example, using radio frequency (RF) sealing techniques, and oral pouched products formed according to those methods are provided. Some pouched products may include an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity having a composition situated in the cavity, wherein the outer water-permeable pouch comprises a fleece material, the fleece material comprising a plurality of fibers and an RF sealable material. In some embodiments, methods of RF sealing pouch materials may include providing one or more fleece materials having a RF sealable material and sealing the one or more fleece materials using radio frequency energy to form a RF sealed pouched product.

Abstract: A pouched product adapted for release of a water-soluble component therefrom is provided herein. The pouched product can include an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity; and a composition adapted for oral use situated within the cavity and comprising a water-soluble component; wherein the outer water-permeable pouch comprises a nonwoven web comprising a biodegradable binder, the biodegradable binder comprising one or more aliphatic polyesters.

Abstract: A method of preparing a whitened tobacco material for use in a smokeless tobacco product is provided, including: (i) extracting a tobacco material with an extraction solution to provide a tobacco solids material and a tobacco extract; (ii) cooking the tobacco solids material in an alkaline sulfite cooking liquor including sulfite ions and having a pH of greater than 7 to form a tobacco pulp; (iii) bleaching the tobacco pulp with a bleaching solution to provide a bleached tobacco material; and (iv) drying the bleached tobacco material to provide the whitened tobacco material.

Abstract: Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate oxygenase (RuBisCO) protein fibers and a method of producing them are disclosed herein. The method of producing one or more RuBisCO protein fibers including obtaining RuBisCO, for example from tobacco, combining the RuBisCO with one or more plasticizers, heating the combination of the RuBisCO and the one or more plasticizers up to about 140 degrees C., filtering the heated combination through an about 20 ?m filter, and passing the filtered combination through an orifice to produce one or more RuBisCO protein fibers.

Abstract: A method of preparing a whitened tobacco material is provided, including: (i) extracting a tobacco material with a first extraction solution to provide a tobacco solids material and a tobacco extract; (ii) cooking the tobacco solids material in an alkaline cooking liquid comprising sodium sulfide and having a pH of greater than 11 to form a tobacco pulp; (iii) treating the tobacco pulp with an acid to lower the pH of the tobacco pulp and provide a neutralized tobacco pulp; (iv) extracting the neutralized tobacco pulp with a second extraction solution comprising at least one chelating agent to provide an extracted tobacco pulp; and (v) bleaching the extracted tobacco pulp with a bleaching solution to provide a whitened tobacco material.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a product including a plurality of beads configured for oral use, the plurality of beads containing bleached plant material, a filler, a binder, water, and at least one flavoring agent, active ingredient, or a combination thereof. Further provided are pouched products including the plurality of beads, and a process for preparing the beads.

Abstract: The disclosure provides oral pouched products in the form of a porous pouch defining a cavity containing a composition adapted for oral use, wherein the porous pouch is formed from a fleece material comprising two or more layers, wherein the two or more layers are in direct contact with one another. The disclosure also provides pouched products that include at least one layer of fleece material and at least one layer of a gel that is in direct contact with the fleece material. The disclosure also provides methods of forming such pouched products and for controlling/tailoring certain properties of pouched products using such multi-layered and/or gel-based approaches.

Abstract: A pouched product adapted for release of a water-soluble component therefrom is provided herein. The pouched product can include an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity containing a composition that includes a water-soluble component capable of being released through the water-permeable pouch and has a surface area, wherein the outer water-permeable pouch can include a nonwoven web including a heat sealable binder coating having a melting point of about 300° C. or less. Heat sealable binders having a melting point of about 450° C. or greater are also provided herein.

Abstract: A pouched product adapted for release of a water-soluble component therefrom is provided herein. The pouched product can include an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity containing a composition that includes a water-soluble component capable of being released through the water-permeable pouch and has a surface area, wherein the outer water-permeable pouch material is formed by a process which includes needle punching.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a pouched product including a chromogenic material or an electronic component, wherein the chromogenic material and the electronic component are responsive to a stimulus. Such products can be employed to detect various changes associated with the pouched product.

Abstract: The disclosure provides pouched products configured for oral use, including a material within a porous pouch, where the porous pouch has four sides of small dimension, where the porous pouch has four sides of large dimension, and/or wherein the porous pouch has a shape other than square or rectangular, e.g., a rounded shape. The disclosure further provides methods of providing a modified mouthfeel with respect to conventional pouched products by providing pouched product in such sizes and/or shapes.

Abstract: A pouched product adapted for release of a water-soluble component therefrom is provided herein. The pouched product can include an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity containing a composition that includes a water-soluble component capable of being released through the water-permeable pouch and has a surface area, wherein the outer water-permeable pouch can include a nonwoven web including fibers, wherein at least a portion of the fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyester fibers in an amount of 20% or greater based on the total weight of the fibers, tobacco-derived viscose, sisal fibers, corn silk fibers, long wood fibers, MCC fibers, and combinations thereof.