Abstract: A method of processing reconstituted tobacco which reduces the attrition of reconstituted tobacco and increases the capacity of a primary processing facility by bypassing several conventional primary processing steps. This improved process allows reconstituted tobacco to bypass the primary processing steps up through final cut tobacco drying by separately cutting conventional reconstituted tobacco using a tobacco cutting machine. The method also includes the steps of drying reconstituted tobacco in a pre-dryer, forming sheets of reconstituted tobacco, cutting the sheets to a pre-selected width, transferring the sheets of pre-selected width to a primary processing facility, feeding the sheets of pre-selected width to a tobacco cutting machine, the sheets being cut to a pre-selected size, and blending the pre-selected size cut reconstituted tobacco with conventional cut tobacco.

Abstract: A process of cutting reconstituted tobacco includes (1) rolling up single sheets of reconstituted tobacco into a plurality of single sheet rolls of reconstituted tobacco, unrolling said sheets and wherein the unrolled sheets are laid on top of one another; or, (2) stacking a plurality of sheets orientated in layers and feeding said sheets to a cutting machine. The cutting machine includes a rotary drum having a plurality of controlled strand cutting knives spaced at preselected intervals along an outer periphery of the drum.

Abstract: A process for the production of 5,8,11,14,17 -eicosapentaenoic acid from filamentous fungi with lactose as a substrate. Preferred filamentous fungi include Pythium ultimum, Pythium debaryanum, Pythium sp, and Pythium irregulare, the preferred lactose source being whey.