Abstract: A method of forming a filter for a smoking article which includes exposing cellulose acetate fibers to an electron beam process, wherein electron beam process deacetylates the cellulose acetate fibers to render the cellulose acetate fibers water-permeable; and forming a cellulose acetate rod from a tow of the cellulose acetate fibers. Filter plugs of the cellulose acetate fibers are water-permeable and allow discarded filtered smoking articles to rapidly degrade and expose the components to the environment.

Abstract: A method of forming a filter for a smoking article which includes exposing cellulose acetate fibers to an electron beam process, wherein electron beam process deacetylates the cellulose acetate fibers to render the cellulose acetate fibers water-permeable; and forming a cellulose acetate rod from a tow of the cellulose acetate fibers. Filter plugs of the cellulose acetate fibers are water-permeable and allow discarded filtered smoking articles to rapidly degrade and expose the components to the environment.

Abstract: A method of forming a filter for a smoking article which includes exposing cellulose acetate fibers to an electron beam process, wherein electron beam process deacetylates the cellulose acetate fibers to render the cellulose acetate fibers water-permeable; and forming a cellulose acetate rod from a tow of the cellulose acetate fibers. Filter plugs of the cellulose acetate fibers are water-permeable and allow discarded filtered smoking articles to rapidly degrade and expose the components to the environment.

Abstract: A process is provided for the improved removal of nicotine from tobacco. An essentially nicotine-free solvent in the supercritical or liquid state is fed into a first end of an extraction flow system containing tobacco and a nicotine-rich solvent is discharged from a second end of the extraction flow system. Periodically a portion of extracted tobacco is discharged from the first end of the extraction system while simultaneously a portion of an unextracted tobacco is charged to the second end of the extraction system. Nicotine is then entrapped in an entrapment material or otherwise removed from the solvent and solvent is recycled through the extraction flow system. Various materials are provided as entrapment materials. Among the entrapment materials provided are aqueous solutions containing absorbent selected from various acids and salts.

Abstract: This invention provides smoking compositions which contain a novel .beta.-hydroxycarboxylate flavorant-release additive. Under cigarette smoking conditions, a combustible filler and/or paper wrapper additive such as calcium bis(2,2-diethyl-3-hydroxy-4-phenylmethylenedecanoate) pyrolyzes and releases .alpha.-hexylcinnamaldehyde as a volatile flavorant component of the cigarette smoke.

Abstract: This invention provides smoking compositions which contain a novel vanillin flavorant-release additive.A cigarette smoking product comprising (1) a combustible filler selected from natural tobacco, reconstituted tobacco and tobacco substitutes, and (2) a paper wrapper which has incorporated therein a flavorant-release additive corresponding to the formula: ##STR1## where R is methyl or ethyl.

Abstract: This invention provides smoking compositions which contain a novel vanillin flavorant-release additive.Under cigarette smoking conditions, a combustible filler and/or paper wrapper additive such as ethyl 3-(4'-butoxycarbonyloxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylpropanoate pyrolyzes into vanillin and ethyl phenylacetate flavorants as volatile components of the cigarette smoke.A present invention flavorant-release additive is represented by the formula: ##STR1## where R is methyl or ethyl; R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl substituent; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aromatic substituent; and R.sup.3 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aromatic substituent.

Abstract: This invention provides tobacco and non-tobacco smoking compositions which contain a heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted carboxylate compound as a flavorant additive.In one of its embodiments, this invention provides tobacco compositions which contain a heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted carboxylic acid flavorant additive such as 2-(2-butyl)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-(3-pyridyl)propionic acid: ##STR1## Under smoking conditions the above illustrated heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted carboxylate additive and its pyrolysis products flavor the mainstream and sidestream smoke.

Abstract: A process is provided for the selective removal of basic materials from plant products, in particular, for removing nicotine from tobacco without materially affecting the content of the other components of the tobacco. Tobacco is traversed with a solvent at high pressure and in a physical state which is either a liquid at a pressure of from about 500-300 atmospheres or a supercritical fluid wherein nicotine and the other components dissolve in the solvent. As the single means of removing substances from the solvent, the solvent is then passed through an acid-containing trap where the solvent is essentially freed of nicotine. The solvent, depleted of nicotine and enriched in the other components, is then recycled to the tobacco to reextract nicotine.

Abstract: This invention provides smoking compositions which contain a glycosylamine compound as a flavorant-release additive. Under cigarette smoking conditions, an additive such as 1-amino-1-deoxyglucose pyrolyzes into volatile constituents which enhance the flavor of the mainstream smoke and the aroma of sidestream smoke.

Abstract: This invention provides tobacco compositions which contain a hydroxy-substituted carboxylate compound as a flavorant additive.In one of its embodiments, this invention provides tobacco compositions which contain a hydroxy-substituted alkanoate flavorant additive such as ethyl 2-(2-butyl)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-33-phenylpropionate: ##STR1## Under smoking conditions the above illustrated hydroxy-substituted alkanoate additive and its pyrolysis products flavor the mainstream and sidestream smoke.

Abstract: This invention provides tobacco and non-tobacco smoking compositions which contain a heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted carboxylate compound as a flavorant additive.In one of its embodiments, this invention provides tobacco compositions which contain a heterocylic-hydroxy-substituted carboxylic acid flavorant additive such as 2-(2-butyl)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-(3-pyridyl)propionic acid: ##STR1## Under smoking conditions the above illustrated heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted carboxylate additive and its pyrolysis products flavor the mainstream and sidestream smoke. The invention also provides for the method of preparing smoking compositions and the method of comprising the aroma imparted by the burning of a combustible article employing a heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted carboxylate.

Abstract: This invention provides heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted carboxylate esters which are useful as flavorant additives for smoking compositions.

Abstract: This invention provides tobacco compositions which contain a hydroxy-substituted carboxylate compound as a flavorant additive.In one of its embodiments, this invention provides tobacco compositions which contain a hydroxy-substituted alkanoate flavorant additive such as ethyl 2-(2-butyl)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-phenylpropionate: ##STR1## Under smoking conditions the above illustrated hydroxy-substituted alkanoate additive and its pyrolysis products flavor the mainstream and sidestream smoke.

Abstract: In one of its embodiments this invention provides a smoking composition which contains a novel type of flavorant additive as exemplified by polymerized ethyl 2-propenyl 2-(2-butyl)malonate: ##STR1##

Abstract: This invention provides tobacco and non-tobacco smoking compositions which contain a heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted carboxylate compound as a flavorant additive.In one of its embodiments, this invention provides tobacco compositions which contain a heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted alkanoate flavorant additive such as ethyl 2-(2-butyl)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-(3-pyridyl)propionate: ##STR1## Under smoking conditions the above illustrated heterocyclic-hydroxy-substituted alkanoate additive and its pyrolysis products flavor the mainstream and sidestream smoke.

Abstract: A unitary pack of smoking tobacco products is provided in which a flavorant is incorporated in some of the smoking tobacco products in the form of a polymeric alcohol flavorant-release composition which has the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from hydrogen and aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals; and n is an integer. These polymers release a flavorant when heated. Such polymers include polymers formed from .alpha.-substituted vinyl menthyl carbonate esters, such as poly(.alpha.-methylvinyl .alpha.-menthyl carbonate) and poly(.alpha.-styryl .alpha.-menthyl carbonate), which release menthol when heated. Smoking tobacco products which are made with tobacco which has been treated with a particular alcohol flavorant-release composition have been found to show no significant loss in delivery of flavor.

Abstract: This invention provides tobacco compositions which contain a flavorant-release oligomeric and polymeric derivative corresponding to the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals containing between 1 and about 10 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R is hydrogen when m is zero; R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals; and m and n are integers.

Abstract: This invention provides carboxylic acid flavorant-release oligomeric and polymeric derivatives corresponding to the structural formula: ##STR1## WHEREIN R is a member selected from aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals and n is an integer. The oligomeric and polymeric derivatives are stable when used in smoking products and on pyrolysis release the carboxylic acid flavorants to enhance the flavor and aroma of the smoke.

Abstract: This invention provides .alpha.-substituted-vinyl menthyl carbonate esters, and further provides menthol-release oligomeric and polymeric derivatives thereof corresponding to the formula: ##STR1## WHEREIN R is a member selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals containing between 1 and about 10 carbon atoms, and n is an integer varying between 2 and about 200.This invention further provides a smoking composition comprising an admixture of tobacco and a polymeric composition as described herein as a menthol-release agent.