Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating tobacco leaves by impregnating them with liquid carbon dioxide under high pressure. Tobacco leaf containers, in the form of open buckets, are mounted on a turntable which rotates intermittently step by step. In the preferred apparatus, the buckets are mounted in pairs, and when one pair of buckets is at a filling station, the buckets are filled with tobacco. The turntable then rotates to bring this filled pair of buckets to an impregnating station, while another pair of buckets is brought around to the filling station. At the impregnating station, lids are tightly applied and sealed to the buckets, and the impregnating liquid carbon dioxide is introduced, held for a predetermined time, and then released, after which the lids are removed.

Abstract: A getter pump comprising two getter elements wherein the first getter element comprises a metallic substrate having a nonevaporable getter metal embedded therein. The second getter element employs a getter metal having a lower hydrogen equilibrium vapor pressure than that of the first getter element.