Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the fillability of tobacco, as tobacco leaves or ribs and/or tobacco additives, by treatment of the tobacco material, which has approx. up to 15 wt. % initial moisture with a treatment gas consisting of nitrogen and/or argon at pressures of 50 to 1,000 bar with continuous or graduated compression followed by continuous or graduated decompression, with the compression and decompression stages taking place in either one autoclave or with cascade-type switching in several autoclaves, followed by thermal after-treatment of the tobacco material discharged, which is characterised in that the compression is carried out at an operating temperature above 55° C., preferably at 60 to 90° C. and the initial moisture of the tobacco material lies within the range 8 to 14 wt. %.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the fillability of tobacco, as cut tobacco leaves or ribs and/or plant-based tobacco additives with cellular structure, by treating the tobacco material which has 8 to 16 wt. % initial moisture with a treatment gas consisting of nitrogen and/or argon at pressures of 50 to 1,000 bar in either one autoclave or with cascade-type switching in several autoclaves, followed by thermal after-treatment of the tobacco material discharged after decompression has occurred, which is characterised in that the decompression is carried out with at least one holding stage whose pressure corresponds to 3 to 60%, preferably 3 to 30% of the original maximum pressure and that the heating of the system whilst it is under residual pressure is carried out in such a way that the tobacco discharge temperature after pressure reduction is completed lies within the range 10 to 80° C.

Abstract: Process for improving the fillability of tobacco, such as cut tobacco leaves or ribs and tobacco additives by treating the tobacco in an autoclave with a containing nitrogen and/or argon at pressures up to 1000 bar, with subsequent decompression and a gas heat treatment. The tobacco or the treatment gas supplied to the reactor and/or the decompression step are carried out in such a way that the discharged tobacco which is thereafter supplied to a subsequent heat treatment has a temperature, at introduction to the heat treatment step, below 0.degree. C. This is achieved by precooling the treatment gas prior to supplying it to the autoclave or cooling the treatment gas while supplying it to the autoclave and/or additionally cooling the autoclave and/or precooling the tobacco and/or injecting subcooled or liquefied treatment gas into the autoclave. The process includes multistage treatment gas whereby supply and decompression steps are carried out in a cascade-like manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for improving the filling capacity of tobaccos by treating the tobacco with a gas under pressure and subsequent heating after relief of the pressure, in which the tobacco is treated with nitrogen and/or argon at working pressures up to 1000 bar and at an operating temperature in the range 0.degree. to 50.degree. C. followed, after pressure relief, by brief thermal aftertreatment, in which the tobacco to be treated with nitrogen and/or argon has a moisture content of up to approximately 15% and the thermal aftertreatment is performed with steam having a moisture content of 0.5 to 10 Kg/m.sup.3 or with saturated steam.

Abstract: The filling capacity of tobacco is improved by treating the tobacco with inert gas under pressure and subsequently heating after relieving the pressure. The tobacco is treated with nitrogen or argon at a working pressure between 300 and 1000 bar and working temperature in the range of 0.degree. to 50.degree. C. and after relieving the pressure then is treated briefly at a temperature of 100.degree. to 400.degree. C. or is subjected to microwave heating.