Abstract: The invention provides a method of extracting sucrose esters from Oriental tobacco, the method comprising: providing a Oriental tobacco material; contacting the solid Oriental tobacco material with a supercritical fluid, such as supercritical carbon dioxide, for a time and under conditions sufficient to extract sucrose esters from the Oriental tobacco into the supercritical fluid; and separating the supercritical fluid comprising extracted sucrose esters from the Oriental tobacco. The resulting extract can comprise more than 90% by weight of tetra-acyl sucrose esters, and can be used as a flavor additive for tobacco materials used in smoking articles.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of extracting and purifying bioactive substances from various plants and herbs. More specifically the invention relates to methods of extracting and separating bioactive substances from various plants and herbs, such as Kava root, Byrsonima species, Aesculus californica, Crataegus mexicana, Simmondsia chinensis, Pfaffia species, Alternanthera repens, Bursera species, Turnera species, Perezia species, Heimia salicifolia, Psidium species, Enterlobium species, Ptychopetalum olacoides, Liriosma ovata, and Chaunochiton kappleri, using supercritical fluid extraction and/or fluorocarbon solvent extract. The present invention further relates to separation of bioactive substances contained in extracts using packed column supercritical fluid chromatography or HPLC where dense gas with or without modifiers is the mobile phase.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an off-line collection system for use with supercritical fluid extraction. The system is comprised of apparatus for collecting analyte associated with the supercritical fluid extraction. The system is additionally comprised of an orifice for controlling flow of analyte to the collecting apparatus. The orifice converts analyte at a high pressure to a lower pressure. The orifice has a high pressure side which receives said high pressure analyte, and a lower pressure side in fluidic communication with the high pressure side which receives said high pressure analyte after it has been converted to a lower pressure. The high pressure side is capable of transporting analyte thereacross without essentially any loss thereof to the low pressure side which is in fluidic communication with the collecting apparatus. The analyte experiences essentially constant pressure as it is transported across the high pressure side.

Abstract: An orifice which includes a housing having a low pressure side with a first bore hole and a second bore hole. The low pressure side has a first channel and a second channel in fluidic communication with the first bore hole and the second bore hole, respectively. The housing also has a high pressure side with a third bore hole. The orifice also includes an adapter which has a tip, a fourth bore hole and a third channel in fluidic communication therewith. The third channel has a constant diameter for maintaining an essentially constant pressure thereacross when pressure is applied thereto such that fluid flowing through the third channel does not solidify. The adapter is sealingly received by the third bore hole such that the third channel and the first channel align. Additionally, the housing includes an interface plate disposed in the housing between the third channel and the first channel.

Abstract: The invention also relates to a method of packing an analytical column with packing particles. The method comprises the steps of pressurizing a first reservoir having packing particles disposed therein, with a solvent until the density of the solvent equals the density of the particles and forms a slurry where the particles are suspended in the solvent. Then, there is the step of fluidically connecting the first reservoir to an analytical column at essentially the same pressure as the first pressure such that the slurry flows into a chamber of the analytical column.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an apparatus for packing an analytical chromatography column having a first opening and a second opening with packing particles. The apparatus comprises means for providing solvent at a density essentially equal to the density of the packing particles. The providing means is in fluidic communication with the first opening of the column. The apparatus also comprises a first reservoir for containing the packing particles. The reservoir is in fluidic communication with the providing means such that solvent can mix with the particles in the first reservoir to form a slurry where the particles are suspended in the solvent and agglomeration of the packing particles is essentially absent when the slurry is introduced into the analytical chromatography column.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an off-line collection system for use with supercritical fluid extraction. The system is comprised of mechanism for collecting analyte associated with the supercritical fluid extraction. The system is additionally comprised of an orifice for controlling flow of analyte to the collecting mechanism. The orifice converts analyte at a high pressure to a lower pressure. The orifice has a high pressure side which receives said high pressure analyte, and a lower pressure side in fluidic communication with the high pressure side which receives said high pressure analyte after it has been converted to a lower pressure. The high pressure side is capable of transporting analyte thereacross without essentially any loss thereof to the low pressure side which is in fluidic communication with the collecting mechanism. The analyte experiences essentially constant pressure as it is transported across the high pressure side.