Method for producing cigarette containing clay minerals of loess and cigarette produced from the same

Abstract

This invention provides a method for producing a cigarette containing clay minerals of loess includes the steps of: (a) collecting loess powder by mixing a loess with aqueous solvent, filtering off filtered particles, and drying a filtrate; (b) sifting out the loess powder; (c) obtaining a homogenized suspension of loess by adding the sifted loess powder into the aqueous solvent, and shaking the suspension; and (d) applying the suspension into cigarette filter, filler or wrapper during the cigarette making process followed by drying. The cigarette containing the clay minerals of the loess produced in accordance with the method reduces the amount of nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide generated when smoked, adsorbs heavy metals such as cadmium and lead, reduces sub-stream giving out from cigarette, and radiates far-infrared ray peculiar to loess due to heat generated when smoked, thus contributing to non-smoker's as well as smoker's health.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a method for producing a cigarette containing clay minerals of loess that can remove heavy metals and harmful components present in the cigarette to human health.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Generally, it is well known that some components and heavy metals present in a cigarette are carcinogens. In particular, these carcinogens can be concentrated in smoker's lung and kidney over a long period.

[0003] Specifically, the cigarette contains about 2 mg of nicotine and about 2.0˜3.3 mg of tar, each of which is a cause of hypertension and aging and acts as powerful carcinogen.

[0004] Also, the carbon monoxide (CO) in the range of about 2˜6% of smoke has an affinity for hemoglobin in blood about 210 times as high as oxygen does. Such a high content of CO in blood causes carbon monoxide poisoning.

[0005] Further, tobacco leaves contain some heavy metals harmful to human body. The representative examples of the heavy metals present in the cigarette include cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. 1 kg of tobacco leaves contains 1˜2 mg of cadmium, 10˜20 mg of copper, 1˜3 mg of lead and 30˜50 mg of zinc. Among these, the cadmium and lead cause serious disorder physically or mentally.

[0006] Inhalation of the deleterious components and heavy metals present in the cigarette with smoke and exhalation of the inhaled smoke do harm to non-smoker's health as well as smoker's health, and thus many countries restrict smoking and heighten taxes to the cigarette in order to protect their people from smoking.

[0007] In efforts of resolving these problems, a cigarette making processes using various filters and new fillers have been developed. In the case of filter, porous adsorbents such as activated charcoal or zeolite inserted between a filter part and a filler part of the cigarette has been used. These adsorbents, however, insufficiently adsorb tar and nicotine, etc., as well as gas-phase components such as carbon monoxide. Further, the processes need an additional step of inserting the zeolite or charcoal between the filter part and the filler part of the cigarette. Particularly, the charcoal is a chemically manufactured product, which can be harmful to human body.

[0008] The loess is formed through weathering of rock and the mineral composite ratio of the loess is shown in Table 1 below. 1 TABLE 1 Components Content (w/w) Quartz 40˜80% Feldspar and mica 10˜20% Carbonate mineral  5˜35% Silt  2˜5%

[0009] The silt shown in Table 1 is composed of heavy minerals and clay minerals, wherein the heavy minerals include amphibole, apatite, biotite, chlorite, cyanite, garnet, augite, rutile, tourmalin, zircone, etc. and the clay minerals include montmorillonite, illite and kaolinite, etc.

[0010] The chemical composite ratio of the loess is shown in Table 2 below.

[0011] Table 2 2 TABLE 2 Compounds Content (w/w) Silica 50˜60% Alumina  8˜12% Ferric (III) oxide  2˜4% Ferrous oxide (II) 0.8˜1.1%   Calcium oxide  4˜16% Magnesium oxide  2˜6% Titanium oxide plus   0.5% manganese oxide Moisture 10˜15%

[0012] The porosity of the loess is from about 50% to about 55%. As the moisture content is increased, the porosity tends to decrease.

[0013] In particular, montmorillonite of the clay minerals contained in loess has a complicated chemical composite of “M(Al, Mg, Fe, Li)4(Si, Al)8O20(OH)4.nH2O” where M is an exchangeable cation selected from the group consisting of Na, Ca and K.

[0014] The montmorillonite is well known as an effective adsorbent. A microscopic structure of the montmorillonite has its surface area being large enough to adsorb and remove the deleterious components and heavy metals of tobacco.

[0015] The montmorillonite has so high cation exchangeable capacity (CEC, 80˜150 meq/100 g) that a portion of Al3+ in AlO(OH)2 layers can be exchanged with Mg2+ and a portion of Si4+ in Si2O5 can be exchanged with Al3+ to produce an electrically neutral three-layer structure. Therefore, the montmorillonite has a 2:1 type lattice structure that consists of two tetrahedron layers and one octahedron layer.

[0016] Recently, it has been found that other minerals contained in the loess radiate a far-infrared ray beneficial to human body. Also, because ferric (III) oxide, ferrous (II) oxide, calcium oxide and magnesium oxide contained in loess have free oxygen to a certain extent, the free oxygen is reacted with carbon monoxide generated when smoked to be oxidized into carbon dioxide by the following chemical equations:

Fe2O3+3CO→2Fe+3CO2

FeO+CO→FE+CO2

CaO+CO→Ca+CO2

MgO+CO→Mg+CO2

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Applicant has discovered a cigarette that avoids disadvantages such as insufficient degree of adsorption of the conventional cigarette filters by applying clay minerals of loess having high cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) and porosity into a cigarette filter, filler and wrapper. The cigarette containing the clay minerals of the loess can sufficiently remove the deleterious components and heavy metals.

[0018] Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a method for producing a cigarette containing clay minerals of the loess that can sufficiently adsorb and remove the harmful components and heavy metal in the cigarette.

[0019] A further object of this invention is to provide a cigarette containing clay minerals of loess produced in accordance with the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The cigarette containing clay minerals of loess according to the present invention is characterized by applying a suspension of the loess in the conventional cigarette filter, filler and wrapper. The total content of the clay minerals in the cigarette of the present invention is in the range of from about 0.1% to 10% of the cigarette weight on a dry weight basis.

[0021] When the content exceeds 10% on the dry weight basis, the flavor and taste of the cigarette get deteriorated. When the content is less than 0.1%, the degree of adsorption of the deleterious components and heavy metals is insufficient.

[0022] A method for producing a cigarette containing clay minerals of loess according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) collecting loess powder by mixing the loess with aqueous solvent, filtering off filtered particles, and drying a filtrate; (b) sifting out the loess powder; (c) obtaining a homogenized suspension of the loess by adding the sifted loess powder into the aqueous solvent, and shaking the suspension; and (d) applying the suspension into a cigarette filter, filler or wrapper during a cigarette making process followed by drying.

[0023] In the step (a), natural loess having particle size of 3˜50 &mgr;m is added to the aqueous solvent, e.g., methanol, ethanol and water, in the range of from about 1% to about 50% by weight of the solvent, filtered and then the filtrate solution is dried by a common dryer, e.g., hot-air dryer, so that the moisture content is from about 0.01% to about-1.0%. The loess powder contains the clay minerals such as montmorillonite, kaolinite and illite.

[0024] In the step (b), the particle size of the sifted loess powder is in the range of from 1.0 to 1.5 &mgr;m.

[0025] In the step (c), the ratio of the loess powder as added to the aqueous solvent, e.g., methanol, ethanol and water, is between 1:5 and 1:50. The shaking process is carried out at a temperature of from a room temperature to 60° C. for 0.5˜2 hours.

[0026] Hereinafter, the conventional cigarette filler making process is simply explained:

[0027] Tobacco leaves is first weighted, and saturated with vapor so as to make the tobacco leaves moisturized. After cooled to the room temperature, remove phyllocladium from the tobacco leaves. Mix the tobacco leaves with the shreds of lamellar Scopolia parviflora, and circulate saturated vapor into the mixture so as to constantly maintain the moisture content of the mixture. Add glycerine and propylene glycol as humectants to the mixture, and cut to the shreds. After cooled to the room temperature, if necessary, add flavors to the mixture to produce the cigarette filler. The step of applying the suspension of the loess includes spraying onto, impregnating into, or soaking in the cigarette filter, filler and wrapper.

[0028] The suspension of the loess obtained in the step (c) was sprayed onto the original cigarette filler produced in the conventional filler making process as described above. The spraying can be carried out during, after or before cutting to the shred.

[0029] The spraying methods using a common sprayer are known to those skilled in the art. Following spraying, the sprayed cigarette filler is thoroughly dried and processed in the manner of the conventional cigarette making processes to produce the desired cigarette containing the clay minerals of the loess.

[0030] The method for applying the cigarett filter is spraying th

[0031] Hereinafter, the present invention has been described in detail. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

EXAMPLE 1

[0032] One kilogram of the natural loess originating from Korea, was added to 10 liters of water, stirred at the room temperature for 1 hour, and placed in the shade. Subsequently, the solution was filtered, and the filtrate was collected and dried by using a hot-air dryer at a temperature of from 120° C. to 130° C. for 3 hours to obtain 350 g of loess powder. The obtained powder was sifted out up to 1.5 &mgr;m. Four liters of water was again added to the powder and shaken to form a suspension of loess. The suspension of the loess was sprayed onto the original cigarette filler, and dried thoroughly to produce the cigarette filler containing the clay minerals of the loess.

EXAMPLE 2

[0033] The cigarette filter was produced in the same manner as described in Example 1, except for spraying onto the original cigarette filter instead of the cigarette filler.

EXAMPLE 3

[0034] The cigarette wrapper was produced in the same manner as described in Example 1, except for soaking, in the loess suspension, the original cigarette wrapper instead of spraying onto the cigarette filler.

EXAMPLE 4

[0035] The cigarette containing the clay minerals of the loess was produced by using the filler produced in Example 1, the filter produced in Example 2, and the wrapper produced in the Example 3, in accordance with the conventional cigarette making processes.

[0036] The smoke components passed through the filter of the resultant cigarette produced in Example 4 and 7 cigarettes available on the market were collected by a gas collector, respectively, and their nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide contents were determined by a gas analyzer. The results are given in Table 3. 3 TABLE 3 CO content Nicotine Tar (mg) based Example content (mg) content (mg) on smoke (%) Control* 2.0 2.5 5.0 Example 4 1.0 1.5 4.0

[0037] The mark “*” contained in Table 3 denotes the average value of 7 cigarettes. As seen from Table 3 above, Nicotine, Tar and CO were removed by from about 20% to about 50%.

[0038] The test cigarettes were smoked and the ashes were collected, and their heavy metals contents were determined using ICP (induced-coupled plasma) spectrometry. The results are given in Table 4. 4 TABLE 4 Cadmium Lead Copper Example (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) Control* 1.5 2.0 15.5 Example 4 0.8 1.3 11.0

[0039] The mark “*” contained in Table 4 denotes the average value of 7 cigarettes. As seen from Table 3 above, Cadmium, Lead and Copper were removed by more than 30%.

[0040] The radiation rate of the loess-containing cigarette of the present invention was measured. The loess-containing cigarette of the present invention have a high peak at a wavelength of 5˜25 &mgr;m at the room temperature.

[0041] The radiation ray corresponding to the wavelength range when smoked is beneficial to human body. In addition, the sub-streams from the test cigarettes were observed by naked eyes. The results show that the cigarette of the invention reduced the sub-stream than any other cigarette by more than 50%.

[0042] As above-mentioned, the cigarette containing clay minerals of loess produced in accordance with the method of the present invention is superior in adsorbing and removing nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals, e.g., cadmium and lead, to other cigarettes available on the market.

[0043] Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A cigarette comprising: clay minerals of loess produced by applying the loess into a cigarette filter, filler or wrapper.

2. The cigarette as recited in claim 1, wherein the content of the clay minerals of the loess is in the range of from about 0.1 to about 10% of the cigarette weight on a dry weight basis.

3. A method for producing a cigarette containing clay minerals of loess produced by applying the loess into a cigarette filter, filler or wrapper, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting loess powder by mixing the loess with aqueous solvent, filtering off filtered particles and drying a filtrate;

(b) sifting out the loess powder;

(c) obtaining a homogenized suspension of the loess by adding the sifted loess powder into the aqueous solvent, and shaking the suspension; and

(d) applying the suspension into the cigarette filter, filler or wrapper during a cigarette making process, followed by drying.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the loess powder includes clay minerals.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the particle size of the sifted loess powder is in the range of from 1.0 to 1.5 &mgr;m.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the ratio of the loess powder as added to the aqueous solvent is between 1:5 and 1:50.

7. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said step (d) includes the step of spraying the suspension of the loess onto the original cigarette filler produced by a filler making process.

8. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said step (d) includes the step of spraying the suspension of the loess onto the cigarette filter or impregnating the cigarette filter with the suspension of the loess, and drying thoroughly.

9. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the step (d) includes the step of spraying the suspension of the loess onto the wrapper or impregnating the wrapper with the suspension of the loess, and drying thoroughly.

10. A method for producing a cigarette containing clay minerals of loess produced by applying the loess into a cigarette filter, filler or wrapper, wherein the content of the clay minerals of the loess is in the range of from about 0.1 to about 10% of the cigarette weight on a dry weight basis, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting loess powder by mixing the loess with aqueous solvent, filtering off filtered particles and drying a filtrate;

(b) sifting out the loess powder;

(c) obtaining a homogenized suspension of the loess by adding the sifted loess powder into the aqueous solvent, and shaking the suspension; and

(d) applying the suspension into the cigarette filter, filler or wrapper during a cigarette making process, followed by drying.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the loess powder includes the clay minerals.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the particle size of the sifted loess powder is in the range of from 1.0 to 1.5 &mgr;m.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the ratio of the loess powder as added to the aqueous solvent is between 1:5 and 1:50.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step (d) includes the step of spraying the suspension of the loess onto the original cigarette filler produced by a filler making process.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step (d) includes the step of spraying the suspension of the loess onto the cigarette filter or impregnating the cigarette filter with the suspension of the loess, and drying thoroughly.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step (d) includes the step of spraying the suspension of the loess onto the wrapper or impregnating the wrapper with the suspension of the loess, and drying thoroughly.