NICOTINE AND MENTHOL SUSTAINED-RELEASE COMPOSITION, AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME
A method of preparing a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition is provided. The method includes step S1 of melting menthol, step S2 of preparing a semi-solid dispersion by mixing the molten menthol, glycerin, and liquid nicotine, and step S3 of preparing a solid dispersion by adding at least one of lactose, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), or cellulose to the semi-solid dispersion, wherein in step S2, the menthol is included in an amount of 25% by weight (wt %) to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and glycerin.
Latest KT&G CORPORATION Patents:
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0105726, Aug. 11, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUND 1. Field of the InventionOne or more embodiments relate to a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition, and a method of preparing the same.
2. Description of the Related ArtTo satisfy preferences of smokers, smoking articles are flavored in various ways. A flavoring method may typically include directly adding (e.g., spraying) flavoring liquid to a filter plug or a smoking material, such as cut tobacco leaves.
In addition, tobacco-free smoking articles are popular with smokers, because tobacco-free smoking articles allow smokers to enjoy nicotine even without being exposed to tobacco, and also have excellent taste and freshness.
However, due to volatility of flavorings (e.g., menthol, etc.) and nicotine, the flavorings and nicotine may be lost during the distribution and consumption of smoking articles, which may lead to a continuous decrease in the taste of tobacco.
SUMMARYOne or more embodiments provide a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition and a method of preparing the same that may enhance storability and retention of nicotine and flavoring.
However, goals to be achieved are not limited to those described above, and other goals not mentioned above can be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.
According to an aspect, there is provided a method of preparing a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition, the method including step S1 of melting menthol, step S2 of preparing a semi-solid dispersion by mixing the molten menthol, glycerin, and liquid nicotine, and step S3 of preparing a solid dispersion by adding at least one selected from a group consisting of lactose, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and cellulose to the semi-solid dispersion, wherein, in step S2, the menthol is included in an amount of 25% by weight (wt %) to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and glycerin.
According to another aspect, there is provided a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition, the composition including a solid dispersion including menthol, nicotine, and glycerin, wherein the solid dispersion is obtained by uniformly dispersing the menthol and the nicotine in the glycerin, and wherein the menthol is included in an amount of 25 wt % to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and the glycerin.
According to another aspect, there is provided a tobacco-free smoking article including a medium portion and a filter portion, wherein the medium portion includes a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition, wherein the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition includes a solid dispersion including menthol, nicotine, and glycerin, wherein the solid dispersion is obtained by uniformly dispersing the menthol and the nicotine in the glycerin, and wherein the menthol is included in an amount of 25 wt % to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and glycerin.
Additional aspects of embodiments will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.
According to embodiments, using a method of preparing a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition, a smoking article including nicotine and menthol at various concentrations by more uniformly dispersing the nicotine and the menthol may be provided, and the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may be easily applied to the smoking article.
According to embodiments, a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition and a tobacco-free smoking article including the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may continue to express nicotine and menthol without a loss of the nicotine and the menthol due to excellent storability and retention of the nicotine and the menthol, and may efficiently transfer the nicotine and the menthol.
It should be understood that the effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects, but are construed as including all effects that can be inferred from the configurations and features described in the following description or claims of the present disclosure.
These and/or other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing of which:
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. However, various alterations and modifications may be made to the embodiments. Here, the embodiments are not meant to be limited by the descriptions of the present disclosure. The embodiments should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and replacements within the idea and the technical scope of the disclosure.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises/comprising” and/or “includes/including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly-used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
When describing the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing, like reference numerals refer to like components and a repeated description related thereto will be omitted. In the description of embodiments, detailed description of well-known related structures or functions will be omitted when it is deemed that such description will cause ambiguous interpretation of the present disclosure.
In addition, the terms first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used to describe components of the embodiments. These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminating one component from another component, and the nature, the sequences, or the orders of the components are not limited by the terms.
A component, which has the same common function as a component included in any one embodiment, will be described by using the same name in other embodiments. Unless disclosed to the contrary, the description of any one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.
In the present specification, when one part “includes” one component, this indicates that the part may further include another component instead of excluding another component.
Throughout the specification, a “smoking article” refers to an article capable of generating an aerosol, such as tobacco (cigarettes), cigars, and the like. The smoking article may include an aerosol generating material, or an aerosol forming substrate. In addition, the smoking article may include a solid material based on tobacco raw materials such as a reconstituted tobacco sheet, cut tobacco leaves, reconstituted tobacco, and the like. A smoking material may include a volatile compound.
In addition, throughout the specification, the term “upstream” or “upstream direction” refers to a direction away from a mouth of a user puffing a smoking article, and the term “downstream” or “downstream direction” refers to a direction toward the mouth of the user puffing the smoking article.
According to an embodiment, a method of preparing a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may be provided. The method may include step S1 of melting menthol, step S2 of preparing a semi-solid dispersion by mixing the molten menthol, glycerin, and liquid nicotine, and step S3 of preparing a solid dispersion by adding at least one of lactose, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), or cellulose to the semi-solid dispersion. In step S2, the menthol may be included in an amount of 25% by weight (wt %) to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and glycerin.
Hereinafter, each step is described in detail.
In step S1, the menthol may be melted at a temperature of 40° C. to 50° C. Since a melting point of menthol ranges from 42° C. to 43° C., the menthol in the solid state may be changed to liquid menthol when step S1 is performed in the above temperature range.
In an example in which a powder raw material is dissolved into a liquid raw material, when a solubility exceeds a predetermined level, the powder raw material may not be dissolved anymore to be in a suspension or precipitation may occur. Therefore, when powder raw materials are mixed, or when a powder raw material and a liquid raw material are mixed, it may be necessary to constantly examine a mixing amount and a mixing method for uniform mixing. However, in the present disclosure, menthol dissolved in liquid may be mixed with glycerin and liquid nicotine to finally prepare a solid dispersion, and thus, nicotine and menthol may be more uniformly dispersed in comparison to the example of using powder raw materials, and it is possible to more easily apply nicotine and menthol to a composition of a smoking article.
In step S2, the semi-solid dispersion may be prepared by mixing the molten menthol, the glycerin, and the liquid nicotine.
For example, when the liquid mixture of the molten menthol, the glycerin, and the liquid nicotine is stirred at a high speed, the liquid mixture of the molten menthol and the glycerin may be evenly mixed, and a melting point of the liquid mixture may decrease, and accordingly, a temperature of the liquid mixture may drop. When the temperature of the liquid mixture drops, a phase change in the liquid mixture of the menthol and the glycerin may occur, which may result in a formation of particles.
Here, the menthol may need to be included in the amount of 25 wt % to 58 wt % based on the total weight of the menthol and the glycerin. Desirably, the menthol may be included in an amount of 30 wt % to 55 wt % based on the total weight of the menthol and the glycerin. In an example, when the amount of the menthol satisfies the numerical range described above, a dispersion in an irreversible semi-solid state (hereinafter, referred to as a “semi-solid dispersion”) may be obtained. In another example, when the amount of the menthol is less than the numerical range described above, the phase change in the liquid mixture may not occur and the liquid mixture may remain unchanged, and accordingly, it may be difficult to apply the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition as a component of a smoking article. In another example, when the amount of the menthol exceeds the numerical range described above, nicotine and flavoring may not be mixed sufficiently uniformly as the liquid mixture quickly changes to a solid state.
In step S2, the liquid nicotine may include at least one of free-base nicotine or a nicotine salt, and may desirably include free-base nicotine.
In step S2, the semi-solid dispersion may be obtained by uniformly dispersing and semi-solidifying the molten menthol and the liquid nicotine in the glycerin. The semi-solid dispersion may be in the form of a gel. Thus, the liquid nicotine may be more easily mixed and may be uniformly dispersed, and may also be easily molded to a form (e.g., a granule, a block, etc.) that may be directly applied to a smoking article. The expression “uniformly dispersed” may indicate that menthol and nicotine are uniformly and evenly dispersed to have the same concentrations in all areas instead of being concentrated on one side.
In step S3, the solid dispersion may be prepared by adding at least one of the lactose, the MCC, and the cellulose to the semi-solid dispersion.
In step S3, the solid dispersion may be prepared in the form of a granule or a block.
The lactose, the MCC, and the cellulose may function as carriers for nicotine and menthol and also function as supports to shape nicotine and menthol such that nicotine and menthol may be used as components of a smoking article.
The solid dispersion prepared in step S3 may be a system in which nicotine and menthol are uniformly dispersed in solid glycerin. In the above step, for example, when at least one of the lactose, the MCC, or the cellulose is added to the semi-solid dispersion, and when the temperature is further lowered with continuous stirring, a solidified solid dispersion may finally be formed. Thus, it is possible to prepare a solid dispersion in which nicotine, menthol, and glycerin are evenly dispersed and that is irreversibly and stably solidified. The expression “uniformly dispersed” may indicate that menthol and nicotine are uniformly and evenly dispersed to have the same concentrations in all areas instead of being concentrated on one side.
According to an embodiment, step S3 may include additionally adding a binder to the semi-solid dispersion. The binder may be at least one of a water-soluble polymer, gums, or a cellulose derivative. The binder may additionally function to increase a cohesion.
The water-soluble polymer may include, for example, at least one of starch, gelatin, or polyvinyl alcohol. The gums may include, for example, at least one of guar gum or arabia gum. The cellulose derivative may include, for example, at least one of MCC, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). However, embodiments are not limited thereto.
According to an embodiment, a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may be provided. The nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may include a solid dispersion including menthol, nicotine, and glycerin. The solid dispersion may be obtained by uniformly dispersing the menthol and the nicotine in the glycerin. The menthol may be included in an amount of 25 wt % to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and the glycerin. The expression “uniformly dispersed” may indicate that menthol and nicotine are uniformly and evenly dispersed to have the same concentrations in all areas instead of being concentrated on one side. Since the solid dispersion is included in the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition, storability and retention of nicotine and menthol flavoring may be enhanced.
According to an embodiment, the nicotine may include at least one of free-base nicotine or a nicotine salt, and may desirably include free-base nicotine. Unlike a nicotine salt with protons, free-base nicotine is a nonionic material deprived of hydrogen ions and has volatility greater than that of the nicotine salt. Thus, the free-base nicotine may transfer nicotine at a lower temperature.
The glycerin in the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may function to transfer the nicotine and the menthol. For example, when heat is applied to the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition, bonds between the nicotine, the menthol, and the glycerin may be broken as the solidified nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition is liquefied, and the nicotine and the menthol may be released.
According to an embodiment, the glycerin may be included in an amount of 18 wt % to 28 wt %, desirably in an amount of 20 wt % to 25 wt %, based on a total weight of the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition. In an example, when the amount of the glycerin is less than the numerical ranges described above, it may be difficult to secure a sufficient amount of atomization, and nicotine and menthol may not be smoothly transferred. In another example, when the amount of the glycerin exceeds the numerical ranges described above, it may be difficult to apply the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition as a component of a smoking article due to granular agglomeration, stickiness, etc. caused by adhesion.
According to an embodiment, the solid dispersion may further include at least one of lactose, MCC, or cellulose. The lactose, the MCC, and the cellulose may function as carriers for nicotine and menthol and also function as supports of a shape of the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition.
According to an embodiment, the solid dispersion may further include a binder. The binder may be at least one of a water-soluble polymer, gums, or a cellulose derivative. The binder may additionally function to increase a cohesion.
According to an embodiment, the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may be in the form of at least one of a granule or a cylindrical block. Since the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition is in the form described above, nicotine and menthol may be applied in various amounts over a wider amount range, and the amount of nicotine and the amount of menthol may be more easily set. The nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may be prepared in the form of a cylindrical block without a separate carrier and inserted into a medium portion or a filter portion, to be easily applied to a smoking article.
According to an embodiment, a smoking article including a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may be provided. Here, the smoking article may include a medium portion, a filter portion, and a wrapper, and at least one of the medium portion, the filter portion, and the wrapper may include the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition. The nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may include a solid dispersion including menthol, nicotine, and glycerin. The solid dispersion may be obtained by uniformly dispersing the menthol and the nicotine in the glycerin. The menthol may be included in an amount of 25 wt % to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and the glycerin.
The medium portion may be disposed at an upstream end of the smoking article, and may include a tobacco medium including flue-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco (air-cured tobacco), and Oriental tobacco (sun-cured tobacco) as main materials.
The filter portion may be disposed at a downstream end of the smoking article and may be a mono filter or a composite filter. The filter portion may include, but is not limited to, for example, at least one fiber among cellulose acetate, lyocell, polypropylene, polyester, and polylactic acid. In addition, the filter portion may further include activated carbon and a plasticizer.
The wrapper may include filter wrapping paper and cigarette paper. The filter wrapping paper may surround the filter portion and may have an oil-resistance function. The cigarette paper may surround the medium portion, and flax and wood pulp may be mainly used as raw materials. The cigarette paper may include a filler as an additive. The filler may increase whiteness and opacity and control porosity.
According to an embodiment, a tobacco-free smoking article including a medium portion and a filter portion may be provided. The medium portion may include a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition, and the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may include a solid dispersion including menthol, nicotine, and glycerin. The solid dispersion may be obtained by uniformly dispersing the menthol and the nicotine in the glycerin, and the menthol may be included in an amount of 25 wt % to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and glycerin.
According to an embodiment, the tobacco-free smoking article may include a smoking article including an “alternative medium” to a tobacco medium including flue-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, and Oriental tobacco as main materials.
By heating the tobacco-free smoking article, the nicotine and the menthol may be transferred from the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition. For example, due to an amount of heat applied to the smoking article by heating (an amount of heat transferred from a heat source, an amount of heat transferred to outer wrapping paper, an amount of heat accumulated therein, etc.), bonds between the nicotine, the menthol and the glycerin may be broken as the solidified nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition is liquefied. The molten menthol and nicotine may be impregnated or permeated into a component (the medium portion, the filter portion, the wrapper, etc.) of the smoking article. Here, the glycerin may be aerosolized and may function as a carrier for the nicotine and the menthol when inhaled. The above process may allow a uniform amount of nicotine and menthol released during smoking to be maintained, and accordingly, a smoking article with excellent nicotine and flavor persistence may be provided by applying the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition. In addition, when heat is not applied to the smoking article, nicotine and menthol may not be released from the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition, which is in the form of an irreversibly stable solid, and accordingly, the smoking article may also have excellent storability and retention of nicotine and flavoring. Furthermore, the bonds between the nicotine, the menthol, and the glycerin may be broken as the tobacco-free smoking article is heated, and accordingly, a plurality of pores may be formed in the medium portion, to facilitate a flow of an aerosol including the nicotine, the menthol, and the glycerin. Thus, a transfer efficiency of nicotine and flavoring throughout smoking may be increased.
A smoking article according to an embodiment may be a heat-not-burn smoking article. The heat-not-burn smoking article may include, for example, an electric smoking article that is indirectly heated using electrical energy rather than directly burning.
The electric smoking article may include a heat-not-burn smoking article, and an aerosol generating device into which the heat-not-burn smoking article may be inserted. The electric smoking article may be an article that allows smoking to be performed by a scheme of generating an aerosol by heating an inserted smoking article using electrical energy and of allowing the aerosol to be inhaled by a user and released.
A heat-not-burn smoking article according to an embodiment is not limited to the example described above, and may have various structures.
In an example, the smoking article according to an embodiment may further include a support structure and a cooling structure between the medium portion and the filter portion.
The support structure may be disposed downstream of the medium portion and may be a tube-shaped structure including a hollow inside. The support structure may function to support the medium portion to prevent the medium portion from being pushed when the medium portion is inserted into an aerosol generating device, and may function to move aerosol. The support structure may be manufactured using, for example, cellulose acetate, and a hardness of the support structure may be adjusted by changing an amount of a plasticizer to be added in the manufacturing of the support structure. Alternatively, the support structure may also be manufactured by inserting a structure, such as a film or a tube formed of the same material or different materials, into the hollow.
The cooling structure may be disposed downstream of the support structure. When a smoker inhales an aerosol generated by heating the medium portion, heat may be generated, especially with a first puff, which may cause discomfort to the smoker. The cooling structure may function as a cooling member that cools the aerosol generated by heating the medium portion. Accordingly, the smoker may inhale the aerosol cooled to an appropriate temperature.
In another example, the smoking article according to an embodiment may further include a front-end filter segment and a support structure, in addition to the medium portion and the filter portion.
The front-end filter segment may be disposed upstream of the medium portion. The front filter segment may function to notify that the smoking article is used exclusively for an aerosol generating device. The front filter segment may be formed of, for example, cellulose acetate. In a central portion of the front-end filter segment, a hollow may be formed, or only channels fine enough to form an airflow path while preventing a tobacco medium from being separated from the medium portion may be formed.
However, the example described above is merely an example of the heat-not-burn smoking article in which the present disclosure may be used, and embodiments are not limited to the example described above.
The aerosol generating device may include a portion or all of a battery, a controller, a vaporizer, and a heater. An arrangement relationship of the above components may vary depending on the design of the aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device may further include general-purpose configurations in addition to the configurations described above.
Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail based on examples, however, the present disclosure is not limited to the following examples.
1. Preparation of Nicotine and Menthol Sustained-Release CompositionNicotine and menthol sustained-release compositions of preparation examples and comparative examples were prepared by a method described below.
Preparation Example 1First, crystalline menthol ((1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanol, MW 156.27, the melting point of 42° C.) was melted at 43° C. (step S1). 26 g of glycerin (the menthol in an amount of 30 wt % based on the total weight of the menthol and the glycerin) and 1 g of liquid nicotine (free-base nicotine, 99% liquid) were added to 11 g of the molten menthol, and mixing was performed. The liquid mixture was stirred at a speed of 300 to 600 rpm and 40° C. for 5 minutes, to form a semi-solid dispersion (step S2). 65 g of microcellulose (Avicel PH102), 5 g of guar gum, and 2 g of a binder were added to the semi-solid dispersion and stirring was performed, to prepare a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition (step S3).
Preparation Example 2A nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example 1, except that mixing was performed in step S2 such that the amount of the menthol was 42 wt % based on the total weight of the menthol and the glycerin.
Preparation Example 3A nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example 1, except that mixing was performed in step S2 such that the amount of the menthol was 55 wt % based on the total weight of the menthol and the glycerin.
Preparation Example 4A nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example 1, except that mixing was performed in step S2 such that the amount of the menthol was 40 wt % based on the total weight of the menthol and the glycerin.
Preparation Example 5A nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example 1, except that mixing was performed in step S2 such that the amount of the menthol was 44 wt % based on the total weight of the menthol and the glycerin.
Comparative Example 1A nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example 1, except that mixing was performed in step S2 such that the amount of the menthol was 63 wt % based on the total weight of the menthol and the glycerin.
Comparative Example 2A nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example 1, except that mixing was performed in step S2 such that the amount of the menthol was 15 wt % based on the total weight of the menthol and the glycerin.
States of the nicotine and menthol sustained-release compositions of Preparation Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were observed. After a liquid mixture obtained by mixing liquid nicotine, molten menthol, and glycerin was stirred at a high speed and left at room temperature (after step S2), the states of the nicotine and menthol sustained-release compositions were examined, and the results thereof are shown in Table 2 below.
At room temperature (18 to 23° C.), glycerin is in a liquid state. However, according to Table 1, it can be found that when only a small amount of menthol is added to glycerin, the state of the glycerin may be changed to a semi-solid state, and that the glycerin may be in the semi-solid state in Preparation Examples 1 to 5.
Using such a semi-solid dispersion, mixing with liquid nicotine may be easily performed and nicotine may be more uniformly dispersed. In addition, the semi-solid dispersion may be easily molded in the form of a granule or a cylindrical block and directly applied to a smoking article. In particular, the semi-solid dispersion may be prepared in the form of a cylindrical block and applied to the medium portion, which may be used as a tobacco-free smoking article.
From the above experimental example, it is predicted that, using the method of preparing the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition as described in the claims, a smoking article including nicotine and menthol at various concentrations by more uniformly dispersing the nicotine and the menthol may be provided, that the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may be easily applied to a configuration of the smoking article, and that a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition prepared by the above method, and a tobacco-free smoking article including the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition may continue to express nicotine and menthol without a loss of the nicotine and the menthol due to excellent storability and retention of the nicotine and the menthol, and may efficiently transfer the nicotine and the menthol.
While the embodiments are described with reference to the drawing, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various alterations and modifications in form and details may be made in these embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.
Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A method of preparing a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition, the method comprising:
- step S1 of melting menthol;
- step S2 of preparing a semi-solid dispersion by mixing the molten menthol, glycerin, and liquid nicotine; and
- step S3 of preparing a solid dispersion by adding at least one selected from a group consisting of lactose, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and cellulose to the semi-solid dispersion,
- wherein in step S2, the menthol is included in an amount of 25% by weight (wt %) to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and glycerin.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein step S2 is performed at a temperature of 40° C. to 50° C.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein in step S2, the liquid nicotine comprises at least one of free-base nicotine or a nicotine salt.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step S2, the semi-solid dispersion is obtained by uniformly dispersing and semi-solidifying the molten menthol and the liquid nicotine in the glycerin.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step S2, the semi-solid dispersion is in a form of a gel.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step S3, the solid dispersion is prepared in a form of a granule or a block.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step S3, the solid dispersion is a system in which nicotine and menthol are uniformly dispersed in solid glycerin.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein step S3 comprises additionally adding a binder to the semi-solid dispersion,
- wherein the binder comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a water-soluble polymer, gums, and a cellulose derivative.
9. A nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition comprising:
- a solid dispersion comprising menthol, nicotine, and glycerin,
- wherein the solid dispersion is obtained by uniformly dispersing the menthol and the nicotine in the glycerin, and
- wherein the menthol is included in an amount of 25% by weight (wt %) to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and glycerin.
10. The nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition of claim 9, wherein the nicotine comprises at least one of free-base nicotine or a nicotine salt.
11. The nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition of claim 9, wherein the glycerin is included in an amount of 18 wt % to 28 wt % based on a total weight of the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition.
12. The nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition of claim 9, wherein the solid dispersion further comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of lactose, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and cellulose.
13. The nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition of claim 9, wherein the solid dispersion further comprises a binder,
- wherein the binder comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a water-soluble polymer, gums, and a cellulose derivative.
14. The nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition of claim 9, wherein the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition is in a form of at least one of a granule or a cylindrical block.
15. A tobacco-free smoking article comprising:
- a medium portion; and
- a filter portion,
- wherein the medium portion comprises a nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition,
- wherein the nicotine and menthol sustained-release composition comprises a solid dispersion comprising menthol, nicotine, and glycerin,
- wherein the solid dispersion is obtained by uniformly dispersing the menthol and the nicotine in the glycerin, and
- wherein the menthol is included in an amount of 25% by weight (wt %) to 58 wt % based on a total weight of the menthol and glycerin.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 18, 2024
Publication Date: Feb 13, 2025
Applicant: KT&G CORPORATION (Daejeon)
Inventor: Eun Mi JEOUNG (Daejeon)
Application Number: 18/776,439
