Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for preparing a tobacco composition suitable for use as a smokeless tobacco composition wherein the tobacco material can be cooled down, after being heated to a temperature of 80° C. or more, to a temperature of below 25° C. during a time period of 20 min or less.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the improvement of the filling capacity of tobacco such as shredded tobacco leaves or ribs by treatment of the tobacco material having up to approx. 30 wt.-% initial moisture with a treatment gas composed of nitrogen and/or argon at pressures of 50 to 1,000 bar under continuous or stepped compression, followed by a continuous or stepped decompression, the compression and decompression steps taking place in either one autoclave or in cascade-like sequence in several autoclaves, and by subsequent thermal aftertreatment of the discharged tobacco material, which is characterized in that the thermal aftertreatment is carried out with a flowing heat-transferring medium of a mixture of permanent gases and superheated water vapour, wherein the proportion of permanent gas is kept constant at a value in the range from 10 to 60 vol.-%.

Abstract: A process reorders tobacco that has been expanded by impregnating the tobacco under pressure with liquid carbon dioxide, forming a solid mass of the tobacco and solid carbon dioxide, and heating the solid mass in an expansion zone to sublimate the carbon dioxide and thereby expand the tobacco. The expanded tobacco is discharged from the expansion zone and before the temperature of the expanded tobacco is below about 80° F., the tobacco is contacted with humidifying air having a temperature of about 80° F. to about 91 ° F. and a relative humidity of about 58% to about 88%.

Abstract: Methods of reducing the content of and preventing formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in harvested leafy plants such as tobacco and marijuana, are disclosed. The methods are directed to subjecting the plant to microwave radiation, at appropriate times in the cure cycle. With tobacco, products suitable for human consumption, such as cigarettes, cigars, etc., can be made in accordance with the present invention, having contents of tobacco-specific nitrosamines on a par with fresh-cut, green tobacco. In preferred embodiments, the resultant tobacco products are dried, golden-yellow leaves having almost negligible amounts of the known carcinogens NNN and NNK, in comparison to conventionally cured tobacco.

Abstract: Methods of reducing the content of and preventing formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in harvested leafy plants such as tobacco and marijuana, are disclosed. The methods are directed to subjecting the plant to microwave radiation, at appropriate times in the cure cycle. With tobacco, products suitable for human consumption, such as cigarettes, cigars, etc., can be made in accordance with the present invention, having contents of tobacco-specific nitrosamines on a par with fresh-cut, green tobacco. In preferred embodiments, the resultant tobacco products are dried, golden-yellow leaves having almost negligible amounts of the known carcinogens NNN and NNK, in comparison to conventionally cured tobacco.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making tobacco rod in which method the tobacco filler material of the rod is subjected to radio frequency heating before feeding to a rod making machine. The elevated temperature increases the pliability of the tobacco filler, thus reducing its degradation in the rod making machine and enhancing the physical properties, e.g. ends stability, of the tobacco rods thus produced.

Abstract: Bales of compressed tobacco ribs and/or tobacco leaf laminae having a moisture content of 8-11 percent are advanced past a battery of microwave generators or through one or more electric high frequency fields to raise the temperature of particles in the bales to between 30.degree. and 90.degree. C. The bales or portions of the bales are thereupon loosened, prior to complete cooling back to starting temperature, by the pins of a conveyor which delivers the particles of loosened bales or portions of bales into the magazine of a shredding machine wherein the particles are cut. The moisture content of shreds is raised to 12-13.5 percent at which the shreds are ready for processing into smokers' products, or above 13.5 percent, for example, to between 21 and 30 percent. Such moisturizing to above the processing moisture content is or can be followed by drying of the shreds.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for expanding tobacco wherein tobacco is impregnated with sulfur hexafluoride and thereafter heated in an expansion zone to liberate the sulfur hexafluoride and cause expansion of the tobacco. The process of the invention can provide substantial expansion of tobacco cut filler lamina without substantial generation of tobacco fines and employing substantially mild pressure of, for example, less than about 2,000 psi and with minimal effect on tobacco taste. The invention additionally provides an intermediate tobacco product comprising tobacco cut filler lamina impregnated with sulfur hexafluoride in a substantially pliable and unextracted condition.

Abstract: The constituents of a compacted tobacco mass can be easily separated by subjecting the mass to electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency range.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for processing hot, moist extruded tobacco-containing materials as they are continuously extruded by drying the extruded material rapidly with microwave energy, and then cooling the extruded material rapidly so that the surface temperature of the extruded material is decreased below the bulk temperature to provide the extruded material with an adequately rigid and stable dimensionally structure that can be formed into a smoking article. Microwave drying provides substantially uniform drying without case hardening the material. Cooling may occur by passing air at high velocity, refrigerated air or presenting a partial vacuum across the advancing extruded material, or contacting the material with cold contacting members or a cryogenic bath. Conventional maker devices can be used for forming smoking articles from the dried and cooled extruded material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for increasing the filling power of tobacco which comprises heating the tobacco at elevated temperature while maintaining the OV and SV values of the tobacco substantially constant. Preferably, the tobacco is heated at a temperature of at least about 80.degree. C. in a closed system for a time sufficient to increase the CV value of the tobacco.

Abstract: Tobacco impregnated with solid carbon dioxide is heated in a chamber to expand the same by sublimation of solid CO.sub.2 and expulsion of CO.sub.2 gas from the tobacco. The expanded tobacco is separated from the internal atmosphere of the expansion device and the tobacco is discharged through an outlet through which gas flows are substantially precluded. The evolved CO.sub.2 gas and other volatile components are removed from the chamber and a portion of the removed gas is heated and returned to the chamber as the expansion medium. The necessity for external steam is avoided as an atmosphere of high thermal diffusivity is maintained in the expansion chamber by precluding the entry of ambient air.

Abstract: A process for expanding tobacco is provided which employs liquid carbon dioxide as the expansion agent. Tobacco is contacted with liquid carbon dioxide to thoroughly impregnate the tobacco with the liquid carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide impregnated tobacco is maintained at a temperature no lower than -2.degree. C. and under conditions of temperature and elevated pressure such that all or substantially all of the carbon dioxide which is in contact with the tobacco is in liquid form. After the impregnation has been completed, any excess liquid carbon dioxide which may be present with the tobacco may be removed from the tobacco. The elevated pressure is then reduced in order to convert the liquid carbon dioxide to solid carbon dioxide within the tobacco structure.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is an apparatus for increasing the filling capacity of cured tobacco by evaporatively freeze-drying water expanded tobacco and effecting heating of the tobacco by infrared radiation. The treated tobacco has increased filling capacity without suffering disadvantageous results.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a method for increasing the filling capacity of cured tobacco by evaporatively freeze-drying water expanded tobacco and effecting heating of the tobacco by infrared radiation. The treated tobacco has increased filling capacity without suffering disadvantageous results.

Abstract: Methods of reducing the content of and preventing formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in harvested leafy plants such as tobacco and marijuana, are disclosed. The methods are directed to subjecting the plant to microwave radiation, at appropriate times in the cure cycle. With tobacco, products suitable for human consumption, such as cigarettes, cigars, etc., can be made in accordance with the present invention, having contents of tobacco-specific nitrosamines on a par with fresh-cut, green tobacco. In preferred embodiments, the resultant tobacco products are dried, golden-yellow leaves having almost negligible amounts of the known carcinogens NNN and NNK, in comparison to conventionally cured tobacco.

Abstract: A process for expanding tobacco is provided which employs liquid carbon dioxide as the expansion agent. Tobacco is contacted with liquid carbon dioxide to thoroughly impregnate the tobacco with the liquid carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide impregnated tobacco is maintained at a temperature no lower than -2.degree. C. and under conditions of temperature and elevated pressure such that all or substantially all of the carbon dioxide which is in contact with the tobacco is in liquid form. After the impregnation has been completed, any excess liquid carbon dioxide which may be present with the tobacco may be removed from the tobacco. The elevated pressure is then reduced in order to convert the liquid carbon dioxide to solid carbon dioxide within the tobacco structure.

Abstract: This invention relates broadly to an improved process for expanding tobacco and involves certain modifications of the basic process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of (1) contacting the tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide to impregnate the tobacco with the liquid carbon dioxide, (2) subjecting the liquid carbon dioxide-impregnated tobacco to conditions such that the liquid carbon dioxide is converted to solid carbon dioxide and (3) thereafter subjecting the solid carbon dioxide-containing tobacco to conditions whereby the solid carbon dioxide is vaporized to cause expansion of the tobacco. The present invention pertains, in one embodiment, to an improvement in the basic process which involves controlling the moisture content of the tobacco which is employed in the first step of the basic process.