U.S. patent application number 17/351915 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-04 for fire-cured tobacco extract and tobacco products made therefrom.
The applicant listed for this patent is R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Invention is credited to Dwayne William Beeson, Crystal Dawn Hege Byrd, William Monroe Coleman, III, Michael Francis Dube, Jack Gray Flinchum, JR., Anthony Richard Gerardi, Darrell Eugene Holton, JR., Eric Taylor Hunt, Jeremy Barrett Mabe, Charles Bradford Rhoades, JR..
Application Number | 20210337857 17/351915 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005720422 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210337857 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Byrd; Crystal Dawn Hege ; et
al. |
November 4, 2021 |
FIRE-CURED TOBACCO EXTRACT AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS MADE THEREFROM
Abstract
The invention provides a tobacco product including a flavorful
tobacco composition in the form of an extract of a fire-cured
tobacco material. Exemplary tobacco products include smoking
articles, smokeless tobacco compositions, and aerosol-generating
devices that do not burn tobacco. The invention also provides a
process for preparing a smokeless tobacco composition, the method
including: mixing a fire-cured tobacco material having a first
benzo[a]pyrene concentration with water to produce an aqueous
slurry; maintaining the slurry for a time and at a temperature
sufficient to form a fire-cured tobacco extract, the aqueous
fire-cured tobacco extract exhibiting a second benzo[a]pyrene
concentration lower than the first benzo[a]pyrene concentration;
separating the aqueous fire-cured tobacco extract from a residual
pulp material, and mixing the aqueous fire-cured tobacco extract
with a tobacco or non-tobacco plant material to form a smokeless
tobacco composition.
Inventors: |
Byrd; Crystal Dawn Hege;
(Lexington, NC) ; Coleman, III; William Monroe;
(Conway, SC) ; Dube; Michael Francis;
(Winston-Salem, NC) ; Gerardi; Anthony Richard;
(Winston-Salem, NC) ; Hunt; Eric Taylor;
(Pfafftown, NC) ; Holton, JR.; Darrell Eugene;
(Clemmons, NC) ; Rhoades, JR.; Charles Bradford;
(Clemmons, NC) ; Flinchum, JR.; Jack Gray;
(Clemmons, NC) ; Beeson; Dwayne William;
(Kernersville, NC) ; Mabe; Jeremy Barrett;
(Lexington, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company |
Winston-Salem |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005720422 |
Appl. No.: |
17/351915 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12949361 |
Nov 18, 2010 |
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17351915 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24B 15/24 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24B 15/24 20060101
A24B015/24 |
Claims
1.-24. (canceled)
25. An aerosol-generating device, comprising a cartridge containing
a composition, the composition comprising an aerosol-forming
material and an extract of a fire-cured tobacco material, wherein
the device is configured to generate flavored vapor, visible
aerosol, or a mixture of flavored vapor and visible aerosol from
the composition.
26. The aerosol-generating device of claim 25, wherein the extract
is an aqueous extract.
27. The aerosol-generating device of claim 25, wherein the device
exhibits the desirable sensory characteristics of fire-cured
tobacco and reduced content of benzo[s]pyrene as compared with an
aerosol-generating device containing fire-cured tobacco.
28. The aerosol-generating device of claim 25, wherein the
concentration of benzo[a]pyrene in the extract is no more than
about 10 ppb.
29. The aerosol-generating device of claim 25, wherein the
concentration of benzo[a]pyrene in the extract is no more than
about 5 ppb.
30. The aerosol-generating device of claim 25, further comprising a
tobacco material as a carrier for the extract.
31. The aerosol-generating device of claim 25, further comprising a
non-tobacco material as a carrier for the extract.
32. The aerosol-generating device of claim 25, wherein the extract
exhibits sensory attributes associated with a fire-cured tobacco
material.
33. The aerosol-generating device of claim 25, wherein the extract
is present in an amount of about 25% weight percent or less, based
on a total dry weight of the liquid.
34. A method of providing an aerosol or vapor from an
aerosol-generating device with a smoky aroma and/or flavor,
comprising incorporating an extract of a fire-cured tobacco
material within a composition contained in a cartridge of the
aerosol-generating device, wherein the device is configured to
generate flavored vapor, visible aerosol, or a mixture of flavored
vapor and visible aerosol from the composition.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the extract is incorporated in
the liquid in an amount of no more than about 25 weight percent
based on a total dry weight of the liquid.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein the extract is an aqueous
extract.
37. The method of claim 34, wherein the extract is incorporated in
the form of a spray dried or freeze dried extract.
38. The method of claim 34, wherein the extract is incorporated in
the form of an impregnated material, comprising a tobacco material
as a carrier for the extract.
39. The method of claim 34, wherein the extract is incorporated in
the form of an impregnated material, comprising a non-tobacco
material as a carrier for the extract.
40. The method of claim 34, wherein the concentration of
benzo[a]pyrene in the extract is no more than about 10 ppb.
41. The method of claim 34, wherein the concentration of
benzo[a]pyrene in the extract is no more than about 5 ppb.
42. A method, comprising: mixing a cured tobacco material having a
first benzo[a]pyrene concentration with a polar protic solvent to
produce a slurry, the slurry providing intimate contact between the
cured tobacco material and the polar protic solvent; maintaining
the slurry for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form an
extract comprising components of the cured tobacco material soluble
in the polar protic solvent, the extract exhibiting a second
benzo[a]pyrene concentration lower than the first benzo[a]pyrene
concentration; separating the extract from a residual pulp material
comprising components of the cured tobacco material that are
insoluble in the polar protic solvent; and incorporating the
extract into a composition contained within a cartridge for an
aerosol-generating device.
43. The method of claim 42, further comprising applying the
separated extract to a tobacco material to form a treated material,
and incorporating the extract in the form of the treated material
into the composition.
44. The method of claim 42, further comprising applying the
separated extract to a non-tobacco material to form a treated
material, and incorporating the extract in the form of the treated
material into the composition.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure relates to products made or derived
from tobacco, or that otherwise incorporate tobacco, and are
intended for human consumption. In particular, the disclosure
relates to compositions or formulations incorporating tobacco, such
as those intended to be employed in a smokeless form.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are popular smoking articles
that employ tobacco in various forms. Such smoking articles are
employed by heating or burning tobacco to generate aerosol (e.g.,
smoke) that may be inhaled by the smoker. Tobacco may also be
enjoyed in a so-called "smokeless" form. Particularly popular
smokeless tobacco products are employed by inserting some form of
processed tobacco or tobacco-containing formulation into the mouth
of the user. See for example, the types of smokeless tobacco
formulations, ingredients, and processing methodologies set forth
in U.S. Pat. No. 1,376,586 to Schwartz; U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,917 to
Levi; U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,756 to Pittman et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,528,993 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,269 to
Story et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,599 to Tibbetts; U.S. Pat. No.
4,987,907 to Townsend; U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,352 to Sprinkle, I I I
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,416 to White et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
6,668,839 to Williams; U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,654 to Williams; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,953,040 to Atchley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,601 to
Atchley et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,686 to Breslin et al.; US
Pat. Pub. Nos. 2004/0020503 to Williams; 2005/0115580 to Quinter et
al.; 2005/0244521 to Strickland et al.; 2006/0191548 to Strickland
et al.; 2007/0062549 to Holton, Jr. et al.; 2007/0186941 to Holton,
Jr. et al.; 2007/0186942 to Strickland et al.; 2008/0029110 to Dube
et al.; 2008/0029116 to Robinson et al.; 2008/0029117 to Mua et
al.; 2008/0173317 to Robinson et al.; 2008/0196730 to Engstrom et
al.; 2008/0209586 to Neilsen et al.; 2008/0305216 to Crawford et
al.; 2009/0065013 to Essen et al.; and 2009/0293889 to Kumar et
al.; PCT WO 04/095959 to Arnarp et al.; and U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/638,394, filed Dec. 15, 2009, to Mua et al.; each of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0003] One type of smokeless tobacco product is referred to as
"snuff." Representative types of moist snuff products, commonly
referred to as "snus," are manufactured in the United States and
Europe, particularly in Sweden. See, for example, Bryzgalov et al.,
1N1800 Life Cycle Assessment, Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of
General Loose and Portion Snus (2005). In addition, certain quality
standards associated with snus manufacture have been assembled as a
so-called GothiaTek standard. Exemplary smokeless tobacco products
include CAMEL Snus, CAMEL Orbs, CAMEL Strips and CAMEL Sticks by R.
J. Reynolds Tobacco Company; REVEL Mint Tobacco Packs and SKOAL
Snus by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company; and MARLBORO Snus and
Taboka by Philip Morris USA.
[0004] Various treatment methods and additives have been proposed
for altering the overall character or nature of tobacco materials
utilized in tobacco products. For example, additives or treatment
processes have been utilized in order to alter the chemistry or
sensory properties of the tobacco material, or in the case of
smokable tobacco materials, to alter the chemistry or sensory
properties of mainstream smoke generated by smoking articles
including the tobacco material. See, for example, Leffingwell et
al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company (1972), which is incorporated herein by reference. In
addition, tobacco materials have been processed or blended in a
manner designed to achieve certain sensory or chemistry
characteristics. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,066 to
Lawson et al. and US Pat. Pub. No. 2008/0245377 to Marshall et al.,
which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0005] It would be desirable to provide an enjoyable form of
tobacco product, such as a smokeless tobacco product, and to
provide processes for preparing tobacco-containing compositions
suitable for use in smokeless tobacco products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention relates to a tobacco product, such as
a smokeless tobacco product (e.g., moist snuff, dry snuff, chewing
tobacco, tobacco-containing gums, and dissolvable or meltable
tobacco products) intended or configured for insertion into the
mouth of a user, and to processes for preparing a formulation
suitable for use within such a tobacco product. The tobacco
products of the invention include a flavorful tobacco composition
such as one having the form of a fire-cured tobacco extract. In one
embodiment, the invention provides fire-cured tobacco extracts that
exhibit distinctive sensory characteristics associated with
fire-cured tobacco (e.g., smoky aroma or flavor), while also
exhibiting advantageous chemical composition differences as
compared to fire-cured tobacco in whole form, such as reduced
levels of benzo[a]pyrene or other polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons.
[0007] The extract is typically an aqueous extract of the cured
tobacco material, but certain other polar protic solvents or
co-solvent mixtures that include water can be used without
departing from the invention. The concentration of benzo[a]pyrene
in the extract is typically no more than about 10 ppb and often no
more than about 5 ppb.
[0008] Although smokeless tobacco composition are particularly
important types of tobacco products that would benefit from the
extracts of the invention, other tobacco products can also benefit
from such flavorful tobacco compositions, such as smoking articles
(e.g., cigarettes) or aerosol-generating devices that contain
tobacco or tobacco components but which do not combust tobacco or
other plant material. Typically, the tobacco product will comprise
a tobacco material or a non-tobacco plant material as a carrier for
the extract.
[0009] In another embodiment, the extract of the invention is used
to form a reconstituted tobacco material. In particular, such a
material can include the extract of the invention (e.g., a
fire-cured tobacco extract) combined with an extracted tobacco pulp
(e.g., a fire-cured tobacco pulp), wherein the pulp has been
pre-treated to reduce benzo[a]pyrene concentration.
[0010] In another aspect, the invention provides a method of
producing a flavorful tobacco composition characterized by sensory
attributes associated with a fire-cured tobacco material and a
reduced benzo[a]pyrene concentration. The method includes the step
of mixing a fire-cured tobacco material having a first
benzo[a]pyrene concentration (e.g., at least about 100 ppb
benzo[a]pyrene) with a polar protic solvent (e.g., water or
co-solvent mixtures including water) to produce a slurry, the
slurry providing intimate contact between the fire-cured tobacco
material and the polar protic solvent. The method also includes
maintaining the slurry for a time and at a temperature sufficient
to form an extract comprising components of the cured tobacco
material soluble in the polar protic solvent, the extract
exhibiting a second benzo[a]pyrene concentration (e.g., less than
about 10 ppb benzo[a]pyrene) lower than the first benzo[a]pyrene
concentration. Thereafter, the extract is separated from a residual
pulp material comprising components of the fire-cured tobacco
material that are insoluble in the polar protic solvent. The method
typically also includes the step of utilizing the extract as a
flavorful tobacco composition by, for example, introducing the
separated extract into a tobacco product, which will often involve
applying the separated extract to a tobacco material or non-tobacco
plant material to form a treated material that can then be
incorporated into a tobacco product. In certain embodiments, the
extract is recombined with the extracted pulp following treatment
of the pulp to reduce benzo[a]pyrene content, such as a second
extraction of the pulp adapted to remove benzo[a]pyrene. If
desired, the extract can be concentrated by removing at least a
portion of the solvent prior to incorporation into a tobacco
product.
[0011] In one particular embodiment, the invention provides a
process for preparing a composition suitable for use as a smokeless
tobacco composition, comprising: mixing a fire-cured tobacco
material having a first benzo[a]pyrene concentration with water to
produce an aqueous slurry, the slurry providing intimate contact
between the fire-cured tobacco material and the water; maintaining
the slurry for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form a
fire-cured tobacco extract comprising flavorful and aromatic
components of the fire-cured tobacco material soluble in water, the
aqueous fire-cured tobacco extract exhibiting a second
benzo[a]pyrene concentration lower than the first benzo[a]pyrene
concentration; separating the aqueous fire-cured tobacco extract
from a residual pulp material comprising components of the
fire-cured tobacco material that are insoluble in water; and mixing
the aqueous fire-cured tobacco extract with a tobacco or
non-tobacco plant material to form a smokeless tobacco
composition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In order to provide an understanding of embodiments of the
invention, reference is made to the appended drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which reference numerals
refer to components of exemplary embodiments of the invention. The
drawings are exemplary only, and should not be construed as
limiting the invention.
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a smoking article
having the form of a cigarette, showing the smokable material, the
wrapping material components, and the filter element of the
cigarette; and
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a smokeless tobacco
product embodiment, taken across the width of the product, showing
an outer pouch filled with a smokeless tobacco composition of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] The present invention now will be described more fully
hereinafter. This invention may, however, be embodied in many
different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are
provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and
will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in
the art. As used in this specification and the claims, the singular
forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the
context clearly dictates otherwise. Reference to "dry weight
percent" or "dry weight basis" refers to weight on the basis of dry
ingredients (i.e., all ingredients except water).
[0016] The present invention provides a process for preparing a
flavorful tobacco composition it the form of a tobacco extract. In
certain embodiments, the extracts of the invention provide a
tobacco composition having advantageous sensory characteristics
combined with a reduced amount of certain compounds found in the
unextracted tobacco material. The process of the invention is
particularly useful for forming an extract of a fire-cured tobacco
material, although it can be applied to other tobacco materials
such as tobacco cured using other curing techniques (e.g.,
air-cured tobacco materials). A "fire-cured tobacco" as used herein
refers to a tobacco material subjected to a fire curing process. In
fire curing, tobacco leaves are exposed to gaseous combustion
products from an open fire in the curing enclosure, typically for
several weeks, resulting in a distinctive smoky aroma and flavor.
The distinctive sensory characteristics of fire-cured tobacco can
also be described in some cases as woody, sweet, nutty, spicy,
earthy, or sour. The fire used for such curing processes is
typically characterized as low-burning or smoldering, meaning the
fire is maintained in a state that promotes smoke production. Fire
cured tobaccos are sometimes referred to as "dark fire" or
"dark-fired" tobacco. See, for example, the fire-curing processes
and resulting tobacco characteristics set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos.
7,650,891 and 7,650,892, both to Groves et al., and U.S. Pat. No.
7,757,697 to Thomas et al., all of which are incorporated by
reference herein. See also, pages 164-182 of Tobacco Production,
Chemistry and Technology, Davis et al. (Eds.) (1999).
[0017] During fire curing, the tobacco material is involved in
intimate interaction and contact with the gaseous combustion
products of the fire in the curing enclosure, meaning the smoke
from the fire directly contacts the surface of the tobacco
material. This interaction between the smoke and the tobacco
results in chemical changes to the tobacco material that lead to
both the distinctive smoky aroma and flavor commonly associated
with fire-cured tobacco and other less desirable chemical changes
in the tobacco. The present invention provides a treatment process
that separates at least a portion of the components of the
fire-cured tobacco that provide the distinctive sensory
characteristics (i.e., smoky aroma and flavor) from at least a
portion of the components of the fire-cured tobacco that do not
contribute to a significant degree to the desired and distinctive
sensory characteristics. In other words, the invention provides a
separation process that selectively extracts components of
fire-cured tobacco that are desirable from a sensory standpoint,
but leaves behind at least a portion of those components that are
not necessary or desirable from a sensory standpoint.
[0018] When the process of the invention is applied to a fire-cured
tobacco material, an extract can be formed in certain embodiments
that is characterized by the desirable sensory attributes (e.g.,
smoky aroma and flavor) associated with fire-cured tobacco, but
with an altered chemistry profile that includes reduction in
certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons typically found in
fire-cured tobacco, such as benzo[a]pyrene (i.e., BaP). The
structure of BaP is given below.
##STR00001##
[0019] Discussion of BaP and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
can be found in Gelboin, Physiological Reviews 60(4) (1980)
1107-1166; Phillips, Mutation Research 443 (1999) 139-147; Rodgman
and Perfetti, Contributions to Tobacco Research 22(1) (2006) 13-69;
Rodgman and Cook, Contributions to Tobacco Research 23(6) (2009)
384-410; and A. Rodgman and T. A. Perfetti, The Chemical Components
of Tobacco and Tobacco Smoke, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group,
Boca Raton, USA, (2009), all of which are incorporated by reference
herein.
[0020] Fire-cured tobacco extracts containing reduced levels of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons enable the production of smoking
articles and smokeless tobacco compositions that exhibit the
desirable sensory characteristics of fire-cured tobacco, but with
reduced content of compounds not associated with the desirable
sensory properties, such as BaP. It is noted that sensory
characteristics of a composition can be evaluated using human
sensory panels as is understood in the art.
[0021] Although the BaP content can vary based on the particular
tobacco plant and specific fire-curing process employed, a typical
BaP range for a fire-cured tobacco is about 150 to about 800 parts
by billion (ppb). In certain embodiments of the invention,
fire-cured tobacco extracts can be formed with significantly lower
BaP levels, such as less than about 10 ppb, less than about 5 ppb,
or even less than about 1 ppb. In other terms, the amount of BaP
reduction that occurs during the extraction process of the
invention can be characterized as a reduction of at least about 90
percent by weight of the content of BaP in the original unextracted
tobacco material, more often at least about 95 percent or at least
about 99 percent. It was heretofore unknown that a fire-cured
tobacco extract could be formed that retains the distinctive
sensory elements of such tobaccos, but which exhibits a reduced
content of certain less desirable chemical compounds such as BaP.
In one embodiment of the method of the invention, the cured tobacco
material (e.g., fire-cured tobacco) subjected to the extraction
process has a BaP concentration of at least about 100 ppb, more
often at least about 150 ppb, or even at least about 200 ppb or at
least about 300 ppb. Following the extraction process, the
separated extract exhibits a much lower BaP concentration, such as
a concentration of no more than about 10 ppb, or no more than about
5 ppb, or no more than about 1 ppb.
[0022] Various methods for determining BaP content are known in the
art. Typically, the method involves extracting BaP from a tobacco
material with methanol or a relatively non-polar solvent such as
hexane, cyclohexane or methylene chloride. The extract is then
filtered and analyzed using a High Performance Liquid
Chromatography (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection or a Gas
Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. Publications
directed to extraction and detection of BaP in tobacco or tobacco
products include Rodgman and Perfetti, Contributions to Tobacco
Research 22(1) (2006) 13-69; Risner, Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 15(1)
(1991) 11-17; "Determination of Benzo[a]Pyrene in Whole Tobacco,"
Health Canada (1999)(published on the Health Canada website,
www.hc-sc.gc.ca), Aygun et al., International Journal of Food
Sciences and Nutrition 56(8) (2005) 581-585; and McNeill et al.,
Tob. Control 15 (2006) 64-67, all of which are incorporated by
reference herein.
[0023] The fire-cured tobacco used in the process of the invention
can include those tobacco materials commonly utilized in fire
curing, such as Narrow Leaf Madole, Improved Madole, Tom Rosson
Madole, Newton's VH Madole, Little Crittenden, Green Wood, Little
Wood, Small Stalk Black Mammoth, DT 508, DT 518, DT 592, KY 171, DF
911, DF 485, TN D94, TN D950, VA 309, and VA 359. However, any
tobacco material could be used without departing from the
invention, including those tobaccos commonly referred to as
flue-cured or Virginia (e.g., K326), burley, sun-cured (e.g.,
Indian Kurnool and Oriental tobaccos, including Katerini, Prelip,
Komotini, Xanthi and Yambol tobaccos), Maryland, dark, dark air
cured (e.g., Passanda, Cubano, Jatin and Bezuki tobaccos), light
air cured (e.g., North Wisconsin and Galpao tobaccos), Indian air
cured, Red Russian and Rustica tobaccos, as well as various other
rare or specialty tobaccos. Descriptions of various types of
tobaccos, growing practices and harvesting practices are set forth
in Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology, Davis et al.
(Eds.) (1999), which is incorporated herein by reference. Various
representative types of plants from the Nicotiana species are set
forth in Goodspeed, The Genus Nicotiana, (Chonica Botanica) (1954);
U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,577 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,387,416 to White et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,066 to Lawson et
al.; US Patent Appl. Pub. Nos. 2006/0037623 to Lawrence, Jr. and
2008/0245377 to Marshall et al.; each of which is incorporated
herein by reference. In one embodiment, tobacco varieties that are
typically cured through curing processes other than fire curing,
such as flue-curing or air-curing, are utilized in the extraction
process of the invention. If desired, such tobacco materials can be
optionally cured using a fire curing treatment instead of the
traditional curing process used for such materials.
[0024] The particular Nicotiana species of material used in the
invention could also vary. Of particular interest are N. alata, N.
arentsii, N. excelsior, N. forgetiana, N. glauca, N. glutinosa, N.
gossei, N. kawakamii, N. knightiana, N. langsdorffi, N. otophora,
N. setchelli, N. sylvestris, N. tomentosa, N. tomentosiformis, N.
undulata, and N..times.sanderae. Also of interest are N. africana,
N. amplexicaulis, N. benavidesii, N. bonariensis, N. debneyi, N.
longiflora, N. maritina, N. megalosiphon, N. occidentalis, N.
paniculata, N. plumbaginifolia, N. raimondii, N. rosulata, N.
rustica, N. simulans, N. stocktonii, N. suaveolens, N. tabacum, N.
umbratica, N. velutina, and N. wigandioides. Other plants from the
Nicotiana species include N. acaulis, N. acuminata, N. attenuata,
N. benthamiana, N. cavicola, N. clevelandii, N. cordifolia, N.
corymbosa, N. fragrans, N. goodspeedii, N. linearis, N. miersii, N.
nudicaulis, N. obtusifolia, N. occidentalis subsp. Hersperis, N.
pauciflora, N. petunioides, N. quadrivalvis, N. repanda, N.
rotundifolia, N. solanifolia and N. spegazzinii. The Nicotiana
species can be derived using genetic-modification or crossbreeding
techniques (e.g., tobacco plants can be genetically engineered or
crossbred to increase or decrease production of certain components
or to otherwise change certain characteristics or attributes). See,
for example, the types of genetic modifications of plants set forth
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,093 to Fitzmaurice et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,668,295 to Wahab et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,624 to Fitzmaurice
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,119 to Weigl; U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,832
to Dominguez et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,173,170 to Liu et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 7,208,659 to Colliver et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,160
to Benning et al.; US Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2006/0236434 to
Conkling et al.; and PCT WO 2008/103935 to Nielsen et al.
[0025] At least a portion of the plant of the Nicotiana species can
be employed in an immature form or in a mature form. The tobacco
material used in the invention can also be subjected to aging
conditions.
[0026] According to the invention, a tobacco material of any of the
types noted above is harvested and subjected to a curing process,
such as a fire curing process. The resulting cured tobacco is then
subjected to an extraction process using certain polar protic
solvents, such as water, formic acid, acetic acid, dilute aqueous
solutions (e.g., solutions comprising greater than 70 weight
percent water and minor amounts of an alcohol or other co-solvent),
or mixtures thereof. The solvent typically has a dielectric
constant at room temperature of at least about 6, more often at
least about 30, and most often at least about 50.
[0027] Solvents having an aqueous character are particularly
useful, such as deionized water, distilled water, or tap water.
Such a solvent consists primarily of water, is normally greater
than 90 weight percent water, and can be essentially pure water in
certain circumstances. The extraction solvent can be a co-solvent
mixture, such as a mixture of water and minor amounts of one or
more solvents that are miscible therewith. An example of such a
co-solvent mixture is a solvent consisting of about 95 weight parts
water and about 5 weight parts ethanol. The extraction solvent also
can include water having substances such as pH adjusters (i.e.,
acids or bases) or pH buffers dissolved therein.
[0028] The extraction process involves placing the tobacco material
in intimate contact with the solvent at a suitable temperature and
for a suitable time period. The temperature of the extraction can
vary, but a typical temperature range is about room temperature to
about 110.degree. C., more often about 30.degree. C. to about
90.degree. C. In certain embodiments, the temperature of the
extraction step can be characterized as at least about 20.degree.
C., at least about 30.degree. C., at least about 50.degree. C., or
at least about 60.degree. C. It may be advisable to use a
relatively low temperature for the extraction process to prevent or
reduce volatilization of the flavorful or aromatic compounds that
are the primary targets of the extraction process.
[0029] The time period for the extraction step can vary, but is
typically about 10 minutes to about 24 hours, more often about 1
hour to about 12 hours. The time period is not considered
particularly critical to the invention, although very short
extraction time periods may not result in extraction of a large
proportion of the extractable component of the tobacco
material.
[0030] The amount of solvent used in the extraction process can
vary, but will typically be sufficient to place the tobacco
material in the form of a slurry. In other words, the solvent is
typically the predominate component of the tobacco/solvent mixture
and is often present in great excess compared to the tobacco
component. Weight ratios of solvent to tobacco material will
typically range from about 2:1 to about 20:1 (e.g., about 4:1 to
about 12:1), although other ratios (particularly even larger
ratios) could be used without departing from the invention. In
certain embodiments, the use of smaller amounts of water or other
solvent could be advantageous because less drying would be required
if the extract must be concentrated prior to use. Excessive drying
of the extract could lead to loss of certain volatile flavorful or
aromatic components of the extract, which could potentially result
in loss of some of the distinctive sensory characteristics of the
extract. Accordingly, use of weight ratios of solvent to tobacco
material of less than about 5:1 or less than about 4:1 during
extraction could be a useful technique to reduce or eliminate the
need to dry or otherwise concentrate the resulting extract. In such
an embodiment, the extract would be expected to exhibit a
relatively high viscosity and can be applied to certain tobacco
products without further processing.
[0031] The manner by which the solvent and the tobacco material are
combined for extraction may vary. The solvent and tobacco material
can be contacted, combined, or mixed together in conical-type
blenders, mixing drums, ribbon blenders, or the like. The mixture
can be agitated or subjected to a grinding action during the
extraction step. Following extraction, the residual pulp is removed
from the liquid extraction product using any method known in the
art, such as filtration or centrifugation. The tobacco material is
typically in shredded or particulate form during extraction, such
as tobacco particles having a particle size in the range of about
0.5 mm to about 25 mm. The vessel in which the tobacco material and
the solvent are mixed is typically vented such that the extraction
proceeds at atmospheric pressure, or if desired, a pressurized
vessel can be used. Following the extraction process, a tobacco
extract is provided by separating the solvent-insoluble pulp
material from the solvent and the solvent-soluble or dispersible
tobacco components dissolved or dispersed therein.
[0032] Equipment, types of solvents, and techniques for obtaining
extracts of tobacco, including in some cases equipment, solvents,
and techniques that can be used or suitably modified for use in the
method of the invention, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,895
to Fiore; U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,677 to Osborne, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,267,847 to Reid; U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,147 to Wildman et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,346 to Brummer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,059
to Brummer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,682 to Muller; U.S. Pat. No.
4,589,428 to Keritsis; U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,016 to Soga et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,716,911 to Poulose et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,889 to
Niven, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,618 to Bernasek et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,941,484 to Clapp et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,771 to Fagg
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,286 to Roberts et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,005,593 to Fagg et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,540 to Grubbs et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,669 to White et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,775 to
Fagg; U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,319 to White et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,099,862 to White et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,757 to White et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,414 to Fagg; U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,415 to Munoz
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,819 to Fagg; U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,494 to
Kramer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,354 to Smith et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,234,008 to Fagg; U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,999 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No.
5,301,694 to Raymond et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,050 to
Gonzalez-Parra et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,879 to Teague; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,360,022 to Newton; U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,325 to Clapp et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,169 to Brinkley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,584
to Lauterbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,859 to Kierulff et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,772,767 to Mua et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,337,782 to
Thompson, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
[0033] Following separation of the extract from the pulp, both the
extract and the residual pulp can be further processed if desired.
For example, the extract can be processed in a manner adapted to
concentrate the dissolved or dispersed components of the tobacco
material by removing at least a portion of the solvent. Various
methods of solvent removal can be used, such as heat treatment to
evaporate the solvent (e.g., with an evaporator and condenser
arrangement), reverse osmosis membrane treatment, spray drying or
freeze drying. In the case of an aqueous extract, the concentration
step could simply entail heating the extract to a temperature above
the boiling point of water in a vented vessel. The extract could
also be subjected to other treatment processes designed to change
the chemical composition of the extract, such as reaction with
acids or bases, ultrafiltration to remove high molecular weight
components, treatment to remove additional components of the
extract such as tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), or the
like.
[0034] In one specific embodiment, the essentially BaP-free extract
is processed to reduce the concentration of TSNAs in the extract.
Exemplary TSNA compounds include N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN),
4-methyl-N-nitrosamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK),
N-nitrosoanatabine (NAT),
4-methyl-N-nitrosamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), and
N-nitrosoanabasine (NAB). The method for reducing the TSNA level
can vary. In one method, a preparative HPLC technique is used where
the extract is passed through a HPLC column and the portion of the
extract eluting from the column at the known retention time for
TSNA compounds is simply discarded. In another method, the extract
is passed through a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) material
having functional groups that selectively sorb TSNA compounds.
Exemplary TSNA-specific MIP materials include polymer sorbents
offered by Sigma-Aldrich Company under the brand name SupelMIP.RTM.
SPE and Affinilute.TM. MIP materials available from Biotage AB. The
polymeric sorbent can be contacted with the extract to selectively
sorb the TSNA compounds using a variety of techniques such as
packing a column with the sorbent and passing the extract
therethrough. In certain embodiments, the TSNA level of the extract
can be reduced from greater than 1,000 ppb or even greater than
2,000 ppb to less than about 400 ppb or less than about 300 ppb or
less than about 200 ppb. In some cases, the TSNA level can be
reduced to less than about 100 ppb or less than about 50 ppb.
[0035] In one embodiment, the residual tobacco pulp produced in the
extraction process can be treated to reduce benzo[a]pyrene
concentration in order to prepare the pulp for recombination with
the extract to form a reconstituted tobacco material exhibiting a
reduced benzo[a]pyrene concentration. For example, the pulp could
be subjected to a second extraction process using supercritical
carbon dioxide or another suitable solvent (e.g., relatively
non-polar solvents such as hexane, cyclohexane or methylene
chloride) such that the benzo[a]pyrene dissolves in the solvent to
facilitate removal from the pulp. Carbon dioxide extraction
processes that could be used in the present invention, or suitably
modified for use in the present invention, are set forth in, for
example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,063 to Roselius et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,506,682 to Muller; U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,617 to Gahrs; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,727,889 to Niven, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,540 to
Grubbs et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,325 to Clapp et al., all of
which are incorporated by reference herein. Thereafter, a
reconstituted tobacco material can be formed by adding the extract
from the original extraction process back to the pre-treated pulp.
Exemplary manners and methods for providing a reconstituted tobacco
sheet, including casting and paper-making techniques, are set forth
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,519 to Keritsis et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,941,484 to Clapp et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,906 to Young et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,854 to Kiernan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,864
to Young et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,097 to Sohn et al.; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,159,942 to Brinkley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,076 to
Brinkley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,838 to Young et al.; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,377,698 to Litzinger et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,237 to
Young; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,707 to Kumar; each of which is
incorporated herein by reference. See also the tobacco extraction
and reconstituted tobacco processes set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
5,065,775 to Fagg and U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,022 to Newton et al.,
which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0036] The tobacco material that is subjected to the extraction
process can also be subjected to pre-treatment processes adapted to
modify the sensory, chemical or physical properties of the
material. For example, it may be desirable to pre-treat the tobacco
material to remove components of the tobacco that may generate
negative sensory off-notes so that those components are not
extracted in the process of the invention. Exemplary pre-treatment
processes for the tobacco material include fermentation, bleaching,
and the like.
[0037] In some embodiments of the invention, it is advantageous to
pre-treat a fire-cured tobacco to change the sensory
characteristics in a manner that can be characterized as generating
a milder flavor or aroma. One exemplary process that can generate a
milder flavor or aroma in certain tobacco materials, such as a
fire-cured tobacco, is fermentation. During fermentation, bacteria
interact with the tobacco material in a moist,
temperature-controlled and pH-controlled environment to alter the
chemical profile of the tobacco material. Commercially available
fermented tobacco materials could be used in the extraction process
of the invention, such as moist snuff tobacco compositions marketed
as GRIZZLY or KODIAK smokeless tobacco. Tobacco fermentation
processes are described, for example, in Giacomo et al., Appl.
Environ. Microbiol. 73(3) (2007) 825-837; U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,149
to Roth et al.; and in Tobacco Production, Chemistry and
Technology, Davis et al. (Eds.) (1999), all of which are
incorporated by reference herein.
[0038] The tobacco extract can be utilized as a flavorful tobacco
composition that can be incorporated into a variety of tobacco
products. In particular, fire-cured tobacco extracts of the
invention can impart the distinctive sensory characteristics of
fire-cured tobacco to various tobacco products without introducing
significant amounts of certain chemical compounds associated with
unextracted or whole fire-cured tobaccos, such as BaP. The tobacco
extract (e.g., the aqueous tobacco extract) can be employed in a
variety of forms. For example, the tobacco extract can be isolated
in an essentially solvent free form, such as can be obtained as a
result of the use of a spray drying or freeze drying process, or
other similar types of processing steps. Alternatively, the aqueous
tobacco extract can be employed in a liquid form, and as such, the
content of tobacco solubles within the liquid solvent can be
controlled by selection of the amount of solvent employed for
extraction, concentration of the liquid tobacco extract by removal
of solvent, addition of solvent to dilute the liquid tobacco
extract, or the like.
[0039] The tobacco product to which the extracts of the invention
are added can vary, and include any product configured or adapted
to deliver tobacco or some component thereof to the user of the
product. Exemplary tobacco products include smoking articles (e.g.,
cigarettes), smokeless tobacco products, and aerosol-generating
devices that contain a tobacco material or other plant material
that is not combusted during use.
[0040] Typically, the incorporation of the extract of the invention
into a tobacco product will involve use of a tobacco material or
non-tobacco plant material as a carrier for the extract, such as by
absorbing the extract into the tobacco or other plant material or
otherwise associating the extract with the carrier material, such
as by adhesion of spray-dried particles of the extract on the
carrier material. The types of tobacco that can serves as the
carrier for the extracts of the invention can vary, and can include
any of the tobacco types discussed herein, including various cured
tobacco materials (e.g., flue-cured or air-cured tobaccos) or
portions thereof (e.g., tobacco lamina or tobacco stems). In one
embodiment, the tobacco to which the extract is applied is a
fermented tobacco material, and the extract is applied either
before, during, or after the fermentation process. The tobacco
material to which the extract is applied will typically be
characterized as having a relatively low BaP level, such as many
air-cured or flue-cured tobacco materials or tobacco materials
pre-treated to reduce BaP level. The physical configuration of the
tobacco material to which the extract is added can also vary, and
can include tobacco materials in shredded or particulate form, or
in the form of a sheet (e.g., reconstituted tobacco sheets) or in
whole leaf form. The dry weight ratio of tobacco material to
extract of the invention can vary, but is typically about 4:1 to
about 1:4, about 2:1 to about 1:2, and often about 1.5:1 to about
1:1.5.
[0041] In one embodiment, the extract of the invention is used as a
flavorful tobacco composition in the manufacture of smoking
articles. For example, the extract prepared in accordance with the
present invention can be mixed with casing materials and applied to
tobacco as a casing ingredient (e.g., using the types of methods
set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,668 to Shelar, which is
incorporated herein by reference), incorporated into smoking
articles as a top dressing ingredient, or incorporated into
reconstituted tobacco materials (e.g., using the types of tobacco
reconstitution processes generally set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
5,143,097 to Sohn; U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,942 to Brinkley et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,598,868 to Jakob; U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,844 to Young; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,724,998 to Gellatly; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,706 to
Kumar, which are incorporated herein by reference). Still further,
the extracts of the invention can be incorporated into a cigarette
filter (e.g., in the filter plug, plug wrap, or tipping paper) or
incorporated into cigarette wrapping paper, preferably on the
inside surface, during the cigarette manufacturing process.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a smoking article 10 in
the form of a cigarette and possessing certain representative
components of a smoking article that can contain the extract of the
present invention. The cigarette 10 includes a generally
cylindrical rod 12 of a charge or roll of smokable filler material
(e.g., about 0.3 to about 1.0 g of smokable filler material such as
tobacco material) contained in a circumscribing wrapping material
16. The rod 12 is conventionally referred to as a "tobacco rod."
The ends of the tobacco rod 12 are open to expose the smokable
filler material. The cigarette 10 is shown as having one optional
band 22 (e.g., a printed coating including a film-forming agent,
such as starch, ethylcellulose, or sodium alginate) applied to the
wrapping material 16, and that band circumscribes the cigarette rod
in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the
cigarette. The band 22 can be printed on the inner surface of the
wrapping material (i.e., facing the smokable filler material), or
less preferably, on the outer surface of the wrapping material.
[0043] At one end of the tobacco rod 12 is the lighting end 18, and
at the mouth end 20 is positioned a filter element 26. The filter
element 26 positioned adjacent one end of the tobacco rod 12 such
that the filter element and tobacco rod are axially aligned in an
end-to-end relationship, preferably abutting one another. Filter
element 26 may have a generally cylindrical shape, and the diameter
thereof may be essentially equal to the diameter of the tobacco
rod. The ends of the filter element 26 permit the passage of air
and smoke therethrough.
[0044] A ventilated or air diluted smoking article can be provided
with an optional air dilution means, such as a series of
perforations 30, each of which extend through the tipping material
and plug wrap. The optional perforations 30 can be made by various
techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as
laser perforation techniques. Alternatively, so-called off-line air
dilution techniques can be used (e.g., through the use of porous
paper plug wrap and pre-perforated tipping paper).
[0045] The extracts of the invention can also be incorporated into
aerosol-generating devices that contain tobacco material (or some
portion or component thereof) that is not intended to be combusted
during use. Exemplary references that describe smoking articles of
a type that generate flavored vapor, visible aerosol, or a mixture
of flavored vapor and visible aerosol, include U.S. Pat. No.
3,258,015 to Ellis et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,356,094 to Ellis et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,417 to Moses; U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,855 to
Lanzellotti et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,072 to Bolt et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,391,285 to Burnett et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,121 to
Riehl et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,886 to Litzinger; and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,060,676 to Hearn et al., all of which are incorporated by
reference herein. Many of these types of smoking articles employ a
combustible fuel source that is burned to provide an aerosol and/or
to heat an aerosol-forming material. See, for example, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,756,318 to Clearman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,082 to
Banerjee et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,795 to White et al.; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,793,365 to Sensabaugh et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,128 to
Clearman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,438 to Korte; U.S. Pat. No.
4,966,171 to Serrano et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,476 to Bale et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,606 to Serrano et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,020,548 to Farrier et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,483 to Clearman et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,551 to Schlatter et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,050,621 to Creighton et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,776 to Lawson;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,296 to Nystrom et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,297
to Farrier et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,861 to Clearman et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,105,835 to Drewett et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,837 to
Barnes et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,820 to Hauser et al.; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,148,821 to Best et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,940 to Hayward et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,167 to Riggs et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,183,062 to Clearman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,684 to Shannon et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,014 to Deevi et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,240,016 to Nichols et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,955 to Clearman et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,451 to Riggs et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,595,577 to Bensalem et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,751 to Barnes et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,857 to Matsuura et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
6,095,152 to Beven et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,584 to Beven; and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,832 to Dominguez; which are incorporated herein
by reference. Furthermore, certain types of cigarettes that employ
carbonaceous fuel elements have been commercially marketed under
the brand names "Premier" and "Eclipse" by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company. See, for example, those types of cigarettes described in
Chemical and Biological Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that
Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Monograph (1988) and Inhalation Toxicology, 12:5, p. 1-58 (2000).
Addition types of aerosol-generating devices are described in U.S.
Pat. No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al. and US Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos.
2006/0196518 and 2007/0267031, both to Hon, all of which are
incorporated by reference herein.
[0046] The extracts of the invention can be incorporated into
smokeless tobacco products, such as loose moist snuff (e.g., snus),
loose dry snuff, chewing tobacco, pelletized tobacco pieces (e.g.,
having the shapes of pills, tablets, spheres, coins, beads, obloids
or beans), extruded or formed tobacco strips, pieces, rods,
cylinders or sticks, finely divided ground powders, finely divided
or milled agglomerates of powdered pieces and components,
flake-like pieces, molded processed tobacco pieces, pieces of
tobacco-containing gum, rolls of tape-like films, readily
water-dissolvable or water-dispersible films or strips (e.g., US
Pat. App. Pub. No. 2006/0198873 to Chan et al.), or capsule-like
materials possessing an outer shell (e.g., a pliable or hard outer
shell that can be clear, colorless, translucent or highly colored
in nature) and an inner region possessing tobacco or tobacco flavor
(e.g., a Newtonian fluid or a thixotropic fluid incorporating
tobacco of some form). Various types of smokeless tobacco products
are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 1,376,586 to Schwartz; U.S. Pat. No.
3,696,917 to Levi; U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,756 to Pittman et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,528,993 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,624,269 to Story et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,907 to Townsend;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,352 to Sprinkle, I I I et al.; and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,387,416 to White et al.; US Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2005/0244521
to Strickland et al. and 2008/0196730 to Engstrom et al.; PCT WO
04/095959 to Arnarp et al.; PCT WO 05/063060 to Atchley et al.; PCT
WO 05/016036 to Bjorkholm; and PCT WO 05/041699 to Quinter et al.,
each of which is incorporated herein by reference. See also, the
types of smokeless tobacco formulations, ingredients, and
processing methodologies set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,040 to
Atchley et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,601 to Atchley et al.; US
Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. 2002/0162562 to Williams; 2002/0162563 to
Williams; 2003/0070687 to Atchley et al.; 2004/0020503 to Williams,
2005/0178398 to Breslin et al.; 2006/0191548 to Strickland et al.;
2007/0062549 to Holton, Jr. et al.; 2007/0186941 to Holton, Jr. et
al.; 2007/0186942 to Strickland et al.; 2008/0029110 to Dube et
al.; 2008/0029116 to Robinson et al.; 2008/0029117 to Mua et al.;
2008/0173317 to Robinson et al.; 2008/0209586 to Neilsen et al.;
2010/0018541 to Gerardi et al.; 2010/0018540 to Doolittle et al.;
and 2010/0116281 to Marshall et al., each of which is incorporated
herein by reference.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 2, a representative snus type of tobacco
product comprising the extract of the present invention is shown.
In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates a smokeless tobacco product 40
having a water-permeable outer pouch 42 containing a smokeless
tobacco composition 44, wherein the tobacco composition includes a
shredded or particulate tobacco material serving as a carrier for
the extract of the invention.
[0048] Many exemplary smokeless tobacco compositions that can
benefit from use of the extract of the invention comprise shredded
or particulate tobacco material that can serve as a carrier for the
flavorful extract of the invention. The smokeless tobacco
compositions of the invention can also include a water-soluble
polymeric binder material and optionally other ingredients that
provide a dissolvable composition that will slowly disintegrate in
the oral cavity during use. In certain embodiments, the smokeless
tobacco composition can include lipid components that provide a
meltable composition that melts (as opposed to merely dissolving)
in the oral cavity, such as compositions set forth in U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/854,342 to Cantrell et al., filed Aug. 11,
2010, and which is incorporated by reference herein.
[0049] In one particular smokeless tobacco product embodiment, the
extract of the invention is added to a non-tobacco plant material,
such as a plant material selected from potato, beet (e.g., sugar
beet), grain, pea, apple, and the like. The non-tobacco plant
material can be used in a processed form. In certain preferred
embodiments, the non-tobacco plant material can be used in an
extracted form, and as such, at least a portion of certain solvent
soluble components are removed from that material. The non-tobacco
extracted plant material is typically highly extracted, meaning a
substantial amount of the aqueous soluble portion of the plant
material has been removed. For example, a water-extracted pulp can
be obtained by extracting significant amounts of water soluble
components from the plant material. For example, certain
water-extracted plant materials can comprise less than about 20
weight percent, and often less than about 10 weight percent water
soluble components; and depending upon processing conditions,
certain water-extracted plant materials can be virtually free of
water soluble components (e.g., less than about 1 weight percent
water soluble components). One preferred water-extracted plant
material is water extracted sugar beet pulp (e.g., water extracted
sugar beet leaf pulp). The extracted non-tobacco plant material is
typically used in a form that can be described as shredded, ground,
granulated, fine particulate, or powder form. The dry weight ratio
of non-tobacco plant material to tobacco extract of the invention
is typically about 4:1 to about 1:4, about 2:1 to about 1:2, and
often about 1.5:1 to about 1:1.5. Smokeless tobacco products of
this type are set forth in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/756,656 to
Beeson et al, filed Apr. 8, 2010, which is incorporated by
reference herein.
[0050] Further additives can be admixed with, or otherwise
incorporated within, the smokeless tobacco compositions according
to the invention. The additives can be artificial, or can be
obtained or derived from herbal or biological sources. Exemplary
types of additives include salts (e.g., sodium chloride, potassium
chloride, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, sodium acetate,
potassium acetate, and the like), natural sweeteners (e.g.,
fructose, sucrose, glucose, maltose, vanillin, ethylvanillin
glucoside, mannose, galactose, lactose, and the like), artificial
sweeteners (e.g., sucralose, saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame K,
neotame and the like), organic and inorganic fillers (e.g., grains,
processed grains, puffed grains, maltodextrin, dextrose, calcium
carbonate, calcium phosphate, corn starch, lactose, manitol,
xylitol, sorbitol, finely divided cellulose, and the like), binders
(e.g., povidone, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and other modified
cellulosic types of binders, sodium alginate, xanthan gum,
starch-based binders, gum arabic, lecithin, and the like), pH
adjusters or buffering agents (e.g., metal hydroxides, preferably
alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium
hydroxide, and other alkali metal buffers such as metal carbonates,
preferably potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate, or metal
bicarbonates such as sodium bicarbonate, and the like), colorants
(e.g., dyes and pigments, including caramel coloring and titanium
dioxide, and the like), humectants (e.g., glycerin, propylene
glycol, and the like), oral care additives (e.g., thyme oil,
eucalyptus oil, and zinc), preservatives (e.g., potassium sorbate,
and the like), syrups (e.g., honey, high fructose corn syrup, and
the like), disintegration aids (e.g., microcrystalline cellulose,
croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, sodium starch glycolate,
pregelatinized corn starch, and the like), flavorant and flavoring
mixtures, antioxidants, and mixtures thereof. If desired, the
additive can be microencapsulated as set forth in US Patent Appl.
Pub. No. 2008/0029110 to Dube et al., which is incorporated by
reference herein.
[0051] The amount of tobacco extract that is added to a tobacco
composition or tobacco product can vary, and will depend in part on
the desired function of the extract, the chemical makeup of the
extract, and the type of tobacco composition or product to which
the extract is added. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the amount
added to a tobacco product will typically not exceed about 25
weight percent based on the total dry weight of the tobacco
composition to which the extract is added. When the extract is
employed within a smoking article, the amount of extract will
typically be at least about 5 ppm, generally at least about 10 ppm,
and often at least about 100 ppm, based on the total dry weight of
the tobacco material within the smoking article; but will typically
be less than about 5 percent, generally less than about 2 percent,
and often less than about 1 percent, based on the total dry weight
of the tobacco material within the smoking article. When the
extract is employed within a smokeless tobacco product, the amount
of extract will typically be at least about 5 ppm, generally at
least about 10 ppm, and often at least about 100 ppm, based on the
total dry weight of the tobacco material within the smokeless
tobacco product; but will typically be less than about 10 percent,
generally less than about 5 percent, and often less than about 1
percent, based on the total dry weight of the tobacco material
within the smokeless tobacco product.
EXPERIMENTAL
[0052] Aspects of the present invention are more fully illustrated
by the following examples, which are set forth to illustrate
certain aspects of the present invention and are not to be
construed as limiting thereof. Unless otherwise noted, all parts
and percentages are by weight.
Example 1
[0053] A fire-cured tobacco is extracted using water. A typical
extraction process combines milled tobacco (e.g., 100% pass 0.250
inch screen) with water at a ratio of 8 parts water to 1 part
tobacco at a temperature of about 72.degree. C. The mixture is
agitated for one hour and the suspended solids removed by
filtration using a 5 micron filter bag. The resulting tobacco
extract retains the aroma and sensory characteristics of the
fire-cured tobacco. The original fire-cured tobacco has a BaP level
prior to extraction of about 150 to 800 parts per billion and the
separated liquid extract has a BaP level of less than about 1 part
per billion.
Example 2
[0054] An air-cured tobacco is subjected to the same extraction
process as set forth in Example 1. The original air-cured tobacco
has a BaP level prior to extraction of about 10-150 parts per
billion and the separated liquid extract has a BaP level of less
than about 1 part per billion.
[0055] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention
will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention
pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the
foregoing description. Therefore, it is to be understood that the
invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments
disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended
to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although
specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
* * * * *
References