Solvent extraction process

• US 4,144,895 A
• Filed: 03/06/1975
• Issued: 03/20/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AMFM Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AMFM Incorporated
• Inventors: Fiore, Joseph V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Application Number:
  US05/556,080
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 131/142, 131/143, 131/2, 131/17, 260/291, 426/429, 426/430
• US Class Current: 131/298
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/24 by extraction; Tobacco extracts
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/26 Use of organic solvents for extraction

Abstract

Processes for the selective removal of lipid constituents from elements of the tobacco plant comprising treating said elements in a solvolysis system consisting essentially of a mixture constituted by a major proportion of a hydrocarbon fat solvent and a minor proportion of a lower alkanol, whereby residual lipid level as determined by Soxhlet extraction is substantially reduced; and smoking compositions incorporating the processed tobacco material.

Claims

1. A process of treating tobacco to remove lipid therefrom comprising the step of contacting said tobacco with an azeotrope of a hydrocarbon fat solvent and a lower alkanol.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon fat solvent is hexane.

3. A process according to claim 2 wherein said alkanol is isopropanol.

4. A process according to claim 2 wherein said alkanol is ethanol.

5. A process according to claim 2 wherein said system contains up to 50 mol-% alkanol.

6. A process according to claim 5 wherein the ratio of hexane to alkanol is about 80:

20.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein said tobacco is in highly comminuted form.

8. A process for the selective removal of lipid constituents from elements of the tobacco plant comprising treating said elements in a solvent system consisting essentially of an azeotrope mixture constituted by a major proportion of a hydrocarbon fat solvent and a minor proportion of a lower alkanol, whereby residual lipid level as determined by Soxhlet extraction is substantially reduced.

9. A process of treating tobacco to remove lipid therefrom comprising the step of contacting said tobacco with a solvent system comprised of an azeotrope of a hydrocarbon fat solvent and a lower alkanol, said azeotrope being in the vapor phase.