Method and system for assay and removal of harmful toxins during processing of tobacco products

• US 6,786,221 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kerry Scott Lane
• Original Assignee: Kerry Scott Lane
• Inventors: Lane, Kerry Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): MAYES, DIONNE WALLS
• Application Number:
  US10/693,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20040134504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 168 Days
• Field of Search: 131/290, 131/298, 131/300, 131/297, 131/309, 131/310
• US Class Current: 131/309
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/18 Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/22 by application of electric or wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/24 by extraction; Tobacco extracts

Abstract

A process and system for continuous assay and removal of toxins from tobacco. Products such as tobacco contaminated with mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins, and benzpyrene and its precursors, are subjected to treatment, generally in a solvent medium, to decontaminate the tobacco of the toxin. Continuous monitoring of all harmful toxins eluted from the cleaning solvent is performed by immunoantibody ultraviolet fluorescence, for example. A quality-control process ensures removal of harmful toxins from tobacco before further processing. Decontamination of extracted solvent streams and re-additives ensures safe reuse or disposal of the solvents and re-additives.

Claims

1. A process of neutralizing aflatoxin during tobacco processing comprising:

(a) harvesting tobacco;

(b) contacting the harvested tobacco with a solvent; and

,

(c) treating said solvent with a process to remediate aflatoxin;

wherein said aflatoxin is removed from said solvent.

2. A process of neutraing aflatoxin during tobacco processing as defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

said harvested tobacco is further processed into an intermediate product selected from the group consisting of Tobacco leaves, Tobacco strips, shredded tobacco, diced tobacco, tobacco rag, tobacco plant extracts and tobacco nicotine extracts.

3. A process of neutralizing aflatoxin during tobacco processing as defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

said solvent is an aqueous solution or an organic solvent.

4. A process of neutralizing aflatoxin during tobacco processing as defined in claim 3 and further comprising:

said aqueous solution is selected from the group consisting of acids, bases, oils, detergents, fatty acids, esters and emulsifiers.

5. A process of neutralizing aflatoxin during tobacco processing as defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

said solvent is selected from the group consisting of ether, alcohol, chloroform, dichloromethane, ammonia, bleaches, hydrogen peroxide, polyethyleneglycol, amines, methylamines, hydroxides of salts, formalin and ozone.

6. A process of neutralizing aflatoxin during tobacco processing as defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

assaying at least one of said tobacco or said solvent for the presence of aflatoxin.