Expanding tobacco
First Claim
1. A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of (1) contacting tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide under conditions such that the temperature of the tobacco is maintained at a level no lower than about -2°
- C. and such that substantially all of the liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form 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.
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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° 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. The resulting solid carbon dioxide-containing tobacco is then subjected to conditions of temperature and pressure, preferably by rapid heating at atmospheric pressure, such that the solid carbon dioxide is vaporized and the tobacco is thereby expanded. Apparatus for carrying out the above described process is also provided.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of (1) contacting tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide under conditions such that the temperature of the tobacco is maintained at a level no lower than about -2°
- C. and such that substantially all of the liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form 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.
- View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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2. A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of (1) contacting tobacco containing from about 8 to about 50% by weight of water with at least 1 part, by weight per part of tobacco, of liquid carbon dioxide under conditions such that the temperature of the tobacco during impregnation is maintained at a level no lower than about -2°
- C. and such that all of the liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form 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 to provide an impregnated tobacco, 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.
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3. A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of (1) contacting tobacco containing from about 8 to about 50% by weight of water with at least 1 part by weight, per part of tobacco, of liquid carbon dioxide, maintaining during said contact, a pressure of from about 583 to about 983 PSIG and a temperature of from about 5°
- to 24°
C. for a period of from about 0.5 to 10 minutes, such that substantially all of said liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form whereby said tobacco is impregnated with said 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 a pressure of from about 0 to about 10 PSIG and a temperature of from about 100°
to 360°
C. for a period of from about 0.2 to 10 seconds, whereby the solid carbon dioxide is vaporized to cause expansion of the tobacco. - View Dependent Claims (4)
- to 24°
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5. Apparatus for expanding tobacco which comprises a pressure vessel,
means for introducing and withdrawing tobacco from said pressure vessel, means for introducing liquid carbon dioxide into said pressure vessel to impregnate said tobacco therewith, means for withdrawing said liquid carbon dioxide from said pressure vessel, following impregnating of said tobacco, means for maintaining said carbon dioxide at predetermined temperature and pressure in said pressure vessel whereby it remains in liquid state, means for converting the liquid carbon dioxide impregnating said tobacco to solid carbon dioxide, and means for vaporizing the solid carbon dioxide impregnating said tobacco to effect expansion of said tobacco.
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16. The method of expanding tobacco which comprises the steps of (1) impregnating the tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide under conditions such that substantially all of the liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form 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.
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17. Apparatus for expanding tobacco which comprises a pressure vessel,
means for introducing and withdrawing tobacco from said pressure vessel; -
means for introducing liquid carbon dioxide into said pressure vessel to impregnate said tobacco therewith, means for withdrawing said liquid carbon dioxide from said pressure vessel, following impregnating of said tobacco, means for maintaining said carbon dioxide at predetermined temperature and at a pressure approximately between 230 and 915 p.s.i.a. in said pressure vessel whereby it remains in liquid state; means for converting the liquid carbon dioxide impregnating said tobacco to solid carbon dioxide, and means for vaporizing the solid carbon dioxide impregnating said tobacco to effect expansion of said tobacco. .Iadd.18. A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of; (a) contacting the tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide under conditions such that substantially all of the liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form and the tobacco is impregnated with liquid carbon dioxide; (b) subjecting the tobacco contacted with the liquid carbon dioxide to conditions such that a portion of the liquid carbon dioxide remaining in the tobacco is converted to a solid form; and (c) thereafter subjecting the tobacco to conditions such that the solid impregnant is converted to gaseous form and the tobacco is expanded.
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19. 230 and 915 p.s.ia. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the means for converting the liquid carbon dioxide to a solid form includes means to vent the interior of said vessel to atmosphere. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising means for purging the interior of said pressure vessel with a gaseous purging agent to remote undesirable gaseous residue therefrom. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the means for expanding the tobacco
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20. comprises means for heating the tobacco. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A process for expanding tobacco comprising:
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(a) impregnating the tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide; (b) subjecting the impregnated tobacco to conditions such that a portion of the liquid carbon dioxide is converted to a solid form; and (c) thereafter subjecting the tobacco to conditions such that the tobacco is expanded. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of; (a) contacting the tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide under conditions such that substantially all of the liquid carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form and the tobacco is impregnated with liquid carbon dioxide; (b) subjecting the tobacco contacted with liquid carbon dioxide to conditions such that a portion of the liquid carbon dioxide in the tobacco is converted to a solid form; and (c) thereafter subjecting the tobacco to conditions such that the tobacco is expanded..Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The process of claim 27 or 28 wherein the step of contacting the tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide is conducted at a pressure approximately between 230 and 915 p.s.i.a..Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The process of claim 27 or 28 wherein the third step comprises heating the tobacco..Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The process of claim 30 wherein the tobacco is heated at a temperature of from about 100°
C. to 360°
C. for a period of from about 0.2 to 10 seconds..Iaddend. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification