Process for providing a tobacco extract

• US 5,445,169 A
• Filed: 08/17/1992
• Issued: 08/29/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Original Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Inventors: Flinchum, Jack G. Jr., Thomasson, James S., Brinkley, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dees, Jose' G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARTS, SAMUEL A
• Application Number:
  US07/931,072
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 131/297, 131/298
• US Class Current: 131/297
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/24 by extraction; Tobacco extracts

Abstract

Tobacco extracts are provided within a polyhydric alcohol carrier. Tobacco strip is extracted with ammonia and steam to provide a mixture of water, tobacco extract and ammonia. The mixture is contacted with a polyhydric alcohol to provide a resulting mixture. The water then is evaporated from the resulting mixture to provide a mixture of 30 weight parts tobacco extract, 65 weight parts polyhydric alcohol and 5 weight parts water.

Claims

1. A process for providing a tobacco extract comprising

(a) providing a tobacco extract by contacting a tobacco material with a basic material comprising ammonia in the presence of an aqueous solvent;

and separating aqueous solvent, basic material and tobacco extract from extracted tobacco material;

(b) contacting the aqueous solvent, basic material and tobacco extract with a liquid having a boiling point significantly greater than water to provide a mixture;

(c) subjecting the mixture to conditions sufficient to remove a significant amount of the aqueous solvent therefrom; and

(d) collecting a mixture including tobacco extract and liquid having a boiling point significantly greater than water, such mixture consisting primarily of the liquid having a boiling point significantly greater than water.

2. The process of claim 1 whereby the liquid having a boiling point significantly greater than water is a visible aerosol forming material.

3. The process of claim 1 whereby the liquid having a boiling point significantly greater than water is a polyhydric alcohol.

4. The process of claim 1 whereby the aqueous solvent is employed in step (a) in the form of steam.

5. The process of claim 1 whereby the mixture collected in step (d) includes about 60 to about 80 weight percent solvent having a boiling point significantly greater than water, about 20 to about 30 weight percent tobacco extract, and about 2 to about 8 weight water.