Patent · US Expired

Process for adjusting the moisture content of organic materials

US5526581A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
15References
53Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 1992
Grant dateJun 18, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA24B3/04
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A process for reordering tobacco or other suitable hygroscopic organic material, which results in no significant decrease in the equilibrium CV of the tobacco or other hygroscopic organic material, or significant degradation of the tobacco or other hygroscopic organic material, is provided. Material to be reordered is contacted with an air stream having a relative humidity near the equilibrium conditions of the material. As the OV content of the hygroscopic organic material increases, the relative humidity of the air stream contacting the hygroscopic organic material is increased to affect reordering of the material. Also provided is a process for drying tobacco or other suitable hygroscopic organic material, which results in no significant change in the equilibrium CV of the tobacco or other hygroscopic organic material or significant degradation of the tobacco or other suitable hygroscopic organic material. Material to be dried is contacted with an air stream having a relative humidity near or below the equilibrium conditions of the material. As the OV content of the hygroscopic organic material decreases, the relative humidity of the air stream contacting the hygroscopic organic…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.