Process for treating tobacco
US6082369A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA24B3/182
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Tobacco is treated using the following series of steps: PA1 (1) subjecting in a chamber the tobacco to a reduced pressure of not greater than 70 mbar (7 kPa); PA1 (2) impregnating the cell structure of the tobacco with isopentane vapor at a temperature in the range of from 70.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. and maintaining the tobacco in contact with isopentane vapor at a pressure of at least 4 bar (400 kPa) for up to 30 minutes to cause impregnation of the tobacco; PA1 (3) removing excess isopentane vapor from the impregnated tobacco by evacuating the chamber, the pressure change being effected adiabatically; PA1 (4) contacting the impregnated tobacco with steam to expand the tobacco; and PA1 (5) subjecting the expanded tobacco to a reordering process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.