EP4287851A1

EP4287851A1 - Aerosol-generating material and uses thereof

Info

Publication number: EP4287851A1
Application number: EP22704563.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Bishop
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2021-02-05
Filing date: 2022-02-04
Publication date: 2023-12-13
Also published as: WO2022167809A1; US20240074487A1; JP7676562B2; JP2024504989A; GB202101606D0; BR112023015690A2; CN117295410A; KR20230140461A

Abstract

The invention relates to aerosol-generating material comprising tobacco granules comprising tobacco material, and an expansion agent, wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to cause movement of the tobacco granules within the aerosol-generating material and to expose further tobacco material. The invention also relates to tobacco granules comprising tobacco material and an expansion agent. Such aerosol-generating material and tobacco granules may be used in a non- combustible aerosol provision system.

Description

Aerosol-generating material and uses thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to aerosol-generating material comprising tobacco material and an expansion agent. The invention also relates to tobacco granules comprising tobacco material and an expansion agent. Such aerosol-generating material and tobacco granules maybe used in a non-combustible aerosol provision system.

Background Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles by creating products that release compounds without combusting. Examples of such products are so-called "heat not burn" products or tobacco heating devices or products, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, smokeable material.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provide an aerosol-generating material comprising tobacco granules comprising tobacco material, and an expansion agent, wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to cause movement of the tobacco granules within the aerosol-generating material and to expose further tobacco material.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the expansion agent, based upon the weight of the aerosol- generating material.

In some embodiments, the expansion agent is selected from the group consisting of: carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and croscarmellose sodium (CCS).

In some embodiments, at least some of the expansion agent is included within the tobacco granules.

In some embodiments, the expansion agent is distributed throughout the tobacco granules. In some embodiments, at least some of the expansion agent is present on the surface of the tobacco granules.

In some embodiments, the tobacco granules comprise a core of expansion agent surrounded by tobacco material.

In some embodiments, the tobacco granules are formed by extrusion.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises separate particles of expansion agent, located between tobacco granules.

In some embodiments, the tobacco material has a pH of at least about 7. In some embodiments, the tobacco has a pH of from about 8 to about 9.5, or from about 8.5 to about 9.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a tobacco granule comprising tobacco material and an expansion agent, wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to rupture and/or break open the tobacco granule. In some embodiments, the tobacco granule comprises from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the expansion agent, based upon the weight of the tobacco granule.

In some embodiments, the tobacco granule is formed by co-extrusion of the tobacco material and expansion agent.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a consumable comprising the aerosol-generating material according to the first aspect, or comprising one or more tobacco granules according to the second aspect. In some embodiments, the consumable comprises a first chamber containing the aerosol-generating material or one or more tobacco granules, and a second chamber containing an aerosolisable material.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising aerosol-generating material according to the first aspect, or comprising one or more tobacco granules according to the second aspect. In some embodiments, the aerosol provision system further comprises an aerosolisable material, wherein the system is configured to heat the aerosolisable material to form a vapour and/ or an aerosol, wherein the vapour/ aerosol contacts the aerosol-generating material or one or more tobacco granules to entrain one or more components thereof, and thus forming an inhalable medium.

In some embodiments, the vapour/ aerosol contains moisture which causes the expansion agent to expand.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provide use of an expansion agent in an aerosol-generating material comprising tobacco granules to cause movement of the tobacco granules within the aerosol-generating material and to expose further tobacco material upon exposure to moisture.

In some embodiments, the expansion agent is included in at least one tobacco granule and wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to rupture and/or break open the tobacco granule. In some embodiments, the expansion agent is exposed to moisture as a result of the aerosol-generating material being exposed to a moisture-containing vapour.

In some embodiments, the vapour is generated by a non-combustible aerosol provision system.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hybrid system for heating aerosol- generating material to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol-generating material; and

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a cartridge that may be used to hold the aerosol-generating material and/or tobacco granules according to embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description The invention relates to aerosol-generating material comprising tobacco material and an expansion agent. The expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to disrupt the aerosol-generating material, exposing more of the tobacco material to allow the release of more tobacco components upon heating. The expansion agent also traps the moisture when it expands, thereby reducing the wetting of the tobacco material.

The invention also relates to tobacco granules comprising tobacco material and an expansion agent. The expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to rupture and/ or break open the tobacco granule, exposing more of the tobacco material to allow release of more tobacco components upon heating. The expansion agent also traps the moisture, reducing the wetting of the tobacco granule.

Such aerosol-generating material and tobacco granules may be used in a noncombustible aerosol provision system, such as a hybrid device, in which an aerosolisable material such as an e-liquid is heated to generate a vapour and/ or aerosol which passes through or over the tobacco-containing aerosol-generating material or granules to pick up components including nicotine and (tobacco derived) flavours and aromas. It is known in the art that hybrid devices may contain tobacco which is used to provide the user with an aerosol with an authentic tobacco taste and texture. One issue encountered with such devices is that the nicotine delivery decreases with use of the aerosol-generating material, dropping off particularly towards the end of the life of the material. This is because the more volatile components, including nicotine and many flavours and aromas, are readily released from the surface of the tobacco material. A further issue is that the vapour or aerosol passing over or through the tobacco material brings with it moisture. As the tobacco becomes increasingly damp with that moisture, the release of nicotine is negatively impacted. The expansion agent

The present invention seeks to address these issues by including an expansion agent.

The expansion agent is a material that expands in volume when it comes in contact with water, moisture, or humidity. In some embodiments, the expansion agent is one or more of: carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), croscarmellose sodium (CCS), and other materials that expand upon contact with water known in the art. The expansion agent may be located anywhere within the aerosol-generating material.

In some embodiments, the expansion agent is dispersed within the tobacco material of the aerosol-generating material.

In some embodiments the aerosol-generating material comprises tobacco granules. In some embodiments, the expansion agent is located within the tobacco granules. For example, the tobacco granules may comprise a core of the expansion agent.

Alternatively, the expansion agent maybe distributed within the tobacco granules, such as evenly inside the tobacco granule. In other embodiments, the expansion agent is distributed on the outside of the tobacco granule, for example as a complete or an incomplete coating, or distributed evenly or unevenly.

In embodiments where the expansion agent is located inside the tobacco granules, the expansion agent expands upon contact with moisture and ruptures or breaks open the granules, exposing fresh surface area of the tobacco granule and allowing further nicotine and other tobacco component release. This has the advantage of increased consistency of nicotine delivery over the period of use of the granules. In other embodiments where the expansion agent is included alongside and separate from the tobacco material, the tobacco material optionally being in the form of tobacco granules. A mixture of the tobacco material and the expansion agent makes up the aerosol-generating material. The expansion agent expands as the aerosol-generating material is exposed to moisture. This expansion causes shifts within the aerosol- generating material, exposing fresh surface area of the tobacco material. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is thought that the expansion of the expansion agent upon contact with moisture causes movement of the tobacco material in the aerosolgenerating material, thereby exposing fresh surface area of the tobacco material, which in turn causes increased nicotine release. This also has the advantage of improving the consistency of nicotine release. An additional advantage, is an increase in the release of other flavourants that maybe included in the aerosol-generating material.

The aerosol-generating material will include enough expansion agent to provide enough expansion to expose more surface area of the tobacco material during use in an aerosol provision system. In some embodiments, the expansion agent is included in the aerosol-generating material in an amount of from about 5% to about 50% by weight, based upon the weight of the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the expansion agent is included in an amount of at least about 5%, 10%, 2%, 30%, or at least about 40% buy weight of the aerosol-generating material. At least some of the suitable expansion agents used herein are known to be useful as binders and may have been included in aerosol-generating materials for their binding properties. However, these agents have not previously been incorporated into aerosolgenerating materials in an amount or in a manner that enables them to expand sufficiently to disrupt the aerosol-generating material. They have also not previously been included in an amount sufficient or in such a manner that they are capable of absorbing enough moisture to improve the release characteristics of the aerosolgenerating material. How the expansion agent is included in the aerosol-generating material also impacts its effect. The tobacco material

In some embodiments, the tobacco may be formed into agglomerated structures, such as granules or a single monolithic component, or may be in the form of free flowing particles. Agglomerated structures have the advantage of being a convenient and effective for release of nicotine and incorporation of the expansion agent. Additionally, aerosolgenerating material comprising tobacco in the form of granules may be readily incorporated into a consumable and/or into an aerosol provision system, such as a hybrid device.

Tobacco particles of the desired size maybe formed by grinding, shredding, cutting or crushing tobacco material. Suitable machinery to create such tobacco particles includes, for example, shredders, cutters, or mills, such as hammer mills, roller mills or other types of commercially available milling machinery.

The size of the tobacco particles is selected to provide particles which can be readily formed into agglomerated structures using the processes described herein and having the properties described herein, and which provide a source of tobacco constituents that are readily released upon heating in a non-combustible aerosol provision system. In some embodiments, the tobacco may be agglomerated using a suitable binder. In some embodiments, the tobacco may be agglomerated using the expansion agent. The tobacco material maybe pre-treated or pre-processed.

In some embodiments, one or more binder is included in the agglomerated structure comprising tobacco. This may be in addition to the expansion agent, if present in the agglomerated structure. In some embodiments the one or more binder is selected from the group consisting of: thermoreversible gelling agents, such as gelatin; starches; polysaccharides; pectins; celluloses; cellulose derivatives; and alginates. The binding additive may be selected to assist in the formation of an agglomerated structure by helping to adhere the tobacco particles to each other and to other components in the composition.

Formation of the agglomerated structure

In some embodiments, agglomerated structures may be formed by the following process. A tobacco starting material, which may be pre-treated or pre-processed, is ground to the desired particle size. An expansion agent is added to the tobacco particles to form a precursor material. Any additional components may be added to the precursor material. These additional components may be in liquid form or in solid form, such as in the form of particles or powder. An agglomerated structure is then formed from the resultant precursor composition, by adhering the tobacco particles and optional other components to form multi-particle entities.

In some embodiments, water may be added to the precursor composition as a processing aid. For example, the presence of water may help to dissolve components of the precursor composition, and/ or it may assist with binding or improve agglomeration.

In some embodiments, the agglomerated structure maybe formed from the precursor composition by a process including one or more steps selected from the group consisting of granulation, extrusion and spheronisation.

Extrusion of the precursor composition involves the feeding of the precursor composition through an orifice to produce an extruded agglomerate. The process, which applies pressure to the precursor composition combined with shear forces, results in agglomerated structures. Extrusion may be performed using one of the main classes of extruders: screw, sieve and basket, roll, ram and pin barrel extruders. Forming the agglomerated structures by extrusion has the advantage that this processing combines mixing, conditioning, homogenizing and molding of the precursor composition.

In some embodiments, expansion agent is added to the precursor composition and coextruded. This has the advantage that the expansion agent is evenly distributed throughout the agglomerated structures formed. Other materials may also be added to the extrusion process, such as the base, diluent, solid aerosol forming agents, solid flavor modifiers, and other additives known in the art. In some embodiments, the expansion agent is added after extrusion of the tobacco material.

The types of the tobacco

The tobacco material may be fermented, cured, uncured, toasted, or otherwise p re- treated. The tobacco may be, for example, stem, lamina, dust or a mixture thereof.

Suitable tobacco materials include the following tobacco types: Virginia or flue-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, or a blend of tobacco materials. The tobacco maybe expanded, such as dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET), or processed by any other means such as extrusion.

Tobacco pH treatment

In some embodiments, the tobacco included in the aerosol-generating material is pH treated. Tobacco material can be treated with a base in order to facilitate liberation of the nicotine. For example, nicotine is liberated from nicotine salts in tobacco by reaction with the base. The pH adjusted nicotine is then volatilised at a lower temperature in use.

In some embodiments the pH is adjusted by the addition of one or more bases or a basic buffer system. In some embodiments the pH of the tobacco material is at least about 7.5. In some embodiments, the tobacco material has a pH of from about 8 to about 9.5, or from about 8.5 to about 9.

Additional components

Any additional components maybe added to the aerosol-generating material and/or the agglomerated structures. These additional components may be in liquid form or is solid form. Additional solid components are preferably in particulate or powder form. Examples of additional components comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

In some embodiments, the agglomerated structure formed from the tobacco material may have an increased surface area by including in the precursor composition particles of an inert filler material. Suitable inert fillers maybe porous or non-porous.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material and/ or agglomerated structure further comprises at least one aerosol-former material. The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerine, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3- butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. A combination of aerosol forming agents maybe used, in equal or differing proportions.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material and/ or agglomerated structure further comprises a preservative. Suitable preservatives would be readily known to the skilled person and would include, for example, those that are safe for use in products producing inhalable aerosols. Examples of preservatives that might be used include: propylene glycol, carvacrol, thymol, L-menthol, 1,8-cineole, phenoxyethanol, PhytoCide, sorbic acid and its salts, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, ethylhexylglycerin, parabens and vitamins such as vitamin E or vitamin C.

Flavours

In some embodiments one or more flavourant is included in the aerosol-generating material and/or agglomerated structure. As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, maybe used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gas.

In some embodiments, the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint.

In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from cannabis.

In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucolyptol, WS-3.

The consumable A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and/ or an aerosol-modifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

Delivery Systems

As used herein, the term “delivery system” is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user, and includes non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials.

According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosolgenerating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise tobacco.

Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non- combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the noncombustible aerosol provision device.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosolgenerating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non- combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/ or an aerosol-modifying agent. In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/ or an aerosol-modifying agent.

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a non-combustible aerosol provision system which is a hybrid system for heating an aerosol-generating material and an aerosolisable material, such as a liquid. The apparatus 1 has a housing 2 containing a chamber 4 which in use contains the aerosol-generating material 3 to be heated and volatilised. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises multiple tobacco granules comprising an expansion agent as discussed herein, held in the chamber or provided in a cartridge like the one illustrated in Figure 2. Alternatively or additionally, the expansion agent is in the form of separate particles, located amongst the tobacco granules. The housing 2 also contains a liquid reservoir 5 containing a liquid 6 to be heated to form a vapour.

The apparatus 1 further has an electronics/power chamber 7 which may, for example, contain electrical control circuitry and/or a power source (not shown). The electrical control circuitry may include a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating of the aerosol-generating material and of the liquid 6 via one or more heating elements (not shown). The electrical control circuitry may allow the apparatus 21 to be puff-actuated, so as to cause heating of the aerosol-generating material “on demand”. As an alternative, the apparatus 2 may have a manually operable switch for a user to initiate a puff. The housing 2 also includes an inlet 8 through which air is drawn into the apparatus. The housing 2 also includes an outlet 9 at a mouthpiece 10 of the apparatus 1. Air is drawn into the apparatus 1 through the inlet 8, travels through the apparatus picking up the vapour created by heating the liquid 6 in the liquid reservoir 5, and active substance(s) and volatile components released by the aerosol-generating material 3, and the resulting aerosol generated by the apparatus leaves the apparatus through the outlet 9 and is inhaled by the user.

The hybrid device 1 shown schematically in Figure 1 represents just one possible configuration of such an apparatus. The relative positions of the liquid reservoir 5 and the aerosol-generating material chamber 4 can be changed, as can the path of the air flowing through the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the liquid reservoir is positioned upstream of the aerosolgenerating material to be volatilised. Alternatively, the liquid reservoir may be positioned downstream of the aerosol-generating material to be volatilised. In a yet further arrangement, the two sources of aerosol in the apparatus may be arranged side- by-side, etc.

In some embodiments, the vapour produced by heating the liquid in the liquid reservoir flows over or through the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the elevated temperature of the vapour causes the volatile components to be released. The vapour also carries moisture and this is absorbed by the expansion agent and causes it to expand.

Alternatively or in addition, the aerosol-generating material maybe separately heated by a heating means.

In some embodiments, a hybrid device is provided in which the vapour created by heating a liquid heats the aerosol-generating material in order to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol-generating material. The vapour also carries moisture that causes the expansion agent to expand. In some embodiments, the liquid is a nicotine- free liquid. In other embodiments, the liquid contains nicotine. Where the aerosolgenerating material is heated by the vapour to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol-generating material, in certain embodiments the device does not include a separate means for heating the aerosol-generating material.

The hybrid products described herein may, in some embodiments, receive consumables in the form of containers or cartridges containing the aerosol-generating material.

These containers or cartridges may be removable. They may replace both the chamber holding the aerosol-generating material and the aerosol-generating material in the apparatus described above with reference to Figure 1, and in the alternative embodiments discussed.

Referring to Figure 2, a tobacco segment cartridge 11 is shown, comprising a housing 12 defining a cavity within which are held one or more particles of aerosol-generating material (not shown). The housing 12 may, for example be made from moulded plastic or the like. In order to allow air drawn through the device to pass into the cartridge 11 and over or through the one or more particles of aerosol-generating material and then out of the cartridge 11, ventilation holes 13 are provided in the housing 12 of the cartridge 11. In some embodiments, the cartridge 11 may further comprise heating means that is heatable by a suitable means in order to heat the one or more particles of aerosol-generating material held therein.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/ or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments maybe utilised and modifications maybe made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which maybe claimed in future.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating material comprising tobacco granules comprising tobacco material, and an expansion agent, wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to cause movement of the tobacco granules within the aerosolgenerating material and to expose further tobacco material.

2. An aerosol-generating material as claimed in claim 1, comprising from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the expansion agent, based upon the weight of the aerosol - generating material.

3. An aerosol-generating material as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the expansion agent is selected from the group consisting of: carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and croscarmellose sodium (CCS).

4. An aerosol-generating material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least some of the expansion agent is included within the tobacco granules.

5. An aerosol-generating material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the expansion agent is distributed throughout the tobacco granules.

6. An aerosol-generating material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least some of the expansion agent is present on the surface of the tobacco granules. . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, the tobacco granules comprising a core of expansion agent surrounded by tobacco material.

8. An aerosol-generating material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tobacco granules are formed by extrusion.

9. An aerosol-generating material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising separate particles of expansion agent, located between tobacco granules.

10. An aerosol-generating material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tobacco material has a pH of at least about 7.

11. An aerosol-generating material as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tobacco has a pH of from about 8 to about 9.5, or from about 8.5 to about 9.

12. A tobacco granule comprising tobacco material and an expansion agent, wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to rupture and/ or break open the tobacco granule.

13. A tobacco granule as claimed in claim 13, comprising from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the expansion agent, based upon the weight of the tobacco granule.

14. A tobacco granule as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the tobacco granule is formed by co-extrusion of the tobacco material and expansion agent.

15. A consumable comprising the aerosol-generating material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, or comprising one or more tobacco granules as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14.

16. A consumable as claimed in claim 15, comprising a first chamber containing the aerosol-generating material or one or more tobacco granules, and a second chamber containing an aerosolisable material.

17. A non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising aerosol-generating material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, or comprising one or more tobacco granules as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14.

18. An aerosol provision system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising an aerosolisable material, wherein the system is configured to heat the aerosolisable material to form a vapour and/ or an aerosol, wherein the vapour/ aerosol contacts the aerosol-generating material or one or more tobacco granules to entrain one or more components thereof, and thus forming an inhalable medium.

19. An aerosol provision system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the vapour/ aerosol contains moisture which causes the expansion agent to expand. - 18 -

20. Use of an expansion agent in an aerosol-generating material comprising tobacco granules to cause movement of the tobacco granules within the aerosol-generating material and to expose further tobacco material upon exposure to moisture. 21. The use as claimed in claim 20, wherein the expansion agent is included in at least one tobacco granule and wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to rupture and/or break open the tobacco granule.

22. The use as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the expansion agent is exposed to moisture as a result of the aerosol-generating material being exposed to a moisturecontaining vapour.

23. The use as claimed in claim 22, wherein the vapour is generated by a noncombustible aerosol provision system.