JPH048278A - Tobacco leaf and method for treating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable rolling up of cigarettes having the standard rolling hardness with a smaller weight of filled tobacco leaves and reduce cost by applying a silicon alkoxide to the tobacco leaves and converting the silicon alkoxide into silicon oxide or hydrate. CONSTITUTION:A silicon alkoxide (e.g. ethyl silicate) is prepared as a solution at about 5-60wt.% concentration expressed in terms of SiO2 concentration. The resultant solution is then applied to tobacco leaves by a method for spraying, etc. The applied silicon alkoxide is subsequently hydrolyzed in the presence of ammonia and converted into silicon oxide or hydrate. The tobacco leaves are then dried, subjected to humidity conditioning according to a conventional method and used for producing cigarettes. Thereby, about 2-10wt.% of the necessary amount used of the tobacco leaves conventionally employed in producing the cigarettes can be replaced with the silicon oxide or hydrate and the objective mild cigarettes can be produced at a low cost.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to tobacco leaves and a method for processing the same.

[Prior Art] In recent years, consumer preferences for cigarettes have shifted to products with a milder taste and lower nicotine and tar content in smoke. The most effective way to create a milder product is to reduce the amount of tobacco leaves used, but a certain amount of tobacco leaves must be rolled to prevent deformation during manufacturing and smoking, and to satisfy smokers' ease of smoking. Hardness is required. For this reason, it is necessary to obtain a certain degree of winding firmness with as little raw material as possible.

A technique for reducing the weight of tobacco leaves (hereinafter referred to as fill weight) necessary to obtain a certain rolling firmness in standard cigarettes is to reduce the weight of tobacco leaves required to obtain a certain degree of rolling firmness (hereinafter referred to as fill weight). Some known methods include swelling treatment using turgor pressure, freeze-drying, and other methods to reduce the apparent density of shredded shredded meat, and ways to improve the elasticity of shredded shredded meat by adding additives.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Puffing and freeze-drying treatments using low-boiling-point auxiliary agents are highly effective, but they have the disadvantages of poor flavor and aroma of the treated product and too fast burning rate.

Furthermore, the former poses a problem of environmental pollution due to the auxiliary agent contained in the exhaust gas, while the latter poses a problem of high processing costs. On the other hand, many attempts to improve elasticity using various additives have been reported.

In most cases, organic compounds are used, and no technology has been established that satisfies both flavor and effectiveness.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In view of the above, the present inventor has conducted various research and examinations with the aim of finding a means that can effectively reduce the amount of tobacco leaves used without causing the above-mentioned drawbacks. As a result, by treating tobacco leaves with a specific silicon compound,
It has been found that the above object can be achieved.

Thus, the present invention provides tobacco leaves reinforced with silicon oxides or silicon hydrates and a method for treating the same.

The silicon oxide or silicon hydrate used in the present invention is one that has adhesion and permeability to the surface and interior of tobacco leaves, does not substantially reduce taste, and is not toxic. To be elected.

For this reason, it is preferable to convert silicon oxides to silicon hydrates into such a form on tobacco leaves using a compound that is easier to apply than in this form to tobacco leaves.

In the present invention, a silicon alkoxide (alkyl silicate) is preferably used as such a silicon compound. Examples of the silicon alkoxide include those having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, such as silicon methoxide (methyl silicate) and silicon ethoxide (ethyl silicate), but among these, ethyl silicate is particularly preferred since safety is guaranteed. .

Silicon alkoxides are hydrolyzed and converted into silicon oxides or hydrates. In this case, it is desirable to allow the hydrolysis to proceed as quickly as possible, and for this reason,
Hydrolysis accelerators are used.

It is desirable that such an accelerator has a high hydrolysis rate, is easily decomposed after hydrolysis, and does not remain in the tobacco leaves, and for this reason, an ammonia component is used. The ammonia content is used in the form of ammonia, aqueous ammonia, ammonium carbonate, etc. In the present invention, silicon alkoxide is diluted with a solvent such as ethanol to give a concentration of 5 to 60% by weight in terms of SiOx concentration. It is appropriate to use it as a % solution.

When the concentration is less than the above range, it is difficult to obtain the reinforcing effect that is the initial objective, and on the other hand, when it exceeds the above range, the compatibility between the alkoxide and water decreases, making it difficult for hydrolysis to proceed sufficiently. Neither of these is preferable because there is a risk that it will not be possible to do so.

In addition, by further reducing the SiOx concentration, impregnation, hydrolysis,
It is possible to increase the reinforcing effect by repeating the drying process (although it is possible to do so, it is not preferable because it may impair the flavor, color, etc. of the tobacco).

Next, the ammonia component used as a hydrolysis accelerator used in the present invention is obtained by diluting it with water, ethanol, etc.
NHs concentration is 0. It is appropriate to use it as a solution containing about 1 to 5% by weight of O.

If the concentration is less than the above range, the hydrolysis time will be long, the effect of promoting hydrolysis will be insufficient, and there is a risk of deterioration of tobacco leaves.On the other hand, if the concentration exceeds the above range, there is a risk of deterioration of tobacco leaves. Both are undesirable because of the

In addition, the water required for hydrolysis has a small amount of ammonia and silicon alkoxide (although it is sufficient that both are present in one side).
Preferably, it is present in both, since the compatibility between the alkoxide and water can be improved and the hydrolysis reaction can proceed rapidly.

The amount of water required for hydrolysis is strictly determined by the type of silicon alkoxide used, but is generally 1.1 to 3 times the theoretical amount of water required to hydrolyze 100% of silicon alkoxide. The degree is appropriate.

In this way, silicon alkoxide and ammonia are added to the tobacco leaves, but there are no particular restrictions on the specific means (for example, by impregnating the tobacco leaves in containers filled with each liquid separately, or Appropriate means may be employed, such as spraying each liquid onto tobacco leaves.

Although the order in which these liquids are applied to the tobacco leaves may be arbitrary, it is preferable to apply the ammonia content and then the silicon alkoxide in that order to achieve rapid and sufficient hydrolysis.The tobacco leaves to which both liquids have been applied are then placed in a closed container. Put it in, 60-7
Hydrolysis is carried out by holding at 0° C. for about 4 to 10 hours to convert silicon alkoxides into silicon oxides or hydrates.

If the reaction temperature and time are less than the above range, the hydrolysis will be insufficient, and conversely, if the reaction temperature and time exceed the above range, there is a risk that components in the tobacco leaf will volatilize or discoloration may occur, so either is preferable. do not have. The form of the tobacco leaves to be processed is not particularly limited, and even if the tobacco leaves are processed in an unshredded state and then shredded,
Although processing may be carried out in the chopped state after cutting, it is possible to process more uniformly in the chopped state.

Such silicon oxides or silicon hydrates can be used in an amount of 2 to 10% by weight more than the required amount of conventionally used tobacco leaves when producing cigarettes.

If the replacement amount is less than the above range, the intended purpose cannot be achieved effectively, and if it exceeds the above range, it may inhibit the combustion of the cigarette and make it difficult to smoke. I don't like either of them.

After completion of hydrolysis, the tobacco leaves are dried at 60 to 70°C, and then subjected to humidity control according to a conventional method before being subjected to the cigarette manufacturing process.

If the cigarette using tobacco leaves according to the present invention is lit and kept smoking, it will extinguish soon due to the slow combustion rate, and it is possible to prevent fires caused by tobacco leaves, etc. It also has the advantage of effectively suppressing the generation of sidestream smoke that occurs when smoldering on an ashtray.

In addition, with conventional cigarettes, the tobacco leaves release heat and moisture during combustion, causing the base of the tobacco to become soft while smoking, causing discomfort, but with the tobacco leaves of the present invention, silicon There is also the advantage that such a phenomenon does not occur because the oxide or silicon hydrate absorbs moisture. Furthermore, reducing the amount of tobacco used has significant economic benefits.

[Example] Weighed 1800 g of shredded blend for cigarette manufacturing, and added 450 g of a 14% by weight ammonium carbonate aqueous solution in a sealed container.
After spraying it uniformly, it was left to stand for 30 minutes to make it uniform.

Next, using ethanol as a solvent, ethyl silicate solution 104 was obtained by adding 4.46 parts by weight of water to 100 parts by weight of an ethyl silicate solution of 20% by weight in terms of Sing concentration.
After spraying 5 g uniformly into the airtight container, the container was left sealed for 6 hours.

Next, take out the shredded pieces from the airtight container and dry them at 60°C until the moisture content is 10%, taking care not to cause uneven drying.
The s substitution rate lO% was obtained.

After maintaining this time under the conditions of 22℃ and 60% relative humidity for 5 days, it is wound with a winding machine to a length of 70m+o and a circumference of 2S+.
It was rolled up into a +++m cigarette. The rolling tightness of this cigarette was measured using a measuring device, and the amount of cutting required to obtain the target rolling tightness was determined. In addition, using an automatic smoking device, standard smoking conditions (1 time/min,
The number of times of smoking was measured at 2 seconds/time, 35 mQ/time, butt length 30 mm). Furthermore, the change in the hardness of the unburned portion (rolling softening degree) before and after smoking was determined. These measurement results are shown in Table 1 as a ratio, with the untreated product set as 100.

Table-1 Measurement items Untreated product Treated product Filling amount [
mg/book 110095 Volume softening degree [%] 100 85 Number of times smoked
E times/piece] 100 No defects due to 107 were observed.

[Effects of the Invention] Tobacco leaves reinforced with silicon oxide or silicon hydrate can be rolled into cigarettes of standard hardness with a smaller amount of tobacco, which makes soft cigarettes cheaper. It became possible to manufacture it.

As is clear from Table 1, by using the treatment side according to the present invention, 15% (5% reduction in luminous intensity + Sin,
(replacement rate: 10%) It was possible to produce cigarettes with standard roll hardness with a small amount of chopped paper.

Furthermore, this treatment suppressed the softening of the roll during smoking by 15%. Furthermore, the number of times the smoker was smoked increased by 7%, and the drawback that the burning rate became too fast when the fill amount was reduced was improved.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Tobacco leaves reinforced with silicon oxide or silicon hydrate. 2. Tobacco leaves reinforced with silicon oxide or silicon hydrate produced by hydrolysis of silicon alkoxide. 3. Tobacco leaves reinforced with 2 to 10% by weight of silicon oxide or silicon hydrate. 4. Tobacco leaves reinforced with 2 to 10% by weight of silicon oxide or silicon hydrate produced by hydrolysis of silicon alkoxide. 5. Cigarettes in which 2 to 10% by weight of the required amount of cigarette leaves is replaced with silicon oxide or silicon hydrate. 6. A cigarette in which 2 to 10% by weight of the required amount of cigarette leaves is replaced with a silicon oxide or silicon hydrate produced by hydrolysis of a silicon alkoxide. 7. The tobacco leaf according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the silicon alkoxide is silicon ethoxide (ethyl silicate). 8. The cigarette according to claim 6, wherein the silicon alkoxide is silicon ethoxide (ethyl silicate). 9. A method for treating tobacco leaves, which comprises applying silicon alkoxides to tobacco leaves and hydrolyzing them in the presence of ammonia to convert the silicon alkoxides into silicon oxides or hydrates. 10. The treatment method according to claim 9, wherein the silicon alkoxide is used as a solution having a concentration of 5 to 60% by weight in terms of SiO_2 concentration. 11. The treatment method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the silicon alkoxide is silicon ethoxide (ethyl silicate). 12. Ammonia content is converted to NH_3 concentration and is 0.01
The method of claim 9, wherein the treatment method is used as a ~5% by weight solution. 13. The treatment method according to claim 9, wherein the water required for hydrolysis coexists with ammonia and silicon alkoxide. 14. The amount of water required for hydrolysis is 1.1 to 1.1 of the theoretical amount of water required to hydrolyze 100% of silicon alkoxide.
The treatment method according to claim 9, wherein the amount is tripled. 15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the ammonia component and the silicon alkoxide are applied to the tobacco leaves in the order of the ammonia component and the silicon alkoxide. 16. The treatment method according to claim 9, wherein the tobacco leaves to which the ammonia content and silicon alkoxide have been added are hydrolyzed by being held at 60 to 70°C for 4 to 10 hours in a closed container.