You’re using a public version of DrugPatentWatch with 5 free searches available | Register to unlock more free searches. CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

Last Updated: March 28, 2024

Claims for Patent: 8,991,403


✉ Email this page to a colleague

« Back to Dashboard


Summary for Patent: 8,991,403
Title:Thermal treatment process for tobacco materials
Abstract: A method of thermally processing a tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (i) mixing a tobacco material, water, and an additive selected from the group consisting of lysine, glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, di- and trivalent cations, asparaginase, saccharides, phenolic compounds, reducing agents, compounds having a free thiol group, oxidizing agents, oxidation catalysts, plant extracts, and combinations thereof, to form a moist tobacco mixture; (ii) heating the moist tobacco mixture at a temperature of at least about 60.degree. C. to form a heat-treated tobacco mixture; and (iii) incorporating the heat-treated tobacco mixture into a tobacco product. Heat-treated tobacco composition prepared according to the method are also provided, such as heat-treated smokeless tobacco composition comprising a tobacco material, water, flavorant, binder, and filler, the heat-treated smokeless tobacco composition having an acrylamide content of less than about 2000 ppb.
Inventor(s): Chen; Gong (Clemmons, NC), Gerardi; Anthony Richard (Winston-Salem, NC), Mua; John-Paul (Advance, NC), Holton, Jr.; Darrell Eugene (Clemmons, NC), Cantrell; Daniel Verdin (Lewisville, NC), St. Charles; Frank Kelley (Bowling Green, KY), Scott; Cheryl Cooper (Lewisville, NC)
Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (Winston-Salem, NC)
Application Number:13/228,912
Patent Claims:1. A method of preparing a tobacco product having a reduced acrylamide content, comprising: (i) forming a solution comprising an aqueous tobacco extract, water, and an additive capable of inhibiting reaction of asparagine to form acrylamide upon heating of the aqueous tobacco extract, thereby forming a mixture, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of lysine, cysteine, hydrogen peroxide, asparaginase, and a combination thereof; (ii) heating the mixture to form a heat-treated aqueous tobacco extract; and (iii) incorporating the heat-treated aqueous tobacco extract into a tobacco product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive further comprises glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, di- and trivalent cations, saccharides, phenolic compounds, reducing agents, compounds having a free thiol group, oxidizing agents, oxidation catalysts, plant extracts, or combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive further comprises glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive is lysine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive is present in an amount of between about 100 ppm to about 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the mixture.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tobacco product is a smokeless tobacco product.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the smokeless tobacco product is characterized by an acrylamide content that is reduced relative to an untreated control smokeless tobacco product.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the amount of acrylamide reduction by weight is at least about 10 percent as compared to an untreated control smokeless tobacco product.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the amount of acrylamide reduction is at least about 30 percent as compared to an untreated control smokeless tobacco product.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the amount of acrylamide reduction is at least about 50 percent as compared to an untreated control smokeless tobacco product.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the amount of acrylamide reduction is at least about 60 percent as compared to an untreated control smokeless tobacco product.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the smokeless tobacco product comprises less than about 1000 ppb of acrylamide.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the smokeless tobacco product comprises less than about 700 ppb of acrylamide.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the smokeless tobacco product comprises less than about 500 ppb of acrylamide.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture further comprises one or more additional components selected from the group consisting of flavorants, fillers, binders, pH adjusters, buffering agents, colorants, disintegration aids, antioxidants, humectants, and preservatives.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating step comprises heating at a temperature of at least about 60.degree. C.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the heating step comprises heating at a temperature of at least about 80.degree. C.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein: step (ii) comprises heating the mixture at a temperature of at least about 60.degree. C.; and step (iii) comprises incorporating the heat-treated aqueous tobacco extract into a smokeless tobacco product, wherein the smokeless tobacco product has an acrylamide content of less than about 700 ppb.

19. A tobacco product prepared according to claim 1.

20. A smokeless tobacco product adapted for insertion into the mouth, comprising an aqueous tobacco extract pre-treated to inhibit reaction of asparagine to form acrylamide, wherein the pre-treatment comprises heating the tobacco material in the presence of an additive selected from the group consisting of lysine, cysteine, hydrogen peroxide, asparaginase, and a combination thereof.

21. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 20, wherein the pre-treatment further comprises heating the tobacco material in the presence of an additive selected from the group consisting of glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, di- and trivalent cations, saccharides, phenolic compounds, reducing agents, compounds having a free thiol group, oxidizing agents, oxidation catalysts, plant extracts, and combinations thereof.

22. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 20, wherein the additive further comprises glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, or combinations thereof.

23. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 20, wherein the additive is lysine.

24. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 20, wherein the smokeless tobacco product comprises less than about 1000 ppb of acrylamide.

25. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 24, wherein the smokeless tobacco product comprises less than about 700 ppb of acrylamide.

26. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 25, wherein the smokeless tobacco product comprises less than about 500 ppb of acrylamide.

27. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 20, wherein the product is dissolvable.

Make Better Decisions: Try a trial or see plans & pricing

Drugs may be covered by multiple patents or regulatory protections. All trademarks and applicant names are the property of their respective owners or licensors. Although great care is taken in the proper and correct provision of this service, thinkBiotech LLC does not accept any responsibility for possible consequences of errors or omissions in the provided data. The data presented herein is for information purposes only. There is no warranty that the data contained herein is error free. thinkBiotech performs no independent verification of facts as provided by public sources nor are attempts made to provide legal or investing advice. Any reliance on data provided herein is done solely at the discretion of the user. Users of this service are advised to seek professional advice and independent confirmation before considering acting on any of the provided information. thinkBiotech LLC reserves the right to amend, extend or withdraw any part or all of the offered service without notice.