| abstract |
THIS DISCLOSURE RELATES TO A PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF TOBACCO. MORE PARTICULARLY, THE DISCLOSURE RELATES TO A PROCESS FOR IMPROVING THE BURNING PROPERTIES OF THE TOBACCO, THE FLAVOR OF THE TOBACCO SMOKE AND THE QUALITY OF THE TOBACCO ASH, BY CONTROLLING THE ION CONTENT OF THE TOBACCO. THE PROCESS INVOLVES THE STEPS OF (1) CONTACTING TOBACCO PLANT PARTS WITH WATER TO OBTAIN AN AQUEOUS TOBACCO EXTRACT, (2) TREATING SAID EXTRACT TO ADJUST ITS CONTENT OF CERTAIN METALLIC IONS, WITHOUT REMOVING DESIRABLE TOBACCO CONSTITUENTS AND (3) RECOMBING THE TREATED AQUEOUS TOBACCO EXTRACT WITH THE EXTRACTED TOBACCO PARTS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE ION CONTENT OF THE AQUEOUS TOBACCO EXTRACT MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED BY CONTACTING THE EXTRACT WITH AN ION-EXCHANGE RESIN. IF DESIRED, OTHER IONS MAY BE ADDED TO THE TREATED TOBACCO PLANT PARTS TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE FINAL TOBACCO PRODUCT. |