Method of making smokeable tobacco substitute filler having an increased fill value
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a smokeable filler material having an increased fill value and processes for making the smokeable filler. The smokeable filler has a fill value of at least 5 cc/g and comprises a cellulose material, a humectant, an inert filler, a binder, and optionally a tobacco containing material.
1. A process for making a smokeable filler comprising the steps of:
mixing a cellulose containing material selected from the group consisting of wood, cotton or flax to form a fibrous material product;
refining said fibrous material product;
mixing an inert material which has been precipitated and refined resulting in a very fine particle size in a range of about 0.5 μm to 1 μm, selected from the group consisting of chitosan, liposan, calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, and combinations thereof with said fibrous material product to form a fiber containing material;
making said fiber containing material into sheets via a paper making process; and
cutting said sheets into strips forming said smokeable filler, wherein said smokeable filler has a fill value in excess of 5 cc/g.
2. The process for making a smokeable filler in claim 1 wherein said mixing a cellulose containing material step further comprises the mixing of a tobacco containing material wherein said tobacco containing material may make up to 50% by weight of said smokeable filler.
3. The process for making a smokeable filler in claim 1 wherein said sheets are sprayed with a tobacco extract prior to said cutting of said sheets.
4. The process for making a smokeable filler in claim 1 wherein said tobacco extract further has a humectant.
5. The process for making a smokeable filler in claim 4 wherein said humectant is in an amount that makes up to 15% by weight of said smokeable filler.
6. A process for making a smokeable filler comprising the steps of:
mixing a refined cellulose containing material selected from the group consisting of wood, cotton or flax, a tobacco containing material in an amount comprising up to 50% by weight of said smokeable filler, and an inert material, which has been precipitated and refined resulting in a very fine particle size in a range of about 0.5 μm to 1 μm, to form a fibrous material product;
mixing a binder solution with said fibrous material product to form a fiber containing material;
adding a humectant to said fiber containing material;
making said fiber containing material into sheets; and
cutting said sheets into strips forming said smokeable filler, wherein said smokeable filler has a fill value in excess of 5 cc/g.
7. The process of claim 6 wherein said sheet is formed by a bandcast process.
8. The process of claim 6 wherein said sheet is formed by an extrusion process.