Nicotine lozenge
A nicotine lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix and nicotine or a derivative thereof dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, a nicotine lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in a nicotine lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The nicotine lozenge is adapted to release the nicotine or a derivative thereof from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of an adult consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making nicotine lozenges provided herein includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, nicotine, and less than 15 weight percent water while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 150° C. and portioning the molten mixture into a plurality of nicotine lozenges. In some cases, the ingredients can be mixed to form the molten mixture in an extruder.
1. A method of forming a plurality of nicotine lozenges comprising:
forming a molten mixture of ingredients in a multi-stage extruder while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 150° C., the ingredients including soluble fibers in an amount greater than or equal to 40 weight percent, nicotine, and water in an amount less than 15 weight percent; and
portioning the molten mixture into the plurality of nicotine lozenges.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming includes,
adding a first portion of the ingredients at a first stage of the multi-stage extruder; and
adding a second portion of the ingredients at a second stage of the multi-stage extruder, the second stage being downstream of the first stage.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein
the first portion of the ingredients includes the soluble fibers and the water; and
the second portion of the ingredients includes the nicotine.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein
the adding the first portion includes,
adding the soluble fibers at a first station, and
adding the water at a second station downstream of the first station; and
the adding the second portion includes,
adding the nicotine at a third station downstream of the second station.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the forming further comprises:
heating the first stage to a first temperature; and
heating the second stage to a second temperature different from the first temperature.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein
the first temperature ranges from 100° C. to 120° C.; and
the second temperature ranges from 120° C. to 150° C.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
pressing the molten mixture into a sheet after the forming and before the portioning.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pressing includes pressing the molten mixture into a sheet having a desired thickness.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the desired thickness ranges from 2 mm to 10 mm.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pressing is performed at a pressing station separate from the multi-stage extruder.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the portioning includes stamping the sheet with a stamping die.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the stamping includes pressing both sides of the sheet with the stamping die.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
cooling the plurality of nicotine lozenges at a cooling station.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming is performed for a residence time ranging from 5 minutes to 10 minutes in the multi-stage extruder.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the soluble fibers include digestion-resistant solution fibers.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the soluble fibers include digestion-resistant maltodextrin.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the soluble fibers include maltodextrin.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nicotine includes tobacco-derived nicotine.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molten mixture is free of sugars and sugar alcohols.