Cellulosic material
The present invention relates to a cellulosic material having one or more smoke diluents within its cellular structure and, optionally, one or more smoke diluents on its surface.
1. A diluent-impregnated cellulosic material having comprising at least one added smoke diluent retained within the cellulosic material cellular structure and, optionally, also on its surface,
wherein the weight of said smoke diluent is greater than or equal to 5% based on the dried weight of the cellulosic material.
2. The cellulosic material of claim 1 ,
wherein said cellulosic material has a moisture level which is less than about 20%.
3. The cellulosic material of claim 1 ,
wherein said cellulosic material is a tobacco material.
4. The cellulosic material of claim 3 ,
wherein the diluent is retained within the cellular structure of the tobacco material when used in a tobacco product.
5. The cellulosic material of claim 3 ,
wherein the diluent is retained on the surface of the tobacco material when used in a tobacco product.
6. The cellulosic material of claim 3 ,
wherein said tobacco material is at least one of solid stems, shredded dried stems, steam treated stems, cut lamina, stalks, DIET, reconstituted tobacco, cut blend, and mixtures thereof.
7. The cellulosic material of claim 6 ,
wherein said tobacco material is shredded dried stems.
8. The cellulosic material according to claim 1 ,
wherein said smoke diluent has a melting point of less than about 95° C.
9. The cellulosic material according to claim 1 ,
wherein the smoke diluent is one of a water insoluble and a water sparingly soluble liquid.
10. The cellulosic material according to claim 9 ,
wherein the smoke diluent is at least one of glycerol, triacetin, triethyl citrate, and isopropyl myristate.
11. A method of preparing a cellulosic material having an added smoke diluent retained within its cellular structure and, optionally, on its surface.
12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising the use of a diluent delivery system.
13. The method according to claim 12 ,
wherein the diluent delivery system involves subjecting the cellulosic material to a treatment comprising at least one of: heat treatment, vacuum treatment, liquid impregnation treatment, steam treatment and vacuum freeze drying, at least one of before and during application of the smoke diluent.
14. The method according to claim 12 ,
wherein the diluent delivery system involves treating the cellulosic material to substantially reduce its moisture content.
15. The method according to claim 11 ,
wherein the smoke diluent is included or combined with a vehicle.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15 ,
wherein the vehicle is water, an alcohol or liquid or gaseous carbon dioxide.
17. The method as claimed in claim 15 ,
wherein the smoke diluent is in the form of an aqueous solution or emulsion prior to being retained by the cellulosic material.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17 ,
wherein the aqueous solution or emulsion is prepared by a method comprising high shear mixing.
19. The method as claimed in claim 11 ,
wherein the smoke diluent is added to the cellular structure using a continuous spray method.
20. The method as claimed in claim 11 ,
wherein the smoke diluent is added to the cellular structure using a batch mixing method.
21. A smoking article comprising a cellulosic material having at least one smoke diluent within its cellular structure and, optionally, on its surface,
wherein the weight of said smoke diluent is greater than or equal to 5% based on the dried weight of the cellulosic material.
22. The smoking article according to claim 21 ,
wherein the article is a cigarette.
23. A method of preparing a smoking article comprising mixing a cellulosic material having at least one smoke diluent within its cellular structure and optionally on its surface with other cellulosic materials or smoking article constituents.