Method for producing glycerin from tobacco

摘要

A method for producing glycerin from one or more plants of genus Nicotiana is provided. The glycerin can be derived inter alia from Nicotiana species biomass or from seed. In certain embodiments, the glycerin is produced by either acid-catalyzed hydrolysis or base-catalyzed hydrolysis of acylglycerol-containing starting material derived from tobacco biomass or seed. The invention also provides articles and compositions including smoking articles and smokeless tobacco compositions that include glycerin produced from one or more plants of genus Nicotiana.

主权项

1. A method for producing glycerin from one or more plants of genus Nicotiana, the method comprising:
(a) harvesting biomass and/or seed from the one or more plants of genus Nicotiana, thereby forming a harvested biomass and/or seed; (b) isolating an acylglycerol-containing fraction from the harvested biomass and/or seed by subjecting the harvested biomass and/or seed or a portion thereof to cold pressing, solvent extraction, chromatography, distillation, filtration, recrystallization, solvent-solvent partitioning, or a combination thereof to form an acylglycerol-containing fraction; and (c) chemically transforming the acylglycerol-containing fraction by subjecting the acylglycerol-containing fraction to hydrolysis; wherein the hydrolysis comprises contacting the acylglycerol-containing fraction with a composition comprising an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth oxide or hydroxide, a mineral acid, or an esterase for a period of time sufficient for at least some of the acylglycerol contained in the fraction to be hydrolyzed, thereby producing fatty acids and glycerin.