Thermal after treatment of tobacco treated with N and/or Ar in the INCOM process optimum filling capacity is achieved

摘要

Described is a method for improving the filling capacity of tobacco, such as cut tobacco leaves or ribs, by treating the tobacco material comprising up to approximately 30wt% initial humidity with a treatment gas consisting of nitrogen and/or argon, at pressures of between 50 and 1000 bars, during continuous or graduated compression followed by continuous or graduated decompression. The compression and decompression is carried out either in an autoclave or in several autoclaves arranged in the form of a cascade. The thermal after treatment of the extracted tobacco material is carried out by means of a flowing, heat-transferring medium consisting of a mixture of permanent gases and superheated steam, the proportion of permanent gas being kept constant at a value between 10 and 60vol%