Process for treating tobacco to reduce the content of nitrosamines

摘要

A process of treating tobacco to reduce or eliminate nitrosamines therefrom is disclosed, wherein the process comprises the use of a supercritical fluid extraction medium at elevated temperature and pressure to selectively remove nitrosamines compared with nicotine removal, wherein the process further comprises separation of nitrosamines from the supercritical fluid extraction medium by subjecting the extraction medium to a nitrosamine removal process comprising any one of the steps such as: an adsorption step using an adsorbent such as glass beads, activated charcoal, aluminium silicate or zeolites; a chemisorption step using ion exchangers; ultraviolet treatment step; precipitation step; nitrosamine-specific enzyme breakdown step; chromatographic separation step; or a combination of these steps. This process can reduce the nitrosamine content for all tobacco types.