METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE FILLING CAPACITY OF TOBACCO

摘要

The invention relates to a method for improving the filling capacity of tobacco, such as cut tobacco leaves or ribs, by treating the tobacco materia l comprising up to approximately 30 wt. % initial humidity with a treatment ga s consisting of nitrogen and/or argon, at pressures of between 50 and 1000 bar s, during continuous or graduated compression followed by continuous or graduat ed decompression. The compression and decompression is carried out either in an autoclave or in several autoclaves arranged in the form of a cascade. The invention is characterised in that the thermal aftertreatment of the extract ed 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 60 vol. %.