Cut tobacco leaf compressed under inert gas and decompressed at defined pressure in a single heated holding stage

摘要

Treatment of cut tobacco leaves or ribs, by subjecting to nitrogen and/or argon gas at 50-1000 bar in cascade autoclaves followed by decompression and thermal treatment. Decompression is conducted in a heated holding stage, the pressure of which is 3-60, preferably 3-30% of the original maximum pressure. After full decompression, the tobacco temperature is in the range 10-80[deg]C. The initial tobacco water content is 8-16% by weight. The tobacco is in the form of cut tobacco leaves, or ribs, or plant tobacco additives with a cell structure. The increased pressure of the system under residual pressure is affected by the holding stage, circulation over a heat exchanger and/or by passing hot gas over the system. Relaxation of the pressure from the maximum to the holding stage pressure takes place within 20 seconds-5 minutes. Release of the residual pressure takes between 3-180 s.