TOBACCO SMOKING ARTICLE WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL HEAT SOURCE

摘要

A tobacco smoking article with an electrochemical heat source is disclosed. The non-combustion heat source includes at least two metallic agents capable of interacting electrochemically with one another, such as magnesium and iron or nickel. The metallic agents may be provided in a variety of forms, including a frozen melt, a bimetallic foil, wire of a first metal wrapped around strands of a different metal, and a mechanical alloy. The metallic agents may be in the form of a powder filling a straw, or small particles extruded with a binder or pressed to form a rod. The powder filled straw or rod may be placed in a heat chamber surrounded by tobacco. An electrolyte solution contacts the metallic agents in the heat chamber to initiate the electrochemical interaction, generating heat which in turn volatilizes the nicotine and flavor materials in the tobacco. Processes for producing flavor substances from tobacco are also disclosed. The processes involve heating tobacco during a first staged heating to a first toasting temperature to drive off volatile materials; increasing the toasting temperature during a second staged heating to a second toasting temperature and separately collecting, as flavor substances, at least portions of the volatile materials driven off at the first and second toasting temperatures. Preferably, the moisture content of the tobacco is reduced without removing volatile flavor components, such as by freeze drying the tobacco, and then heating the dried tobacco.