PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE SEMICONTINUOUS EXTRACTION OF NICOTINE FROM TOBACCO

摘要

A process is provided for the improved removal of nicotine from tobacco. An essentially nicotine-free solvent in the supercritical or liquid state is fed into a first end (10) of an extraction flow system (10-14) containing tobacco and a nicotine-rich solvent is discharged from a second end (11) of the extraction flow system. Periodically a portion of extracted tobacco is discharged from the first end (10) of the extraction system while simultaneously a portion of an unextracted tobacco (12) is charged to the second end of the extraction system. Nicotine is then entrapped (15) or otherwise removed from the solvent and solvent is recycled through the extraction flow system.