Tobacco stem treatment and expanded tobacco product

摘要

An improved process for expanding tobacco is disclosed wherein tobacco components such as stems, midribs and veins are contacted with an alkaline-hydrogen peroxide solution and thereafter dried and roasted to produce an expanded tobacco material highly suitable for use in smoking products. In a preferred approach, tobacco is treated with a hydroxide or oxide of a multivalent metal and then contacted with a solution of hydrogen peroxide; thereafter the tobacco is dried and roasted to produce an expanded tobacco product.