Method for improving the filling ability of tobacco

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for improving the fillability of tobacco, as tobacco leaves or ribs and/or tobacco additives, by treatment of the tobacco material, which has approx. up to 15 wt. % initial moisture with a treatment gas consisting of nitrogen and/or argon at pressures of 50 to 1,000 bar with continuous or graduated compression followed by continuous or graduated decompression, with the compression and decompression stages taking place in either one autoclave or with cascade-type switching in several autoclaves, followed by thermal after-treatment of the tobacco material discharged, which is characterised in that the compression is carried out at an operating temperature above 55° C., preferably at 60 to 90° C. and the initial moisture of the tobacco material lies within the range 8 to 14 wt. %.

1 . Method for improving the fillability of tobacco, as cut tobacco leaves or ribs and/or tobacco additives, by treatment of the tobacco material, which has up to approx. 15 wt. % initial moisture with a treatment gas consisting of nitrogen and/or argon at pressures of 50 to 1,000 bar with continuous or graduated compression followed by continuous or graduated decompression, the compression or decompression stages being carried out in either one autoclave or with cascade-type switching in several autoclaves, followed by thermal after-treatment of the tobacco material discharged, characterised in that the compression is carried out at an operating temperature above 55° C.  
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the compression is carried out at an operating temperature of 60 to 90° C.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the initial moisture of the tobacco material lies within the range 8 to 14 wt. %.