Flavored carbon useful as filtering material of smoking article

Abstract

Flavored carbon useful as a filtering material of a smoking article such as a cigarette is made by applying liquid flavorant to activated carbon particles in a fluidized bed. The flavored carbon can be used to impart desired taste to mainstream smoke while removing one or more components from mainstream smoke.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for making flavored carbon particles, the process comprising: 
 (i) introducing activated carbon particles into a vessel;    (ii) introducing a fluidizing gas into the vessel so as to fluidize the activated carbon particles; and    (iii) introducing a liquid flavorant into the vessel while the activated carbon particles are in a fluidized state, the liquid flavorant being absorbed and/or adsorbed onto the activated carbon particles.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process is carried out in a batch or continuous manner to provide 0.1 to 20% by weight of flavorant on the activated carbon particles.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the process is carried out in a batch manner without heating the activated carbon particles while in the fluidized state.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the process is carried out in a continuous manner without heating the activated carbon particles, the vessel containing a plurality of compartments through which the activated carbon particles passes sequentially while in the fluidized state.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the activated carbon has an average particle size from about 10 mesh to about 70 mesh.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the activated carbon has an average particle size from about 0.2 mm to about 1 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fluidizing gas is nitrogen.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel includes a gas exhaust conduit separated from the interior of the vessel by a filter, the process including periodic blowback of gas through the filter to clean activated carbon particles from the filter.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process is carried out for 10 to 60 minutes.  
     
     
         10 . A cigarette comprising the flavored carbon produced according to the process of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . The cigarette of  claim 10 , wherein the flavored carbon is dispersed in smoking material.  
     
     
         12 . The cigarette of  claim 10 , wherein the activated carbon comprises at least about 80% micropores.  
     
     
         13 . The cigarette of  claim 10 , wherein the flavored carbon has an average particle size from about 10 mesh to about 20 mesh.  
     
     
         14 . The cigarette of  claim 10 , wherein the flavored carbon has an average particle size from about 0.2 mm to about 1 mm.  
     
     
         15 . The cigarette of  claim 10 , comprising from about 10 mg to about 200 mg of the flavored carbon.  
     
     
         16 . A method of making a cigarette filter, said method comprising: 
 (i) providing flavored carbon produced according to the process of  claim 1 , and    (ii) incorporating the flavored carbon into a cigarette filter.    
     
     
         17 . A method of making a cigarette, said method comprising: 
 (i) providing a cut filler to a cigarette making machine to form a tobacco rod;    (ii) placing a paper wrapper around the tobacco rod;    (iii) providing a cigarette filter according to  claim 16;  and    (iv) attaching the cigarette filter to the tobacco rod to form the cigarette.