Method and composition for mentholation of charcoal filtered cigarettes

Abstract

The present invention relates to smoking articles such as cigarettes, and in particular to a method and composition for mentholation of smoking articles, including microencapsulation of menthol or other flavorants in a material melting below the pyrolysis zone of the smoking article.

1 . A smoking composition comprising a smokable material, a plurality of microcapsules, and a filter, the smoking composition comprising a cigarette, wherein the smokable material comprises a tobacco, the filter comprises an activated charcoal or an activated carbon, and the microcapsules comprise a shell material and a filler material, wherein the filler material comprises menthol, and wherein the shell material comprises a waxy thermomeltable material having a melting point of from about 35° C. to about 200° C.  
   
   
       2 . A smoking composition comprising a smokable material and a plurality of microcapsules, the microcapsules comprising a shell material and a filler material, wherein the shell material melts upon exposure to a temperature above an ambient temperature and below a pyrolysis temperature of the smokable material, whereby the filler material is released into a mainstream smoke, a sidestream smoke, or both the mainstream smoke and the sidestream smoke.  
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the smokable material comprises tobacco.  
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the tobacco has a reduced nicotine content or a negligible nicotine content.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the tobacco has a reduced content of a nitrosamine or a negligible content of a nitrosamine.  
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the filler material comprises a flavorant.  
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the flavorant comprises menthol.  
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the smoking composition further comprises a filter.  
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the filter further comprises an activated charcoal or an activated carbon.  
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the filter is a cavity filter.  
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the cavity filter is at least about 95 vol. % filled.  
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the cavity filter is about 100 vol. % filled.  
   
   
       13 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the shell material comprises a waxy thermomeltable material having a melting point of from about 35° C. to about 200° C.  
   
   
       14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the waxy thermomeltable material is selected from the group consisting of carnauba wax, montan wax, ouricury wax, candelilla wax, coconut wax, paraffin wax, beeswax, spermaceti wax, microcrystalline wax, rice wax, low molecular weight polyethylene wax, stearic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, stearylamide, stearone, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the shell material comprises a water insoluble polymer.  
   
   
       16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the water insoluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, ureaformaldehyde resins, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polymethyl-methacrylates, nylon, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the shell material comprises a water soluble polymer.  
   
   
       18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the water soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, water soluble celluloses, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer, methyl vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymer, polyethylene oxides, water soluble polyamide, water soluble polyesters, polymers of acrylic acid, polystyrene acrylic acid copolymers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the shell material is selected from the group consisting of starch, gums, gelatin, dextrins, hydrolyzed gums, hydrolyzed gelatin, gum arabic, larch, pectin, tragacanth, locust bean, guar, alginates, carrageenans, carboxy methyl cellulose, karaya, maltodextrins, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       20 . A method for providing a smokable material comprising a volatile flavorant, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of microcapsules comprising a shell material and a filler material, the filler material comprising a volatile flavorant, wherein the shell material melts upon exposure to a temperature above an ambient temperature and below a pyrolysis temperature of the smokable material; and    depositing the microcapsules on the smokable material, whereby a smokable material comprising a volatile flavorant is obtained.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the smokable material comprises tobacco.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the volatile flavorant comprises menthol.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the shell material comprises a waxy thermomeltable material having a melting point of from about 35° C. to about 200° C.