Oxidant/catalyst nanoparticles to reduce tobacco smoke constituents such as carbon monoxide

Abstract

Cut filler compositions, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided, which involve the use of nanoparticle additives capable of reducing amounts of at least one constituent from mainstream and/or sidestream tobacco smoke, the at least one constituent being selected from the group consisting of aldehyde, carbon monoxide, 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, acrolein, acrylonitrile, hydrogen cyanide, o-toluidine, 2-naphtylamine, nitrogen oxide, benzene, N-nitrosonornicotine, phenol, catechol, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the nanoparticle additives are effective as an oxidant for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or as a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or catalyst for conversion of aldehydes such as acetaldehyde and acrolein, hydrocarbons such as isoprene and/or phenolic compounds such as catechol to carbon dioxide and water vapor.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . A method of treating mainstream tobacco smoke comprising: 
 lighting a cigarette comprising a cut filler composition and at least one nanosized catalyst to form smoke and drawing mainstream smoke through the cigarette, wherein the at least one nanosized catalyst is capable of (a) converting isoprene and/or catechol to carbon dioxide and water vapor, and (b) conversing at least one aldehyde, hydrocarbon and/or phenolic compound to carbon dioxide and water vapor.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one nanosized catalyst also reduces at least one additional tobacco smoke constituent comprising nitrogen oxide.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one nanosized catalyst also reduces at least one additional tobacco smoke constituent selected from the group consisting of 2-naphtylamine, phenol, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one nanosized catalyst also reduces at least one additional tobacco smoke constituent selected from the group consisting of acrolein, acrylonitrile, hydrogen cyanide, N-nitrosonornicotine, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, and mixtures thereof.