Tobacco powder supported catalyst particles

Abstract

Cut filler compositions, cigarettes, methods for making cut filler compositions and cigarettes, and methods for treating mainstream tobacco smoke of cigarettes are provided that use catalyst particles capable of converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The catalyst particles are supported on tobacco powder. The tobacco powder supported catalyst particles can be prepared by dry admixing the catalyst particles and tobacco powder or by combining a dispersion of catalyst particles with the tobacco powder.

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the admixture comprises:
 a dry admixture; and/or   from about 0.1 to 50 wt. % or from about 10 to 30 wt. % catalyst particles supported on tobacco powder particles.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the catalyst particles:
 have an average particle size of less than about 5 μm or less than about 50 nm.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein both the catalyst particles and tobacco powder particles in the cigarette are each substantially moisture-free; and/or
 wherein the catalyst particles at least partially cover the surfaces of the tobacco powder particles; and/or   wherein the admixture of catalyst particles and tobacco powder particles comprises up to about 25% by weight of the tobacco cut filler; and/or   wherein the admixture of catalyst particles and tobacco powder are present in the cigarette in an amount effective to convert at least 10% of the carbon monoxide in mainstream smoke to carbon dioxide; and/or   wherein the admixture comprises from about 0.1 to 50 wt. % or from about 10 to 30 wt. % catalyst particles supported on tobacco powder particles.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tobacco powder particles have an average particle size of less than 500 microns, less than 100 microns, or less than 40 microns. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cigarette comprises:
 up to about 200 mg of the catalyst particles per cigarette; and/or   up to about 250 mg of the admixture per cigarette.   
     
     
         12 . A method of making a cigarette, comprising:
 (i) combining catalyst particles with tobacco powder particles to form an admixture comprising catalyst particles supported on the tobacco powder particles;   (ii) incorporating the admixture on and/or in at least one of tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper;   (iii) providing the cut filler to a cigarette making machine to form a tobacco column; and   (iv) placing the paper around the tobacco column to form a tobacco rod of a cigarette.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising combining catalyst particles comprising one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of Group IB, IIB, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IIIA and IVA elements of the Periodic Table of Elements with tobacco powder particles to form the admixture. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 combining catalyst particles comprising copper manganese spinel, manganese oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, cerium oxide and mixtures thereof with tobacco powder particles to form the admixture; and/or   combining the catalyst particles and the tobacco powder particles in the absence of a liquid to form the admixture; and/or   combining catalyst particles having an average diameter of less than about 5 microns with the tobacco powder particles to form the admixture; and/or   combining the catalyst particles with tobacco powder particles having an average diameter of less than 500 microns, less than 100 microns, or less than 40 microns to form the admixture; and/or   combining the catalyst particles with the tobacco powder particles in an amount to at least partially cover the surface of the tobacco powder particles with the catalyst particles to form the admixture.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein incorporating the admixture on and/or in at least one of tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper; comprises:
 incorporating the admixture on and/or in at least one of the tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper in the absence of a liquid; and/or   incorporating the admixture on and/or in at least one of the tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper by dusting the admixture onto at least one of the tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein incorporating the admixture on and/or in at least one of tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper; comprises:
 incorporating an admixture having from about 0.1 to 50 wt. % or from about 10 to 30 wt. % catalyst particles supported on tobacco powder particles on and/or in at least one of the tobacco cut filter and cigarette paper; and/or   incorporating the admixture on and/or in tobacco cut filler in an amount effective to convert at least 10% of the carbon monoxide in the mainstream smoke to carbon dioxide; and/or   incorporating the admixture on and/or in cigarette paper in an amount effective to convert at least 10% of the carbon monoxide in the mainstream smoke to carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising forming the admixture by:
 combining catalyst particles with a liquid to form a dispersion;   combining the dispersion with the tobacco powder particles; and   drying the tobacco powder particles to a remove the liquid and deposit the catalyst particles on and/or in the tobacco powder particles to form the admixture.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the combining catalyst particles with a liquid to form a dispersion comprises:
 combining catalyst particles comprising copper manganese spinel, manganese oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide and/or cerium oxide with the liquid to form the dispersion; and/or   combining the catalyst particles with a liquid selected from the group consisting of water, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, chloroform, aldehydes, ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons, hexanes and mixtures thereof to form a dispersion.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the dispersion is sprayed onto the tobacco powder particles. 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating mainstream tobacco smoke of the cigarette made by the method of  claim 12 , comprising lighting the cigarette to form smoke and drawing the smoke through the cigarette, wherein the catalyst particles act as a catalyst and/or oxidant for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.