Tobacco Plant Derived Dye and Process of Making the Same

Abstract

A dye produced from tobacco plant materials selected from tobacco plants and a process for making the dye from the tobacco plants. In a preferred embodiment, the tobacco plants are organically grown and the stems and leaves of the plants are utilized to produce the dye. In one embodiment, the process percolates a hot liquid solution onto the plant materials to produce tobacco plant fiber and the dye. In the preferred embodiment, the process includes the steps of grinding the plant materials, adding treated water to form a solution, adding plant enzymes, heating the solution for set periods of time and selectively adjusting the pH level of the solution. The dye can be produced in many colors and does not require a mordant to bind. The process does not produce waste. The process expands the use of tobacco plants, minimizes environmental impacts and requires less material, fuel and other resources.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dye comprising a solution of tobacco plant materials and one or more plant enzymes. 
     
     
         2 . The dye of  claim 1 , wherein said tobacco plant materials comprise at least one of leaves and stems from a tobacco plant. 
     
     
         3 . The dye of  claim 2 , wherein said tobacco plant is at least substantially organically grown. 
     
     
         4 . The dye of  claim 1 , wherein said tobacco plant materials in said solution have been grinded by a grinding apparatus and mixed with water prior to being mixed with said one or more plant enzymes. 
     
     
         5 . A process for producing a dye from a tobacco plant, said process comprising the steps of:
 a) selecting one or more tobacco plant materials from said tobacco plant for processing into said dye; and   b) treating said tobacco plant materials with water to transform said tobacco plant materials into a solution.   
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 5 , wherein said tobacco plant is at least substantially organically grown. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 5 , wherein said treating step is accomplished with a treating system that is at least substantially a closed-loop system. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 5 , wherein said treating step comprises exposing said tobacco plant material to a hot liquid solution for a sufficient amount of time to transform said tobacco plant materials into a pulp material and removing excess liquid from said tobacco plant materials to produce said dye from said excess liquid. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein said treating step comprises percolating said hot liquid solution onto said tobacco plant materials. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein said hot liquid solution comprises water, ammonia-dioxide and sulphur-dioxide. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 5  further comprising the step of grinding said tobacco plant materials prior to said treating step. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 5  further comprising the step of adding one or more enzymes to said solution after said treating step, heating said solution after said adding step and adjusting a pH level of said solution after said heating step. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein said one or more enzymes are plant enzymes. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 5  further comprising the step of transferring said solution into a process vessel through a titanium filter. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 14  further comprising the step of blending said solution with a blender after said transferring step. 
     
     
         16 . A process for producing a dye from a tobacco plant, said process comprising the steps of:
 a) selecting one or more tobacco plant materials from said tobacco plant for processing into said dye;   b) grinding said tobacco plant materials;   c) adding water to said tobacco plant materials to produce a first solution;   d) adding a first enzyme cocktail to said first solution to produce a second solution;   e) heating said second solution;   f) adding a second enzyme cocktail to said second solution to produce a third solution;   g) heating said third solution;   h) cooling said third solution; and   l) adjusting a pH level of said third solution.   
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein said adjusting step is accomplished by interacting said third solution with one or more titanium plates. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 16  further comprising the step of blending said third solution in a blender, said adjusting step accomplished by interacting said third solution with titanium in or associated with said blender. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 16  further comprising the steps of adjusting a pH level of said first solution prior to said first enzyme cocktail adding step, adjusting a pH level of said second solution prior to said second enzyme cocktail adding step and adjusting a pH level of said third solution prior to said third solution heating step. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 16  further comprising the steps of transferring said third solution into a process vessel through a filter having one or more titanium plates before said adjusting step and blending said third solution with a blender having one or more titanium blades after said transferring step, said adjusting step accomplished by interacting said third solution with said titanium plates and said titanium blades.