Homogenised botanical material comprising a basic ph modifier

Abstract

A homogenised botanical material is provided, including a particulate plant material, a content of which is greater than or equal to about 60% by weight, on a dry weight basis; an aerosol former; and a basic pH modifier having a solubility in water of less than or equal to about 0.1 g/100 mL water at 20° C. and 1 atm, the basic pH modifier including one or more basic inorganic salts selected from the group consisting of: alkaline earth metal hydrogen carbonates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, and alkaline earth metal phosphates.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A homogenised botanical material, comprising:
 a particulate plant material, a content of which is greater than or equal to about 60% by weight, on a dry weight basis;   an aerosol former; and   a basic pH modifier having a solubility in water of less than or equal to about 0.1 g/100 mL water at 20° C. and 1 atm, the basic pH modifier comprising one or more basic inorganic salts selected from the group consisting of: alkaline earth metal hydrogen carbonates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, and alkaline earth metal phosphates.   
     
     
         16 . The homogenised botanical material according to  claim 15 , wherein the basic pH modifier further comprises one or more basic inorganic salts selected from the group consisting of: magnesium hydrogen carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium phosphate, and calcium phosphate. 
     
     
         17 . The homogenised botanical material according to  claim 15 , wherein the homogenised botanical material has a pH greater than or equal to about 5.5. 
     
     
         18 . The homogenised botanical material according to  claim 15 , wherein the homogenised botanical material has a pH less than or equal to about 8.0. 
     
     
         19 . The homogenised botanical material according to  claim 15 , wherein the homogenised botanical material has a pH of between about 6.0 and about 7.5. 
     
     
         20 . The homogenised botanical material according to  claim 15 , wherein the homogenised botanical material has an aerosol former content of between about 5% and about 25% by weight on a dry weight basis. 
     
     
         21 . The homogenised botanical material according to  claim 15 , further comprising a lipid having a melting point of between about 50° C. and about 150° C. 
     
     
         22 . The homogenised botanical material according to  claim 15 , wherein the homogenised botanical material is a homogenised tobacco material and the particulate plant material is tobacco. 
     
     
         23 . A sheet of homogenised botanical material, comprising a homogenised botanical material according to  claim 15 . 
     
     
         24 . An aerosol-generating rod, comprising a gathered sheet of the homogenised botanical material according to  claim 23  circumscribed by a wrapper. 
     
     
         25 . An aerosol-generating article for an electrically-operated aerosol-generating system, the aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating rod according to  claim 24 . 
     
     
         26 . An aerosol-generating article, comprising a combustible heat source and an aerosol-generating rod according to  claim 24  disposed downstream of the combustible heat source. 
     
     
         27 . A method of making a cast sheet of homogenised botanical material, comprising the steps of:
 combining particulate plant material, an aerosol former, and a basic pH modifier having a solubility in water of less about 0.1 g/100 mL water at 20° C. and 1 atm to form a slurry, the basic pH modifier comprising one or more basic inorganic salts selected from the group consisting of: alkaline earth metal hydrogen carbonates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, and alkaline earth metal phosphates;   casting the slurry onto a support surface;   drying the cast slurry to form the cast sheet of homogenised botanical material, wherein a particulate plant content of the cast sheet of homogenised botanical material is greater than or equal to about 60% by weight on a dry weight basis; and   removing the cast sheet of homogenised botanical material from the support surface.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising the steps of:
 gathering the cast sheet of homogenised botanical material transversely relative to a longitudinal axis thereof;   circumscribing the gathered cast sheet of homogenised botanical material with a wrapper to form a rod; and   severing the rod into a plurality of discrete aerosol-generating rods.