A method for treating tobacco material and treated tobacco material

Abstract

A method for treating tobacco material, the method comprising: providing a tobacco material, fermenting the tobacco material to obtain fermented tobacco material, the fermenting step including: # incubating the tobacco material under anaerobic conditions; # stopping the fermentation when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: # the content of Lactic Acid is more than 10 times, preferably more than 20 times, more preferably more than 50 times, more preferably more than 70 times, preferably more than 80 times an initial amount of Lactic Acid in the tobacco material, # the content of Reducing Sugars is lower than 0.5, preferably lower than 0.4, more preferably below 0.2, more preferably below 0.1 an initial amount or Reducing Sugars in the tobacco material, # the content of Indole-3 Lactic Acid is more than 5 times, preferably more than 10 times, preferably more than 20 times, an initial amount of Indole-3 Lactic Acid in the tobacco material, # the content of caffeic acid is more than 4 times, preferably more than 10 times, preferably more than 20 times, an initial amount of caffeic acid in the tobacco material. # the content of quinic acid is more than 2 times, preferably more than 4 times, an initial amount of quinic acid in the tobacco material, # the content of asparagine is lower than 0.5, preferably lower than 0.4, preferably lower than 0.3 an initial amount or asparagine in the tobacco material, # the content of Glutamine is lower than 0.5, preferably lower than 0.4 an initial amount or Glutamine in the tobacco material, # the content of L-Ornithine is more than 10 times, preferably more than 20 times, preferably more than 50 times, preferably more than 100 times an initial amount of L-Ornithine in the tobacco material, # the content of L-Leucine is more than 2 times, preferably more than 4 times, an initial amount of L-Leucine in the tobacco material, # the content of L-Lysine is more than 2 times, preferably more than 6 times, an initial amount of L-Lysine in the tobacco material, # the fermentation index is more than 50, preferably more than 100, more preferably more than 250, more preferably more 400, wherein the fermentation index is obtained dividing the ratio between the content of Lactic Acid in the treated tobacco material and the content of Lactic Acid in the non-fermented tobacco material by the ratio between the content of Reducing Sugars in the treated tobacco material and the content of Reducing Sugars in the non-fermented tobacco material.

1 . Method for treating tobacco material, the method comprising:
 providing a tobacco material;   fermenting the tobacco material to obtain fermented tobacco material, the fermenting step including:   incubating the tobacco material under anaerobic conditions;   stopping the fermentation when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:   the content of Lactic Acid is more than 10 times, preferably more than 20 times, more preferably more than 50 times, more preferably more than 70 times, preferably more than 80 times an initial amount of Lactic Acid in the tobacco material,   the content of Reducing Sugars is lower than 0.5, preferably lower than 0.4, more preferably below 0.2, more preferably below 0.1 an initial amount or Reducing Sugars in the tobacco material,   the content of Indole-3 Lactic Acid is more than 5 times, preferably more than 10 times, preferably more than 20 times, an initial amount of Indole-3 Lactic Acid in the tobacco material,   the content of caffeic acid is more than 4 times, preferably more than 10 times, preferably more than 20 times, an initial amount of caffeic acid in the tobacco material,   the content of quinic acid is more than 2 times, preferably more than 4 times, an initial amount of quinic acid in the tobacco material,   the content of asparagine is lower than 0.5, preferably lower than 0.4, preferably lower than 0.3 an initial amount or asparagine in the tobacco material,   the content of Glutamine is lower than 0.5, preferably lower than 0.4 an initial amount or Glutamine in the tobacco material,   the content of L-Ornithine is more than 10 times, preferably more than 20 times, preferably more than 50 times, preferably more than 100 times an initial amount of L-Ornithine in the tobacco material,   the content of L-Leucine is more than 2 times, preferably more than 4 times, an initial amount of L-Leucine in the tobacco material,   the content of L-Lysine is more than 2 times, preferably more than 6 times, an initial amount of L-Lysine in the tobacco material,   the fermentation index is more than 50, preferably more than 100, more preferably more than 250, more preferably more 400, wherein the fermentation index is obtained dividing the ratio between the content of Lactic Acid in the treated tobacco material and the content of Lactic Acid in the non-fermented tobacco material by the ratio between the content of Reducing Sugars in the treated tobacco material and the content of Reducing Sugars in the non-fermented tobacco material.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1  and further comprising an initial measuring step for measuring the initial content of at least one Lactic Acid, or Reducing Sugars, or Indole-3 Lactic Acid, or quinic acid, or caffeic acid, or L-Ornithine, or Asparagine, or Glutamine, or L-Leucine, or L-Lysine, or fermentation index in the tobacco material. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1  and further comprising a measuring step for measuring the content of at least one Lactic Acid, or Reducing Sugars, or Indole-3 Lactic Acid, or quinic acid, or caffeic acid, or L-Ornithine, or Asparagine, or Glutamine or L-Leucine, or L-Lysine, or fermentation index in the tobacco material during the fermenting step. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein if the tobacco material contains dark tobacco, it is provided for stopping the fermentation when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: the content of 2,3 butanediol is more than 5 times, preferably more than 10 times, an initial amount of 2,3 butanediol in the tobacco material, or the content of diacetyl is more than 5 times, preferably more than 10 times, an initial amount of diacetyl in the tobacco material. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 4  and further comprising an initial measurement step for measuring the initial content of 2,3 butanediol or diacetyl in the tobacco material before the fermentation so as to obtain an initial amount respectively of 2,3 butanediol or diacetyl in the tobacco material. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein during the fermenting step it is provided for applying a pressure to the tobacco material comprised between 1000 kilograms per square meter and 15000 kilograms per square meter, preferably between 3000 kilograms per square meter and 12000 kilograms per square meter, more preferably between 5000 kilograms per square meter and 10000 kilograms per square meter. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein it is provided for continuing the fermenting step for a fermentation time of at least 1 month, preferably at least 2 months, more preferably at least 4 months, more preferably at least 6 months, even more preferably at least 8 months, preferably at least 10 months, more preferably at least 12 months. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein during the fermenting step it is provided for keeping the temperature of the tobacco material comprised between 21 degrees Celsius and 35 degrees Celsius, preferably between 25 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         9 . Tobacco material comprising:
 a) at least one of the following compounds:
 Lactic Acid in an amount that is more than 10 times, preferably more than 20 times, more preferably more than 50 times, more preferably more than 70 times, more preferably more than 80 times, an initial amount of Lactic Acid in the tobacco material. 
 Reducing Sugars in an amount that is lower than 0.5, preferably lower than 0.4, more preferably below 0.2, more preferably below 0.1 an initial amount or Reducing Sugars in the tobacco material, 
 Indole-3 Lactic Acid in an amount that is more than 5 times, preferably more than 10 times, preferably more than 20 times, an initial amount of Indole-3 Lactic Acid in the tobacco material. 
 caffeic acid in an amount that is more than 4 times, preferably more than 10 times, an initial amount of caffeic acid in the tobacco material, 
 quinic acid in an amount that is more than 2 times, preferably more than 4 times, an initial amount of quinic acid in the tobacco material, 
 asparagine in an amount that is lower than 0.5, preferably lower than 0.4, preferably lower than 0.3 an initial amount or asparagine in the tobacco material, 
 Glutamine in an amount that is lower than 0.5, preferably lower than 0.4 an initial amount or Glutamine in the tobacco material, 
 L-Ornithine is more than 10 times, preferably more than 50 times, preferably more than 100 times an initial amount of L-Ornithine in the tobacco material, 
 L-Leucine in an amount that is more than 2 times, preferably more than 4 times, an initial amount of L-Leucine, 
 L-Lysine in an amount that is more than 2 times, preferably more than 6 times, an initial amount of L-Lysine, 
 a fermentation index is more than 50, preferably more than 100, more preferably more than 250, more preferably more 400, wherein the fermentation index is obtained dividing the ratio between the content of Lactic Acid in the tobacco material and the content of Lactic Acid in the non-fermented tobacco material by the ratio between the content of Reducing Sugars in the tobacco material and the content of Reducing Sugars in the non-fermented tobacco material; or 
   b) less than 300 milligrams per kilogram of asparagine in total dry weight basis; or   c) less than 70 milligrams per kilogram of glutamine in total dry weight basis; or   d) more than 10000 milligrams per kilogram in total dry weight basis of total free amino acids; or   e) at least 1 microgram per gram, preferably at least 2 micrograms per gram, more preferably at least 2.5 micrograms per gram of Indole-3 Lactic Acid in total dry weight basis.   
     
     
         10 . Tobacco material according to  claim 9 , wherein said tobacco material is obtained by a process comprising fermenting the tobacco material to obtain treated tobacco material, including: incubating the tobacco material under anaerobic conditions. 
     
     
         11 . Tobacco material according to  claim 9 , wherein the tobacco material is cured. 
     
     
         12 . Tobacco material according to  claim 9 , wherein the tobacco material is grinded. 
     
     
         13 . Aerosol generating article comprising a tobacco material containing between about 2.5 percent by weight in total dry weight basis and 100 percent by weight in total dry weight basis, preferably at least about 4 percent by weight in total dry weight basis, preferably at least about 10 percent by weight in total dry weight basis, preferably at least about 20 percent by weight in total dry weight basis of a the tobacco material according to  claim 9 .