In the description that follows reference is made to certain structures and methods, however, such references should not necessarily be construed as an admission that these structures and methods qualify as prior art under the applicable statutory provisions. Applicants reserve the right to demonstrate that any of the referenced subject matter does not constitute prior art.
Cigarettes produce both mainstream smoke during a puff and sidestream smoke during static burning. Constituents of both mainstream smoke and sidestream smoke are carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO). There is an interest in reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide in mainstream and sidestream smoke.
A cigarette comprises a tobacco rod wrapped in a cigarette wrapper, wherein the cigarette wrapper comprises a catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper having a fibrous web, an optional web-filler material supported by the web, and catalyst particles supported by the web and/or the web-filler material. Catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper comprises a fibrous web, an optional web-filler material supported by the web, and catalyst particles supported by the web and/or the web-filler material.
The catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper defines a plurality of channels that run axially along the length of the cigarette. The corrugations are preferably sized such that their spacing, peak to valley, is less than their height. A preferred catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper is a composite wrapper further comprising a non-corrugated paper wrapper wrapped around the catalyst-modified corrugated paper wrapper. The non-corrugated outer wrapper can be substantially free of catalyst particles or can comprise catalyst particles on an inner surface thereof. A further preferred composite wrapper comprises a gas permeable inner wrapper.
The catalyst particles (e.g., nanoscale catalyst particles) can be incorporated in the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper in an amount effective to reduce the concentration in mainstream smoke of carbon monoxide and/or nitric oxide during smoking of a cigarette comprising the wrapper.
Preferred catalyst particles, which can be coated on an exposed surface of the paper or supported within the fibrous web of the paper (e.g., supported on web-filler material such as calcium carbonate), comprise a transition metal oxide and/or a transition metal hydroxide such as oxides and/or hydroxides of iron. Preferred catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper has a permeability of between about 5 and 80 Coresta units.
A method of making a cigarette comprising a catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper comprises (i) optionally supporting catalyst particles on a web-filler material to form a catalyst-modified web-filler, (ii) incorporating catalyst particles and/or catalyst-modified web-filler in cigarette paper to form catalytic cigarette paper, (iii) forming corrugations in cigarette paper to form a corrugated cigarette paper, (iv) providing cut filler comprising tobacco to a cigarette making machine, and (v) placing the corrugated cigarette paper around the cut filler to form a tobacco rod portion of the cigarette. Optionally, a non-corrugated second wrapper can be placed around the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper. The non-corrugated second wrapper can be free of catalyst particles or can have catalyst particles incorporated on an inner surface thereof. In a further embodiment, a gas permeable inner wrapper can be formed around the cut filler prior to forming the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper around the cut filler.
A method of manufacturing catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper comprises (i) forming cigarette paper, (ii) forming corrugations in the cigarette paper, and (iii) incorporating catalyst particles in the cigarette paper. The steps of forming corrugations in the paper and incorporating catalyst particles in the paper can be performed in either order.
A first preferred method of manufacturing catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper comprises supplying cellulosic material and catalyst particles to a head box in a forming section of a papermaking machine, the catalyst particles comprising unsupported catalyst particles and/or catalyst modified web-filler; depositing an aqueous slurry including the cellulosic material and the catalyst particles onto the forming section of the papermaking machine to form a base web with the catalyst particles distributed therein; and removing water from the base web so as to form a sheet of catalytic paper.
A second preferred method of manufacturing catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper comprises supplying cellulosic material to a head box in a forming section of a papermaking machine; depositing an aqueous slurry including the cellulosic material onto the forming section of the papermaking machine to form a base web; distributing catalyst particles on the base web; and removing water from the base web so as to form a sheet paper.
A catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper comprises a fibrous web, an optional web-filler material supported by the web, and catalyst particles supported by the web and/or the web-filler material. Catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper can be used to manufacture a cigarette and is typically consumed during smoking of the cigarette. In cigarettes comprising a catalyst-modified corrugated paper wrapper, the concentration in mainstream and sidestream smoke of carbon monoxide and/or nitric oxide can be reduced.
In cigarettes comprising catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrappers, the catalyst particles can promote the conversion of carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide (CO2) via catalysis and/or oxidation mechanisms. As an example, the catalyst particles can promote the oxidation of carbon monoxide by a gaseous source of oxygen according to the reaction MOx+2CO+O2=MOx+2CO2, where MOx represents a transition metal oxide catalyst, or a mixture of transition metal oxide catalysts (M=a transition metal such as Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ce, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt or Au), and x is a positive real number. Further, it is believed that subsequent to the catalytic reaction, the catalyst particles can oxidize carbon monoxide by donating an oxygen atom to a carbon monoxide molecule according to the equation MOx+CO=MOx−1+CO2. The oxidation of CO can proceed in the presence or absence of a gaseous source of oxygen. In addition to converting CO to CO2, the catalyst particles can promote the conversion of nitric oxide to nitrogen via catalysis and/or reduction mechanisms.
The catalyst particles can comprise transition metal oxides and/or transition metal hydroxides. Exemplary catalyst particles comprise iron oxide, iron hydroxide and/or iron oxyhydroxide. Preferred catalyst particles include α-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, FeOOH, and mixtures thereof. For instance, MACH I, Inc., King of Prussia, PA markets nanoscale particles under the trade names NANOCAT® Superfine Iron Oxide (SFIO) and NANOCAT® Magnetic Iron Oxide. The NANOCAT® Superfine Iron Oxide comprises amorphous ferric oxide (e.g., Fe2O3) in the form of a free-flowing powder with an average particle size of about 3 nm, a specific surface area of about 250 m2/g, and a bulk density of about 0.05 g/cm3. The Superfine Iron Oxide is synthesized by a vapor-phase process, which renders it substantially free of impurities that may be present in conventional catalysts, and is suitable for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics. The NANOCAT® Magnetic Iron Oxide is a free-flowing powder with a particle size of about 25 nm and a surface area of about 40 m2/g. The catalyst particles can have a shape that is spherical, cubical, and/or acicular.
Other exemplary catalyst particles comprise ceria-based catalyst particles. Ceria-based catalyst particles can oxidize CO at near ambient (i.e., room) temperatures. Suitable ceria-based catalyst particles are disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,431, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference. Still further exemplary catalyst particles comprise doped metal oxides such as yttria doped with zirconium, manganese oxide doped with palladium, or mixtures of metal oxides, doped metal oxides, etc., which are disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0131859, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference.
In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst particles can comprise nanoscale particles. By “nanoscale” is meant that the catalyst particles have an average particle size of less than about 500 nanometers, preferably less than about 100 nanometers, most preferably less than about 10 nanometers. A bulk density of the catalyst particles is preferably less than about 0.3 g/cm3, more preferably less than 0.1 g/cm3. The Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) surface area of preferred catalyst particles is greater than about 10 m2/g (e.g., greater than 50,100 or 200 m2/g).
The ratio, in weight percent, of web-filler material to catalyst particles can be any suitable ratio ranging from 0% to 99%. The web-filler material, if provided, can include an oxide, carbonate or hydroxide of a Group II, Group III or Group IV metal, or the web-filler material can be selected from the group consisting of CaCO3, TiO2, SiO2, Al2O3, MgCO3, MgO, and/or Mg(OH)2. A preferred average particle size of the web-filler material is from about 0.1 to 10 micrometers, more preferably less than about 2 micrometers.
A catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper can increase the firmness and rigidity of a cigarette. Furthermore, a catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper can increase the catalytic efficiency of catalyst particles incorporated in the wrapper.
An embodiment of a cigarette having a catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper is shown in
An axial view of cigarette 100 is shown in
The corrugations provide a plurality of channels 150 adjacent to the tobacco column that run axially along the length of the cigarette. Thus, smoke (e.g., mainstream and/or sidestream smoke) flowing down the channels can pass over a relatively large area of the corrugated paper wrapper, and when compared to non-corrugated wrappers, the smoke can be in contact with a larger volume of catalyst particles that are incorporated in the wrapper.
In practice, the gas permeability (i.e., porosity) of cigarette paper can be controlled using the web-filler material 144. The permeability is measured in units of Coresta, which is defined as the volume of air, measured in cubic centimeters, that passes through one square centimeter of material in one minute at a pressure gradient of 1 kilopascal.
The permeability of the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper is preferably from about 5 Coresta units to about 80 Coresta units, and more preferably from about 30 to 35 Coresta units. Other permeabilities of the wrapper can be selected based on the application and location of the wrapper. Further, the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper can have a basis weight of from about 18 g/m2 to 60 g/m2, more preferably from about 30 g/m2 to about 45 g/m2. However, any suitable basis weight for the corrugated wrapper can be selected. The paper wrapper can have a thickness of from about 15 to 100 micrometers, more preferably from 20 to 50 micrometers.
Optionally, the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper can comprise a multi-layer (e.g., composite) wrapper. Additional layers in a multilayer wrapper can be from 0.1 to 10 times the permeability of the first layer, and can have a thickness of from 0.1 to 2 times the thickness of the first layer. In embodiments where a composite wrapper is provided (e.g., a conventional wrapper formed around a catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper), both the permeability and the thickness of the inner layer and the outer layer can be selected to achieve a desired total air permeability and total thickness for the cigarette.
A preferred cigarette comprises a composite catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper. An embodiment of a cigarette having a composite cigarette paper wrapper is shown in
An axial view of the cigarette 300 is shown in
Because the addition of catalyst particles can discolor cigarette paper, e.g., a paper wrapper becomes non-white or brown, in a preferred embodiment, an outer wrapper that is a conventional color, e.g., white, can be placed around an inner corrugated wrapper having catalyst particles incorporated therein. The outer wrapper is preferably not a corrugated wrapper and can be free of catalyst particles so as to provide a smooth outward appearance to the cigarette that is not affected by any coloration from the catalyst particles. Alternatively, catalyst particles can be incorporated in the outer wrapper. For example, catalyst particles can be coated on an inner surface of the outer wrapper in order to minimize discoloration of the outer surface of the outer wrapper.
In the embodiment illustrated in
A composite catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper can optionally further comprise an inner layer of sheet material adapted to be formed between the tobacco column and the corrugated layer. The inner layer, if provided, is preferably permeable to smoke either by virtue of a relatively porous structure or by the formation of perforations therethrough. When an inner layer of sheet material is provided, inner channels are formed between the inner layer of sheet material and the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper.
In each of the aforementioned embodiments, it is particularly preferred that the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper have a thickness that is less than a radius of the tobacco rod (i.e., such that the wrapper represents 50% or less of the diameter of a cigarette comprising the wrapper). It is further preferred that the corrugations be uniformly spaced, peak to valley, at a distance less than their height, so that a tangent to their sloping portions, assuming a regular sinusoidal waveform, makes an angle of less than about 45° (e.g., less than about 40°, 35° or 30°) with respect to a radial axis line of a cigarette comprising the wrapper.
The axially extending channels defined by the corrugations in the various embodiments may be either opened or closed and, if closed, may be closed at the mouth end of the cigarette, filter end of the cigarette, or both. If the channels are closed, it may be desirable to perforate the wrapper when dilution is desired. Closing either the inner channels or the outer channels while leaving the others open can be accomplished prior to manufacturing the cigarette.
In preferred embodiments, the channels are open. If, for example, flavoring is added to the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper, smoke and air may be drawn along the open channels toward the mouth end.
Catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper can be made by incorporating catalyst particles in corrugated cigarette paper. For example, a liquid dispersion of catalyst particles can be spray coated on at least one surface of corrugated paper. Alternatively, catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper can be made by forming corrugations in catalytic cigarette paper. Catalytic paper comprises catalyst particles that are incorporated in the paper. Preferred methods of forming catalytic paper are described herein below.
One method of forming the corrugations comprises passing a sheet of cigarette paper between two grooved or threaded rollers. The depth and pitch of the corrugations in the paper can be controlled by the geometry of the forming rollers and the pressure applied to them. When threaded rollers are used, one such roller preferably has a right-handed thread and the other such roller preferably has a left-handed thread, and they are rotated in an opposite sense so that the paper can be fed between the two rollers. The number of corrugations can be controlled by varying the number of grooves or threads on the forming rollers and may range from about 10 to about 60 per inch. The depth of the corrugations may range from about 0.01 to 0.1 inch.
According to preferred methods of forming catalytic cigarette paper, the catalyst particles can be incorporated into cigarette paper before, during, or after the papermaking/corrugation processes. According to a first embodiment, the catalyst particles can be incorporated within the fibrous web of the paper by first supporting the catalyst particles on web-filler material to form a catalyst-modified web-filler and then incorporating the catalyst-modified web-filler in the paper. In a preferred example, the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper can comprise CaCO3 web-filler or other filler material used in cigarette paper manufacture and nanoscale iron oxide catalyst particles that are supported on the web-filler material.
A catalyst-modified web-filler can be prepared by forming an aqueous slurry of catalyst particles and web-filler material and drying the slurry. Other techniques for forming a catalyst-modified web-filler include precipitating catalyst particles from a solution onto a web-filler material, or depositing (e.g., via vapor phase deposition) catalyst particles onto a web-filler material. A catalyst-modified web filler can be used as all or part of the web-filler material in the paper-making process.
Advantageously, the web-filler-supported catalyst particles such as supported nanoscale catalyst particles can exhibit a reduced tendency to agglomerate with each other during processing and a reduced tendency to leech out of the catalytic paper during or after cigarette paper manufacture.
According to a second embodiment, the catalyst particles can be incorporated in a cigarette paper by supporting the catalyst particles directly on the cellulosic fibers of the paper web. Catalyst particles can be coated (e.g., curtain coated), sprayed, or printed on a wet or dry base web. A retention aid can be used to improve the distribution and adhesion of the catalyst particles. In a further example, the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper comprises nanoscale iron oxide particles that are supported directly on the paper web.
The catalyst particles and web-filler material, if provided, can be incorporated in a cigarette paper using conventional papermaking processes. Catalyst particles and/or catalyst-modified web filler can be supplied to the papermaking process as an aqueous slurry or as a dry powder to be slurried. For example, an aqueous slurry (“furnish”) including the catalyst particles and cellulosic material can be supplied to a head box of a forming section of a Fourdrinier papermaking machine. The aqueous slurry can be supplied to the head box by one or more conduits in fluid communication with a source, such as a storage tank. Optionally, an aqueous slurry containing catalyst particles and an aqueous slurry of cellulosic material without catalyst particles or with a different concentration or type of catalyst particles can be supplied to separate head boxes.
An exemplary method deposits aqueous slurry from a head box onto a forming section so as to form a base web of cellulosic material. In a typical Fourdrinier machine, the forming section is a Fourdrinier wire arranged as an endless forming wire immediately below the head box. An opening defined in a lower portion of the head box adjacent to the endless wire permits the aqueous slurry to flow onto the top surface of the endless wire to form a wet base web.
Optionally, the aqueous slurry can be deposited onto a pre-formed support web that is retained within the paper. For example, a pre-formed support web can be transported through the forming section of a papermaking machine and can be a foundation on which the aqueous slurry is deposited. The aqueous slurry dries and the paper sheet (e.g., finished web) is formed with catalyst-modified web-filler or catalyst particles embedded therein. The support web can be a conventional web, such as a flax support web, or can include a web with an incorporated catalytic component. If the support web includes a catalytic component, the incorporated catalytic component can be supported on a web-filler material, or can be directly supported on the support web without a web-filler material.
After depositing the aqueous slurry onto the forming section, water is removed from the wet base web, and with additional processing such as further drying and pressing, if necessary, forms a sheet of catalytic paper (e.g., finished web). The catalytic paper can be corrugated in an additional processing step.
Referring to
The Fourdrinier wire 604 carries the laid slurry pulp (e.g., base web) from the head box 602 along a path in the general direction of arrow A in
Downstream of the dry line, the intermediate web 612 separates from the Fourdrinier wire 604 at a couch roll 614. From there, the Fourdrinier wire 604 continues on the return loop of its endless path. Beyond the couch roll 614, the intermediate web 612 continues on through the remainder of the papermaking system which further dries and presses the intermediate web 612, and surface conditions it to a desired final moisture content and texture to form a paper 620 (e.g., finished web). Such drying apparatus is well known in the art of papermaking, and may include drying section 616 including drying felts, vacuum devices, rolls, and/or presses, applied thermal energy, and the like.
The cigarette making machine 600 can optionally include more than one head box and/or more than one Fourdrinier wire with either separate or common furnish supply. The optional second head box 602′, suitably integrated with a run-tank and furnish supply, can lay slurry pulp onto the slurry pulp laid from the first head box 602 and carried along Fourdrinier wire 604. The second and/or additional head box can be supplied with catalyst modified web filler to a desired “chalk” level or can be free of catalyst modified web-filler, as desired based on the number of layers of slurry pulp to be deposited and/or the use of the wrapper formed from the papermaking process.
The optional second Fourdrinier wire 604′, suitably integrated with a head box 602′ laying slurry pulp on the Fourdrinier wire 604′ and draining and drying equipment, can form a second intermediate web 612′. The second intermediate web 612′ can be separated from the second Fourdrinier wire 604′ at a second couch roll 214′ and laid on the first intermediate web 612 from the Fourdrinier wire 604 to be processed into double layer paper. Multiple optional Fourdrinier wires can be employed to form multiple layer paper having any desired number of layers, such as three, four and so forth, up to ten to twelve layers.
A method of manufacturing catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper comprises forming cigarette paper, forming corrugations in the cigarette paper, and incorporating catalyst particles in the cigarette paper. The step of forming corrugations in the cigarette paper can precede or follow the step of incorporating catalyst particles in the cigarette paper.
A first preferred method of manufacturing catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper comprises supplying cellulosic material and catalyst particles to a head box in a forming section of a papermaking machine, the catalyst particles comprising unsupported catalyst particles and/or catalyst modified web-filler; depositing an aqueous slurry including the cellulosic material and the catalyst particles onto the forming section of the papermaking machine to form a base web with the catalyst particles distributed therein; and removing water from the base web so as to form a sheet of catalytic paper.
A second preferred method of manufacturing catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper comprises supplying cellulosic material to a head box in a forming section of a papermaking machine; depositing an aqueous slurry including the cellulosic material onto the forming section of the papermaking machine to form a base web; distributing catalyst particles on the base web; and removing water from the base web so as to form a sheet paper.
The catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper can comprise a laminated, bi-layer or multilayer catalytic paper. Examples of bi-layer and multilayer paper are disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,098, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference. In an embodiment of a bi-layer or multilayer catalytic paper, at least one of a first layer and a second layer can include the catalyst particles described in embodiments herein.
Single layer, bi-layer or multilayer catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper may be made using ordinary paper furnish such as pulped wood, flax fibers, or any standard cellulosic fiber. Preferably, flax fibers are used. Different fillers, including different catalytic fillers such as the catalyst modified web-filler described herein, or different fibers may be used for each layer and may be contained in different head boxes. For example, a first head box can hold the materials for a catalytic paper and a second head box can hold the materials for a conventional paper wrapper.
Additional methods of forming catalyst-modified web-filler material and methods of incorporating web-filler material and catalyst-modified web-filler material in cigarette paper are disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0051185 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/870,449, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Additional examples of papermaking processes include the method for making banded smoking article wrappers disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,484, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference, and the method for producing paper having a plurality of regions of variable basis weight in the cross direction disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,474,095 and 5,997,691, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper can be used as a wrapper for conventional cigarettes or non-conventional cigarettes such as cigarettes for electrical smoking systems described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,026,820; 5,988,176; 5,915,387; 5,692,526; 5,692,525; 5,666,976; 5,499,636 and 5,388,594 or non-traditional types of cigarettes having a fuel rod such as are described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,951, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper is preferably adapted to surround the cut filler to form a tobacco rod. In addition to cellulose, the wrapper material can comprise hemp, kenaf, esparto grass, rice straw and mixtures thereof. Optional filler materials such as flavor additives and burning additives can be included.
In cigarette manufacture, the tobacco is normally employed in the form of cut filler, i.e., in the form of shreds or strands cut into widths ranging from about 1/10inch to about 1/20inch or even 1/40inch. The lengths of the strands typically range from between about 0.25 inches to about 3.0 inches. The cigarettes may further comprise one or more flavorants or other additives (e.g., burn additives, combustion modifying agents, coloring agents, binders, etc.).
Any suitable tobacco mixture may be used for the cut filler. Examples of suitable types of tobacco materials include flue cured, Burley, Bright, Maryland or Oriental tobaccos, the rare or specialty tobaccos, and blends thereof. The tobacco material can be provided in the form of tobacco lamina, processed tobacco materials such as volume expanded or puffed tobacco, processed tobacco stems such as cut-rolled or cut-puffed stems, reconstituted tobacco materials, or blends thereof. The tobacco can also include tobacco substitutes.
A method of making a cigarette comprising a catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper comprises (i) optionally supporting catalyst particles on a web-filler material to form a catalyst-modified web-filler, (ii) incorporating catalyst particles and/or catalyst-modified web-filler in cigarette paper to form catalytic cigarette paper, (iii) forming corrugations in cigarette paper to form a corrugated cigarette paper, (iv) providing cut filler comprising tobacco to a cigarette making machine; and (v) placing the corrugated cigarette paper around the cut filler to form a tobacco rod portion of the cigarette.
During the smoking of a cigarette, oxygen diffuses into the cigarette through the lit end and through the paper wrapper, and CO and NO in mainstream smoke flow axially toward the filter end and radially out of the cigarette through the paper wrapper. After a typical 2-second puff, CO and NO are concentrated in the periphery of the cigarette, i.e., proximate to the cigarette wrapper, in front of the burn zone. The oxygen concentration is high in the same region as high CO and NO concentrations due to diffusion of O2 into the cigarette. Airflow into the tobacco rod is largest near the burn zone at the periphery of the cigarette and is approximately proportional to the gradient of temperature, e.g., larger airflow is associated with higher temperature gradients.
In a typical cigarette, the temperature varies from about 850-900° C. near the periphery of the cigarette at the burn zone to about 300° C. near the center of the cigarette. The temperature drops further to near ambient temperature at the filter end. The temperature gradient at the lit end is very large and within a few of mm in the axial direction of the burn zone, the temperature drops from about 900° C. to about 200° C. Further information on airflow patterns, the formation of constituents in cigarettes during smoking and smoke formation and delivery can be found in Richard R. Baker, “Mechanism of Smoke Formation and Delivery”, Recent Advances in Tobacco Science, vol. 6, pp. 184-224, (1980) and Richard R. Baker, “Variation of the Gas Formation Regions within a Cigarette Combustion Coal during the Smoking Cycle”, Beiträge zur Tabakforschung International, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1-17, (1981), the contents of both are incorporated herein by reference.
The loading (e.g., amount), type (e.g., composition, size, shape, etc.) and distribution (e.g., homogeneous or heterogeneous) of catalyst particles in the catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper can be selected as a function of the temperature and airflow characteristics exhibited in a burning cigarette in order to adjust, i.e., increase, decrease, minimize or maximize, the conversion rate of CO to CO2 and/or the conversion rate of NO to N2.
The catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper can comprise one or more different kinds of catalyst particles. Low temperature and even room temperature catalysts can extend the effective region of the reaction zone for CO to C02 and/or NO to N2 conversion to any desired length along the cigarette.
Catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrappers can be selected to operate in a given temperature range or in a plurality of temperature ranges, and the wrapper can be manufactured such that certain catalyst particles are incorporated into those portions of the wrapper that are predicted to coincide with the appropriate temperature for operation of the catalyst. Methods for selectively incorporating catalyst particles in different regions of a cigarette paper web and for incorporating different catalyst particles in a cigarette paper web are disclosed in co-pending, commonly-owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0051185, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Although the catalyst is described as having an operating temperature, the terminology operating temperature refers to the preferred temperature for conversion of CO to C02 and/or NO to N2. The catalyst may convert CO and/or NO outside the described temperature range, but the conversion rate may be affected.
In any of the examples described herein, the catalyst particles can be distributed homogeneously or non-homogeneously within a catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper.
In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst particles are incorporated in the catalyst paper in an amount effective to convert at least 25% of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and at least 25% of nitric oxide to nitrogen at a temperature of less than 400° C. More preferably, the catalyst particles can convert at least 50% of carbon monoxide and at least 50% of nitric oxide at a temperature of less than 400° C.
Any of the wrappers, cigarettes or methods described herein can include additional additives conventionally used in wrappers for cigarettes. These additives can include, for example, additives to control the appearance, e.g., color, of the wrapper, additives to control the burn rate of the wrapper, and/or additives to result in a desired ash appearance.
The catalyst-modified corrugated cigarette paper wrapper can be effective to (1) reduce the concentration in mainstream smoke and/or sidestream smoke of carbon monoxide and/or nitric oxide; (2) decrease particle entrainment in mainstream smoke because the catalyst particles are embedded in or adhered to the wrapper and/or web-filler; (3) increase the catalytic, oxidative and/or reduction efficiency of the catalyst particles; and/or (4) increase the mechanical integrity of the wrapper.
The terminology “mainstream” smoke refers to the mixture of gases and particles passing down a tobacco rod and issuing through the filter end, i.e., the amount of smoke issuing or drawn from the mouth end of a cigarette during smoking of the cigarette. Mainstream smoke contains smoke drawn in through both the lighted region and through the cigarette paper wrapper. “Sidestream” smoke is the smoke given off by a cigarette between puffs (i.e., during static burning).
The terms “comprises” and “comprising” as used herein are taken to specify the presence of stated features, steps, or components; but the use of these terms does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, components, or groups thereof.
All of the above-mentioned references are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual reference was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that variations and modifications may be resorted to as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications are to be considered within the purview and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional Application No. 60/754,897, filed on Dec. 30, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60754897 | Dec 2005 | US |