Patent Application
20070295344
The invention can be described in greater detail with the aid of the following drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram showing the functional blocks used to implement the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exemplary flow diagram presenting the method of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a exemplary block diagram of the testing sequences used in a Palladium Application Study;
FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram for the Casing Train measurement;
FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram for the Drying Train measurement;
FIG. 6 is test data from the Pd Level testing;
FIG. 7 is test data from the pH Level testing; and
FIG. 8 is test data from the Nitrate Nitrogen testing.
The exemplary system block diagram of FIG. 1 shows the apparatus of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 1 presents an apparatus for application comprising a cutter unit 1; a feeder unit 3; a Pd Salt Solution Preparation Unit 5; a Pd Application Cylinder 7; a dryer unit 9; and a Final Flavoring Cylinder 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the cutter unit 1 receives and a cut prepared filler and is connected to the feeder unit 3. The feeder unit 3 receives tobacco cut filler 4 from the cutter unit 1 and feeds filler 8 to the Pd Salt Solution Application Cylinder 7. The Pd Salt Solution Application Cylinder 7 receives filler 8 from the feed unit 3 and sprays the filler 8 with a metered Pd Salt solution 12 from the Pd Salt Solution Preparation unit 5. The dryer unit 9 receives sprayed filler 16 from the Pd Salt Solution Application Cylinder 7 and dries the sprayed filler 16. The Final Flavoring Cylinder 11 receives the dried filler 20 from the dryer unit 9 and sprays final flavor on filler 24 and sends to processed tobacco cut filler storage.
As discussed above, the metered Pd salt solution 12 is applied to the filler 8 in the Pd Application Cylinder 7. A metered Pd Salt solution 12 can be provided at the time of application by the Pd Application Cylinder 7 from the Pd Solution Tank(s) 17 of the Pd Salt Solution Preparation Unit 5, as shown in FIG. 1.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, the Pd Salt Solution 12 can be made ahead of time as a concentrated Pd Salt solution 28 supplied by a concentrated Pd Salt Source 13. The amount of concentrated Pd Salt Solution 28 is determined by a Pd Concentration Metering Unit 15 connected to the concentrated Pd Salt Source 13. The metered concentrated Pd Salt Solution 36 is provided to the Pd Salt Solution Tank(s) 17. The concentration of the concentrated Pd Salt Solution 36 can be diluted further to provide a predetermined concentration of Pd Salt Solution 12 with De-ionized water 32 supplied from a De-ionized Water Source 19. The amount of De-ionized water 32 provided to the Pd Salt Solution Tank(s) 17 is metered by a De-ionized Water Metering Unit 21. A Pd Salt Solution Metering Unit 23 provides a predetermined concentration of Pd Salt Solution 40 as the metered Pd Salt Solution 12 that is received by the Pd Application Cylinder 7 for spraying onto the tobacco cut filler 8.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary flow diagram presenting the method of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a method for applying a palladium salt solution where step 51 is preparing tobacco cut filler. In step 53 of FIG. 2, the tobacco cut filler is fed to a Pd Application Cylinder. Metering an amount of Pd Salt solution from a Pd Salt Solution tank occurs in step 55 of FIG. 2 and spraying the tobacco cut filler with the metered amount of Pd Salt Solution occurs in a Pd Application Cylinder in step 57. The sprayed tobacco cut filler is dried in a drying unit in step 59. Finally, further processing of the dried tobacco cut filler is performed in step 61, as shown in FIG. 2.
The following example test results are provided to experimentally verify the performance of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, five different test runs were made for a Palladium Application study. Each trial used standard tobacco cut filler. The first run, as shown in the “Control 1” example of FIG. 3, was processed as normal using standard casings, flavors and targets. The next series of tests, as shown in “Control 2,” “Control 3,” “Test 1,” and “Test 2” examples of FIG. 3, were planned to determine what starting OV was needed for application of palladium solution in order to achieve the best possible reductions in PAH's. The different starting OV's of the tobacco cut filler used were 12.5% and 21.5%. In each case either de-ionized water (i.e., see “Control 2” and “Control 3” of FIG. 3) or palladium solution (i.e., see “Test 1” and “Test 2” of FIG. 3) were applied. The amount of palladium in solution was designed so that the final filler target of 750 ppm was achieved. The difference between how the two different starting OV's were processed required that the filler be dried down to 12.5% (i.e., see “Control 2” and “Test 1” of FIG. 3) from its normal exit cutter OV of 21.5%. Therefore, additional handling and processing was required in order to complete the testing using a starting OV of 12.5%.
Following the first standard control test, two control tests (i.e., “Control 2” and “Control 3” of FIG. 3) were run with de-ionized water applied to the tobacco cut filler at a starting OV of 12.5% and 21.5%, respectively. Finally, two palladium application tests (i.e., “Test 1” and “Test 2” of FIG. 3) were run at the different starting OV's. For each of the two tests using de-ionized water and the two tests with palladium solution the moisture of the tobacco cut filler exiting the application cylinder was measured to be around 30%.
FIG. 4 is an exemplary flow diagram for the method of casing train measurement. The palladium solution used was a concentrated potassium tetrachloropalladate (K2PdC14) as indicated at the Pd Casing Tank of FIG. 4. The concentration of the solution was diluted with de-ionized water. The amount of dilution depends on the concentration of Pd in the initial solution that is required to achieve a final Pd filler target of 750 ppm. This high exiting OV required that the filler be dried down to proper levels prior to final processing. Samples were taken at several key points in the process as indicated by references A, 1 of FIG. 4. In addition, references B and D refer to locations used for sampling filler to be analyzed. Further, reference 2 refers to sample points where wipe samples were taken. This included Exit Cutter, Exit Dryer (1st pass), Exit Final Weighbelt (1st pass), Exit Dryer (2nd pass) and Exit Final Weighbelt (2nd pass).
An explanation is required regarding the sample locations A, 1 of FIG. 4 for the different tests. Since the first standard control test was processed under normal conditions the sampling locations were Exit Cutter (1st pass), Exit Dryer (1st pass) and Exit Final Weighbelt (1st pass). For the tests using a starting OV of 12.5%, the sampling locations were Exit Cutter, Exit Dryer (1st pass), Exit Final Weighbelt (1st pass), Exit Dryer (2nd pass) and Exit Final Weighbelt (2nd pass). For the tests using a starting OV of 21.5%, the sampling locations were Exit Cutter, Exit Final Weighbelt (1st pass), Exit Dryer (2nd pass) and Exit Final Weighbelt (2nd pass). Therefore, for comparison purposes, the Exit Dryer (1st pass) for the first standard control test and the Exit Dryer (2nd pass) for all the other runs are equivalent.
In general, filler samples were tested for a variety of constituents. The filler was tested for levels of Pd, pH, PG, Glycerin, Total reducing sugars, Glycyrrhizic acid, Theobromine, Total alkaloids, Sugars (individual-fructose, glucose and sucrose), Nitrate Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Soluble Ammonia, TSNA's and OV's. All results are displayed on a dry weight basis. Cigarettes were made from the filler from each run. The cigarettes were tested for PAHs, TSNAs, Phenols, VOCs, and Carbonyls. All data was put on a per mg/Tar (FTC) basis.
FIG. 5 is an exemplary flow diagram for the method of drying train measurement. Once the tobacco filler was sprayed with the palladium solution, it was fed back to be dried and then to have final flavoring and processing completed. Samples were taken at several points in the process as indicated by references A and 1 of FIG. 5. Sample locations C, D refer to the locations where cut filler samples were taken for filler analysis. Sample locations at references 3, 4, 5 refer to locations where wipe samples were taken to have analyzed for palladium levels for purpose of effectiveness before and after cleaning of equipment. The description of casing and drying train measurements is discussed above.
In particular, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 address detailed results for Pd level, pH level and Nitrate Nitrogen tests. Overall, test results would help to determine what effect the additional drying step from using a starting OV of 12.5% had as well as the possible effect of palladium on additional processing, casings and flavors. It should also be noted that although the same tobacco was used for each run that the starting levels of some constituents varied greatly. However, in the comparison between the tests the change from exit cutter to exit final Weighbelt was measured and compared. This step allows a true comparison for any changes between tests.
The data in FIG. 6 shows that final filler target of 750 ppm Pd was achieved for the starting OV test of 21.5% (785 ppm), however, was slightly higher for the 12.5% OV test (866 ppm). The reason for the slightly higher level is due to differences in expected OV's exit dryer. However, the results of FIG. 6 show that this did not have a net difference on the overall analysis.
FIG. 7 shows that, although the pH of the palladium salt solution is approximately 3.3, the pH of the palladium salt solution did not seem to have an effect on the pH of the overall filler as compared to the controls using either de-ionized (DI) water or the first standard control test. The final pH of the standard filler was 5.56 while the pH levels for the 12.5% and 21.5% were 5.52 and 5.57, respectively.
FIG. 8 shows the results of the Nitrate Nitrogen tests. For nitrate nitrogen there did not seem to be any difference between the first standard control test run and the run at 21.5%. The run at 12.5% did show a larger decrease in the nitrate nitrogen level than the other tests even though the starting level was identical to the first standard control test run and the other palladium run.
In addition to the results discussed above, it has been determined that there is a point at which adding more palladium may not increase PAH reduction. Further, wipe sample data shows that in order to clean equipment and run another product (i.e., non-palladium) requires extensive cleaning. Thus, most likely a separate line should be used for processing palladium filler.
In a separate test, Metals in Smoke were examined. TABLE 1 below shows the results of these tests. A test was run to determine if the amount of Pd applied to tobacco cut filler affected different smoke constituents. For example, the levels of certain heavy metals are listed below. The only difference between the control and test conditions is the palladium that is applied. The control included only spraying de-ionized water not a palladium solution in order to that all tests achieved a similar final wetted OV for the tobacco cut filler.
The foregoing description illustrates and describes the present invention. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only the preferred embodiments of the invention, but as mentioned above, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings and/or skill or knowledge of the relevant art. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with the various modifications required by the particular applications or uses of the invention. Accordingly, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form or application disclosed herein. Also, it is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments.
The present application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/816,524, filed Jun. 26, 2006, for all useful purposes, and the specification and drawings thereof are included herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60816524 | Jun 2006 | US |
