Patent Application
20240225079
The present disclosure belongs to the field of devices for heating tobacco without burning it and has as its subject a reconstituted plant sheet comprising stabilized nicotine the plant not being a tobacco plant.
A large number of devices for heating tobacco without burning it have been developed in order to avoid the formation of harmful constituents during tobacco combustion. By way of example, mention may be made of the applications published under numbers WO 2016/026810 and WO 2016/207407 which describe such devices. Tobacco sticks are placed into these devices, the tobacco is then heated by the device at a temperature below the combustion temperature without being burnt, which leads to the formation of an aerosol when the user sucks in air through the device. The generated aerosol replaces the cigarette smoke and has advantageous organoleptic properties when it is inhaled by the user. This allows the user to inhale nicotine and the tobacco aromas while at the same time very significantly reducing said user's exposure to harmful constituents.
In order for the user to adopt these heating devices, it is important with said devices to have an experience as close as possible to the one obtained with a conventional cigarette, that is to say, for each puff, satisfactory organoleptic properties and similar level of nicotine.
Natural tobacco leaves may not be suitable for such heating devices since they do not make it possible for the user to obtain a satisfactory experience.
Reconstituted tobacco is more suitable for these heating devices, since it makes it possible to easily apply high level of aerosol-generating agent and generate a significant amount of aerosol having interesting organoleptic properties and providing enough nicotine.
It may be advantageous to offer the user of these heating devices aromas that are different from those of tobacco. That is the reason why reconstituted plant sheets, such as the ones described in WO 2019/043119, have been developed. The aerosols generated from these reconstituted plant sheets have satisfactory organoleptic properties. However, these reconstituted plant sheets are free of nicotine.
Therefore, the aerosols generated from these reconstituted plant sheets do not provide a fully satisfactory experience for users of heating devices and for smoker since they do not provide nicotine.
To solve this first technical problem, the inventors tried to add nicotine in neutral form to the reconstituted plant sheets. However, they noticed that the nicotine added to the reconstituted plant sheets may be released during the manufacturing and mainly during the storage of the reconstituted plant sheets and of the consumables for heating device comprising these reconstituted plant sheets. The aerosols generated from these reconstituted plant sheets comprise nicotine in neutral form but are not satisfactory since their amount of nicotine is too low and the physiological absorption by the consumer of the neutral form of nicotine is too slow. Moreover, the aerosols may also be too harsh.
To solve this second technical problem, the inventors tried to stabilize the nicotine by adding an acid to form a salt of nicotine. However, they noticed that the aerosols generated from the reconstituted plant sheets comprising a salt of nicotine may still be unsatisfactory since, under certain circumstances:
There is therefore a need for a reconstituted plant sheet comprising nicotine that generates an aerosol which is satisfactory to the user.
It is thus to the credit of the inventors to have found that it is possible to meet this need by means of a reconstituted plant sheet comprising a salt of nicotine and having a specific range of pH.
It is proposed a reconstituted plant sheet comprising:
Advantageously, in these ranges of pH, the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention generates an aerosol providing nicotine in a satisfactory manner and having no unpleasant harshness and acidic taste, i.e. an aerosol which is satisfactory to the user.
The structure of nicotine is such that it comprises two nitrogen atoms that are capable of accepting protons from an acid and, accordingly, it can be present in neutral form (the non-protonated form), monoprotonated form, and/or diprotonated form. Without wishing to be bound to any theory, the inventors are of the opinion that these results may be explained by:
Moreover, the aerosol generated from the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention has interesting organoleptic properties and its amount is important thanks to the plant extract and the aerosol-generating agent. These organoleptic properties are advantageously different from the organoleptic properties of an aerosol generated from reconstituted tobacco sheets.
In another aspect, it is proposed a process for producing a reconstituted plant sheet as defined above, comprising the following steps:
It is proposed a reconstituted plant sheet comprising:
The pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention is measured as follows:
For the purposes of the present application, the term “plant extract” denotes all of the water-soluble products of the plant. Advantageously, the plant extract comprises compounds conferring organoleptic properties and/or therapeutic or well being properties on the aerosol.
According to the present invention, the organic acid is present in the plant extract, is added to the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention or is present in the plant extract and added to the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention.
Indeed, the inventors noticed that the plant extract may confer to the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention a pH from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0 thanks to the organic acid present in said plant extract. Moreover, the inventors are of the opinion that the plant extract may also have a buffer effect maintaining the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
In case the plant extract does not confer to the reconstituted plant sheet a pH from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, the organic acid is thus added to the reconstituted plant sheet to confer to said reconstituted plant sheet a pH from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0. This is especially true if no organic acid or an insufficient content of organic acid is present in the plant extract.
Without wishing to be bound by any theory, to determine if an organic acid should be added to the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention, the skilled person can typically measure the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet devoid of an added organic acid.
In one embodiment, the pH of said reconstituted plant sheet is from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0 without added organic acid, the plant extract conferring the right pH ranges to the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention.
In another embodiment, the pH of said reconstituted plant sheet is not from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular not from 5.0 to 6.0, an organic acid must be added during the process to produce the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention.
Coffee, Ginkgo biloba, star anise, licorice, angelica, sweet flag, caper, turmeric, Chinese mahogany, tsao-ko or mixtures thereof, in particular coffee, Ginkgo biloba, star anise, licorice or mixture thereof, more particularly Ginkgo biloba, star anise or mixtures thereof are an example of plant whose extract may confer to the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention a pH from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0 without the addition of an organic acid to said reconstituted plant sheet.
For the purposes of the present application, “salt of nicotine” denotes a form of nicotine characterized by the interaction between nicotine in monoprotonated form and an organic acid in carboxylate form. The structure of nicotine is such that it comprises two nitrogen atoms that are capable of accepting protons from the organic acid and, accordingly, it can be present in neutral form (the non-protonated form), monoprotonated form, and/or diprotonated form
In the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention, the salt of nicotine may be formed in-situ or ex-situ by the reaction between the nicotine and the organic acid. The skilled person knows that this reaction is an equilibrium. Therefore, nicotine and organic acid may be present with the salt of nicotine formed in-situ or ex-situ.
Alternatively, the salt of nicotine may be purchased as such and added to the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention.
The total content by weight of solids of nicotine in the reconstituted plant sheet may be from 0.1% to 4%, in particular from 0.5% to 3%, more particularly from 0.75% to 2.5%.
Advantageously, the reconstituted plant sheet comprising the nicotine in such ranges generates an aerosol which enables the user to get an experience similar to the experience provided by the aerosol generated by a classical tobacco heating device and by a smoke generated by a combusted tobacco product.
The molar ratio of nicotine:organic acid may be from 1:0.1 to 1:10, in particular from 1:0.4 to 1:5, more particularly from 1:0.5 to 1:3.
Advantageously, the reconstituted plant sheet comprising the molar ratio in such ranges has a pH in the above-mentioned ranges.
The pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may depend on the pKa of the organic acid.
Typically, the organic acid may have:
Advantageously, the organic acid having such pKa and such vapor pressure and/or such boiling point:
The organic acid may have several pKa. For example, a dicarboxylic acid has 2 pKas. In this case, the lowest pKa of this organic acid may be less than or equal to 5, in particular less than 4, more particularly less than 3.
The organic acid may be alginic acid, aspartic acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, glutamic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, pectic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, tartaric acid, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, myristic acid or mixtures thereof, in particular benzoic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid or mixtures thereof, more particularly benzoic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid or mixtures thereof.
Advantageously, the organic acids of this list are mostly natural based products, do not alter the organoleptic properties of the aerosol and/or impart positive sensory properties.
For the purposes of the present application, “fibrous support” denotes a base web made of plant fibers, in particular refined fibers of a plant. The base web is typically obtained by a papermaking process.
For the purposes of the present application, the term “aerosol-generating agent” denotes a compound which allows the formation of an aerosol when it is heated.
For the purposes of the present application, the term “refined fibers of the plant” denotes plant fibers which have undergone a refining step enabling fibrillation and/or cutting of the plant fibers. The refining step is conventionally carried out in a papermaking process, such as the papermaking process producing reconstituted papermaking tobacco. On the other hand, the refining step is not carried out in a process producing cast leaf reconstituted tobacco.
For example, the refined fibers of the plant may have a degree Schopper-Riegler (°SR) from 15°SR to 75°SR, in particular from 20°SR to 65°SR, more particularly from 25°SR to 55°SR.
Typically, the fibrous support may comprise fibers of one same plant or of several plants.
Typically, the content by weight of solids of the plant fibers included in the reconstituted plant sheet may be from 15% to 70%, in particular from 20% to 61%, more particularly from 30% to 57%.
Typically, the fibrous support of the reconstituted plant sheet may also comprise cellulose-based plant fibers.
Cellulose-based plant fibers are fibers obtained by means of a chemical or mechanical or thermomechanical cooking process, such as wood pulp, hemp, or annual plants such as flax for example. A mixture of these cellulose-based plant fibers may also be used.
Advantageously, these cellulose-based plant fibers can improve the mechanical strength properties of the reconstituted plant sheet.
Typically, the cellulose-based plant fibers can represent from 0.5% to 20%, in particular from 3% to 17.5%, more particularly from 5% to 15% by weight of solids of the reconstituted plant sheet, the remaining fibers of the reconstituted plant sheet being the plant fibers.
Let SAG be the total content by weight of solids of the aerosol-generating agent included in the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention. SAG may be from 10% to 40%, in particular from 12% to 35%, more particularly from 15% to 30%.
SAG may depend on the organic acid. For instance, SAG being from 15% to 20% is adapted to the organic acid soluble in a solvent, in particular in water. SAG being from 20% to 30% is adapted to the organic acid insoluble or slightly soluble in a solvent, in particular in water.
The aerosol generated from a reconstituted plant sheet having an SAG greater than the ranges mentioned above causes unwanted burning of the mouth and/or the throat (phenomenon known as “hot puff”).
The volume of the aerosol generated from a reconstituted plant sheet having an SAG lower than the ranges mentioned above is too low to be pleasant. This aerosol is also not tasteful.
The aerosol-generating agent may be a polyol, a non-polyol or mixtures thereof. Typically, an aerosol generating agent that is a polyol may be glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, triethylene glycol or mixtures thereof. An aerosol generating agent that is a non-polyol may be glyceryl diacetate, glyceryl triacetate, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate or mixtures thereof.
The aerosol-generating agent may preferably be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol, glycerol being preferred.
An aerosol is generated during heating of the reconstituted plant sheet of the invention. Advantageously, the plant extract which comprises aromatic compounds confers aromas from the plant in this aerosol. By simply changing reconstituted plant sheet, the user can easily vary the aromas of the aerosol generated by heating said reconstituted plant sheet.
The organoleptic properties and the therapeutic properties of the aerosol formed by heating said reconstituted plant sheet may depend on the content by weight of solids of the plant extract included in the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention.
The total content by weight of solids of the plant extract depends on the plant used and, more particularly, on the content of aromatic compounds or of compounds having therapeutic or well being properties of the plant used.
Let SP be the total content by weight of solids of the plant extract included in the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention. SP may be from 10% to 70%, in particular from 15% to 50%, more particularly from 20% to 35%.
Advantageously, an SP within these ranges of values makes it possible to generate, at a comfortable draw resistance, an aerosol having satisfactory organoleptic properties, i.e. having constant and high taste intensity and constant and higher volume.
To determine SP, use may be made of the following method:
The plant fibers and the plant extract can be independently obtained from a plant chosen from spore-producing plants, seed-producing plants and mixtures thereof. In particular, the plant may be a plant chosen from food plants, aromatic plants, fragrant plants, medicinal plants, plants of the family Cannabaceae, and mixtures thereof.
If the plant is a medicinal plant, the aerosol generated by heating the reconstituted plant sheet may also have therapeutic properties so that the reconstituted plant sheet can be used for a therapeutic treatment.
Advantageously, a plant extract obtained from a plant mixture makes it possible to offer a broad panel of organoleptic properties and/or therapeutic properties. A plant mixture also makes it possible to counteract the unpleasant organoleptic properties of a plant of the mixture, for example a medicinal plant, with the pleasant organoleptic properties of another plant of the mixture, for example an aromatic plant or a fragrant plant.
The plant fibers can be obtained from a first plant and the plant extract can be obtained from a second plant. Indeed, this is because the fibers of a plant may not have mechanical properties which allow the formation of a fibrous support, but the extract of this plant may confer desired organoleptic properties and/or therapeutic properties on the aerosol. Conversely, the fibers of a plant may have mechanical properties which allow the formation of a fibrous support, but the extract of this plant may not confer desired organoleptic properties and/or therapeutic properties on the aerosol.
Advantageously, mixing plants to obtain the plant fibers makes it possible to adjust the mechanical properties of the reconstituted plant sheet and/or the organoleptic or chemical properties of the aerosol.
Typically, the food plants are garlic, cardamom, coffee, ginger, lemon verbena, licorice, papaya, stevia, tea, cacao tree, chamomile, mate, anise such as star anise (or badian) and green anise, or mixtures thereof, fennel, citronella, angelica, caper, turmeric, chinese mahogany and tsao-ko.
Typically, the aromatic plants are basil, turmeric, clove, laurel, oregano, mint, rosemary, sage, thyme.
Typically, the fragrant plants are lavender, marigolds, rose, eucalyptus, sweet flag.
Typically, the medicinal plants are those indicated in the document, list A of traditionally used medicinal plants (French pharmacopeia January 2016, published by the Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament (ANSM) [French National Agency for Drug and Health Product Safety] or plants known to comprise compounds which have therapeutic properties. Typically, the medicinal plants listed are ginkgo, ginseng, sour cherry, peppermint, sweet mint, willow and red vine.
Typically, eucalyptus is among the medicinal plants known to comprise compounds which have therapeutic properties.
Typically, the plant fibers and the plant extract of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be derived from various plant parts, the plant parts being parts of the plant itself or the result of the processing of various plant parts. Typically, the plant parts may be whole parts of the plant or debris originating from threshing or mixing and shredding the plant parts. The plant parts may also be byproducts of extraction.
Typically, the plant parts may be selected from the plant parts richest in aromatic compounds conferring on the aerosol its organoleptic properties. Typically, these parts may be the whole plant, the aerial plant parts, such as the flower bud, the branch bark, the stem bark, the leaves, the flower, the fruit and its peduncle, the seed, the petal, the flower head, or the underground parts, for example the bulb, the roots, the root bark, the rhizome, or mixtures thereof. The plant part may also be the result of the mechanical, chemical or mechanical-chemical processing of one or more plant parts, such as for example the shell protecting the cacao bean resulting from the bean dehulling process.
Among the food plants, the angelica fruit, the angelica bud, the angelica root, the caper bud, the tumeric root, the turmeric stem, the chinese mahogany bud, the tsao-ko fruit, the garlic bulb, the coffee cherry, the star anise fruit, the rhizome of ginger, the licorice root and the leaves of stevia, papaya or tea may for example be selected as parts.
Among the aromatic plants, clove flower buds (the cloves), basil, laurel and sage leaves, mint, oregano, rosemary and thyme leaves and flower head, or the turmeric rhizome may for example be selected as parts.
Typically, among the fragrant plants, the lavender flower and flower head, the sweet flag rhizome or the rose flower bud and petals may be selected.
Among the medicinal plants listed in the French pharmacopeia, gingko leaf, the underground part of ginseng, the peduncle of the sour cherry fruit (cherry stalk), the leaves and flower head of peppermint, the stem bark and the leaves of willow, or the leaves of red vine may for example be selected.
The plant may be eucalyptus, angelica, anise such as star anise, green anise or mixtures thereof, hemp, cardamom, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, lemon verbena, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice, matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, Wintergreen, beefsteak plant, sorrel, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab, stevia or mixtures thereof, in particular anise such as star anise, green anise or mixtures thereof, cardamom, cinnamon, eucalyptus, fennel, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, mint, peppermint, laurel, lemon verbena, licorice, marigolds, papaya, rosemary, sage, sorrel, stevia, tea such as green tea or black tea or mixtures thereof, more particularly anise such as star anise, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, mint, laurel, lemon verbena, marigolds, papaya, rosemary, sorrel, stevia, tea such as green tea or black tea or mixtures thereof, even more particularly mint.
For example, the plant may be cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, mint, laurel, lemon verbena, marigolds, papaya, rosemary, sorrel, stevia, tea such as green tea or black tea, star anise or mixtures thereof and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, mint, laurel, lemon verbena, marigolds, papaya, rosemary, sorrel, stevia, tea such as green tea or black tea, star anise or mixtures thereof and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 5 to 6.3.
For example, the plant may be cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, mint, laurel, lemon verbena, marigolds, papaya, rosemary, sorrel, stevia, tea such as green tea or black tea, star anise or mixtures thereof, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 5 to 6.3, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be mint and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be mint and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.3.
For example, the plant may be mint, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.3, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be cardamom and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be cardamom and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be cardamom, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be cinnamon and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be cinnamon and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be cinnamon, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be ginger and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be ginger and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be ginger, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be Ginkgo biloba and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be Ginkgo biloba, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
Ginkgo biloba is an example of plant whose extract may confer to the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention a pH from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0. Accordingly, the plant may be Ginkgo biloba and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be laurel and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be laurel and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be laurel, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be lemon verbena and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be lemon verbena and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be lemon verbena, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be marigolds and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be marigolds and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be marigolds, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be papaya and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be papaya and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be papaya, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be rosemary and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be rosemary and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be rosemary, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be sorrel and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be sorrel and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be sorrel, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be stevia and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be stevia and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be stevia, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be tea such as green tea or black tea and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be tea such as green tea or black tea and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
For example, the plant may be tea such as green tea or black tea, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be star anise and the organic acid is benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
For example, the plant may be star anise, the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0, and the organic acid may be benzoic acid, levulinic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid or mixtures thereof, in particular salicylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof.
Star anise is an example of plant whose extract may confer to the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention a pH from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0. Accordingly, the plant may be star anise and the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0.
The plant extract may be a mixture of plant extract, said mixture comprising an extract of gingko biloba, an extract of star anise or mixtures thereof.
This plant extract is advantageous since it may confer to the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention a pH from 4.9 to 7.0, in particular from 5.0 to 6.0 thanks to the extract of the extract of gingko biloba, the extract of star anise or mixtures thereof.
For example, this plant extract may comprises from 10% to 90%, in particular from 30% to 70%, more particularly from 50% to 60% by weight of the extract of gingko biloba, the extract of star anise or mixtures thereof.
Alternatively, the density of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention may be lower than 0.60 g/cm3, in particular from 0.20 g/cm3 to 0.59 g/m3, more particularly from 0.45 g/cm3 to 0.58 g/cm3.
Advantageously, a density within these ranges of values makes it possible to generate, at a comfortable draw resistance, an aerosol having satisfactory organoleptic properties, i.e. having constant high taste intensity and constant high volume.
The density of the reconstituted plant sheet is calculated by dividing its basis weight by its thickness.
To determine the basis weight of the reconstituted plant sheet, the following method may be used:
To determine the thickness of the reconstituted plant sheet, the method described in standard NF EN ISO 534 (December 2011) suitable for the reconstituted plant sheets may be used:
Typically, the reconstituted plant sheet may have a basis weight of lower than 300 g/m2, in particular from 20 g/m2 to 250 g/m2, more particularly from 80 g/m2 to 200 g/m2, even more particularly from 105 g/m2 to 130 g/m2.
Typically, the thickness of the fibrous support of the reconstituted plant sheet may be from 100 μm to 450 μm, in particular from 120 μm to 375 μm, more particularly from 140 μm to 325 μm, even more particularly from 180 μm to 250 μm.
It is also proposed a process for producing the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention as defined above, comprising the following steps:
The plant fibers, the plant extract, the aerosol-generating agent, the organic acid and the salt of nicotine are as defined above in relation with the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention.
In the solution formed during step b), the molar ratio of nicotine:organic acid may be from 1:1.0 to 1:10, in particular from 1:0.4 to 1:5, more particularly from 1:0.5 to 1:3.
The fibrous support may be produced using a papermaking machine. Therefore, the reconstituted plant sheet of the invention may be a reconstituted plant sheet obtainable by a papermaking process.
The pH of the solution formed during step b) and involved in step c) may be acidic, in particular from 4.0 to 6.5, more particularly from 5.0 to 6.0, even more particularly from 5.2 to 5.8.
Advantageously, a solution having a pH in these ranges enables the production of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention.
The pH of the solution mainly depends on the amount of acid, nicotine and/or salt of nicotine in said solution. The skilled person knows how to adjust the amount of acid, nicotine and/or salt of nicotine in the solution so that said solution has a pH in the above range.
The inventors noticed that the pH and the buffer power of the base web may depend on the type of plant of the plant fibers. The pH of the solution may thus be adapted to the pH and the buffer power of the base web to enable the production of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention.
The pH of the solution is determined using a pH electrode. The pH of the base web is determined by the method described above determining the pH of the reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention.
According to the present invention, the organic acid may be present in the plant extract.
Therefore, in the solution formed in step b) and involved in step c), the organic acid may a compound of the plant extract.
The plant fibers and the plant extract may be obtained in accordance with the following steps:
The plant extract and the plant fibers are therefore typically obtained by means of a dissociation process. During step e), one or more plant parts are mixed with a solvent, for example in a digester, in order to extract the plant extract from the plant fibers. During step f), the plant extract is separated from the plant fibers, for example by passing through a screw press, in order to isolate and obtain, on the one hand, the plant fibers and, on the other hand, the plant extract.
Typically, the solvent may be an apolar solvent, an aprotic polar solvent, a protic polar solvent, or a mixture thereof, in particular the solvent may be methanol, dichloromethane, ethanol, acetone, butanol, water or a mixture thereof, more particularly the solvent is ethanol, acetone, water or a mixture thereof.
The solvent may be an aqueous solvent, most particularly the solvent is water.
The skilled person knows how to adapt the temperature of the solvent during step d) to the plant, to the plant part and to the plant parts to be treated. Typically, the temperature of the solvent during the treatment of a root or of a bark will be higher than the temperature of the solvent during the treatment of a leaf or a petal.
Typically, the temperature of the solvent during step e) may be from 10° C. to 100° C., in particular from 30° C. to 90° C., more particularly from 40° C. to 80° C.
Typically, the plant fibers may be refined in a refiner and then involved in step a).
Typically, the plant fibers may originate from various plants.
The fibers of each plant can be obtained separately according to the dissociation process described above. They can subsequently be mixed such that this mixture of fibers from various plants passes through the papermaking machine so as to constitute the fibrous support. It is also possible to obtain fibers from various plants together by bringing together one or more parts of the various plants and then subjecting them to the dissociation process described above. The temperature of the water will then be adapted to the plants to be treated and, in particular, to the plant requiring the highest temperature of the water for extracting the extract of this plant. This alternative embodiment is very advantageous since it makes it possible to obtain the fibers of the various plants without carrying out several dissociation processes in parallel.
Typically, the plant extract may be an extract of various plants.
The extract of various plants can be obtained by mixing various plant extracts obtained separately according to the dissociation process described above. It is also possible to obtain the extract of various plants by bringing together one or more parts of the various plants and then subjecting them to the dissociation process described above. The temperature of the water will then be adapted to the plants to be treated and, in particular, to the plant requiring the highest temperature of the water for extracting the extract of this water-soluble plant. This alternative embodiment is very advantageous since it makes it possible to obtain the extract of various plants without carrying out several processes in parallel. In these two situations, the extracts of various plants are involved in step b).
The solution may be formed during step b) by mixing in a solvent, in particular water, nicotine, the aerosol-generating agent, the plant extract and the organic acid. Accordingly, the salt of nicotine is formed in-situin the solution by reaction between the organic acid and the nicotine.
The organic acid may be added to the solvent before the nicotine. Indeed, it advantageously favors the formation of the salt of nicotine.
This step b) is adapted to an organic acid soluble in the solvent of the solution, in particular in water.
Alternatively, the solution may be formed during step b) by mixing in a solvent, in particular water, the salt of nicotine, the aerosol-generating agent and the plant extract. Accordingly, the salt of nicotine can be formed ex-situ or can be purchased before being added to the solvent, in particular water.
This alternative step b) is adapted to an organic acid insoluble or slightly soluble in the solvent of the solution, in particular in water. Such organic acid is, for example, salicylic acid, benzoic acid or mixtures thereof.
Typically, various plant extracts, obtained according to the dissociation process described above, can also be added to the solution during step b).
Typically, the plant extract can be concentrated before being added to the solution during step b). A device such as a vacuum evaporation device can be used to concentrate the plant extract.
Typically, step c) can be carried out by impregnation or by spraying, in particular by impregnation.
Typically, the impregnation can be carried out by means of a size press.
Typically, the drying step d) can be carried out by infrared ramp, American battery drying drums, hot-air drying in a tunnel drier, a vertical drier, a fluidized-bed drier, a pneumatic drier, in particular in a tunnel drier.
The reconstituted plant sheet produced at step d) may be shaped in particulate form, in the form of crimped sheet, in shredded form.
The reconstituted plant sheet of the invention may be used in a heating device.
Thus, it is also proposed a consumable for a device for heating tobacco without burning it, comprising a reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention as defined above.
For the purposes of the present invention, the term “consumable” denotes the reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention as such, a pouch comprising the reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention, a capsule comprising the reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention or a stick for a heating device comprising the reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention.
For the purposes of the present application, the term “device for heating tobacco without burning it” denotes any device which allows the formation of an aerosol intended to be inhaled by a consumer.
The aerosol replaces the smoke, thus allowing the user to inhale the plant aromas while at the same time very significantly reducing the user's exposure to the harmful constituents. Throughout the present application, the term“device for heating tobacco without burning it” may be replaced by the term “heating device”.
The consumable is adapted to be introduced into a dedicated lodging of the heating device, and those skilled in the art will know how to adapt the consumable according to dedicated lodging of the heating device.
The reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention, as consumable, can be shaped so as to be adapted to the dedicated lodging of the heating device. For example, it may be in particulate form, in the form of crimped sheet, in the form of shredded sheet, in particular in the form of shredded sheet having a width from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.
The pouch can be made of paper with an inner volume and the reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention is contained in the inner volume. In the inner volume, the reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention may be shaped, in particular in particulate form, in the form of creped sheet, in the form of shredded sheet.
The pouch may have a cylindrical form with two sealed ends and a third seal connecting the two sealed ends.
Alternatively, the pouch may include a first layer of paper and a second layer of paper:
The paper of the pouch may be cigarette paper, cigarette rolling paper, plant fiber paper, in particular cigarette paper.
The reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention may, for example, be in particulate form in a pouch or in a capsule.
The reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention may in particular be in the form of shredded sheet in a stick for a heating device.
According to one embodiment, the reconstituted plant sheet included in the consumable may be able to be obtained by the process according to the invention as defined above.
It is also proposed a use of a reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention as defined above or of a consumable according to the invention as defined above in a device for heating tobacco without burning it.
Typically, a heating device comprises, in the direction of the air flow, an air inlet, a heating body, a lodging intended to put in place and hold the reconstituted plant sheet of the invention comprising the aerosol-generating agent, and an air outlet intended to be introduced into the mouth of the user. The air inlet, the heating body, the lodging and the air outlet are typically connected at least fluidically to one another.
Typically, when the heating device is used, air is sucked into the heating device via the air inlet by the user; the air sucked in then passes through the heated portion so as to obtain heated air; on contact with the reconstituted plant sheet of the invention comprising the aerosol-generating agent, held in the lodging, an aerosol is formed and is then inhaled by the user. If the plant is a medicinal plant, then the aerosol formed has therapeutic properties.
Furthermore, by virtue of the heating device, there is no combustion of the sheet. The user may therefore take advantage of the organoleptic properties of the plant and of the effect of nicotine while at the same time very significantly reducing their exposure to the harmful constituents.
The reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention as defined above may also be used as a wrapper paper.
It is also proposed a non-therapeutic use of a consumable as defined above in a device for heating tobacco without burning it.
It is also proposed a consumable as defined above for use thereof in a heating device for therapeutic purposes, the plant being chosen from medicinal plants.
3 different protocols are used to manufacture the reconstituted plant sheets presented in Tables 1a and 1b.
The 3 protocols comprise the following steps:
A mixture of plant leaves and cellulose fibers (wood pulp) is brought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 85° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The plant extract is separated from the plant fibers and the cellulose fibers by centrifugation.
The plant fibers and the cellulose fibers are passed through a laboratory papermaking machine to obtain a base web.
Protocol 1 further comprises the following steps:
The plant extract is mixed with glycerol. An aqueous solution of nicotine and organic acid is prepared.
The mixture of plant extract and glycerol and the aqueous solution are mixed to form a solution.
The solution is added to the base web by impregnation in a size press so as to obtain, after drying, a reconstituted plant sheet.
The reconstituted plant sheet of Examples 1A, 1B, 1C, 1E and 1F is produced according to Protocol 1.
Protocol 2 further comprises the following steps:
The organic acid is mixed with nicotine to form a mixture. Glycerol is then added to this mixture to form a second mixture. The plant extract is pre heated to 35-40° C. before mixing with the second mixture. This final mixture is heated to 48° C. and stirred up to complete solubilisation to form a solution.
The solution is added to the base web by impregnation in a size press so as to obtain, after drying, a reconstituted plant sheet.
The reconstituted plant sheet of Examples 1D, 1H to 1L is produced according to Protocol 2.
Protocol 3 further comprises the following steps:
The organic acid is mixed with glycerol to form a mixture. Nicotine is then added to this mixture to form a second mixture. This second mixture is then added to the plant extract to form a solution.
The solution is added to the base web by impregnation in a size press so as to obtain, after drying, a reconstituted plant sheet.
The reconstituted plant sheet of Example 1G is produced according to Protocol 3.
The properties of each manufactured reconstituted plant sheet and the pH of each solution are presented in Table 1a and Table 1b below.
The following protocol is used to manufacture the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 2A:
A mixture of gingko biloba leaves and cellulose fibers (wood pulp) is brought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 85° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The gingko biloba extract is separated from the gingko biloba fibers and the cellulose fibers by centrifugation.
The cellulose fibers and the gingko biloba fibers are passed through a laboratory papermaking machine to obtain a base web.
Nicotine is mixed with glycerol to form a mixture. The gingko biloba extract is pre heated to 35-40° C. It is then mixed with the mixture of nicotine and glycerol to form a second mixture. This second mixture is then heated up to 48° C. and stirred to form a solution.
The solution is added to the base web by impregnation in a size press so as to obtain, after drying, the reconstituted plant sheet.
The following protocol is used to manufacture the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 2B:
A mixture of sweet mint leaves and cellulose fibers (wood pulp) is brought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 85° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The sweet mint extract is separated from the sweet mint fibers and the cellulose fibers by centrifugation.
A mixture of star anise leaves and cellulose fibers (wood pulp) is brought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 85° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The star anise extract is separated from the star anise fibers and the cellulose fibers by centrifugation.
A mixture of sweet mint fibers and cellulose fibers is passed through a laboratory papermaking machine to obtain a base web.
Nicotine is mixed with glycerol to form a mixture. A second mixture of sweet mint extract and star anise extract is pre heated to 35-40° C. and then mixed with the mixture of nicotine and glycerol to form a third mixture. This third mixture is then heated up to 48° C. and stirred to form a solution.
The solution is added to the base web by impregnation in a size press so as to obtain, after drying, the reconstituted plant sheet.
The following protocol is used to manufacture the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 2C: A mixture of green tea leaves, star anise leaves and cellulose fibers (wood pulp) is brought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 85° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The green tea and star anise extracts are separated from the plant fibers and the cellulose fibers by centrifugation.
A mixture of green tea fibers, star anise fibers and cellulose fibers is passed through a laboratory papermaking machine to obtain a base web.
Nicotine is mixed with glycerol to form a mixture. A second mixture of green tea extract and star anise extract is pre heated to 35-40° C. and then mixed with the mixture of nicotine and glycerol to form a third mixture. This third mixture is then heated up to 48° C. and stirred to form a solution.
The solution is added to the base web by impregnation in a size press so as to obtain, after drying, the reconstituted plant sheet.
The properties of the manufactured reconstituted plant sheet of Examples 2A to 2C and the pH of each solution are presented in Table 2 below.
3 different protocols are used to manufacture the reconstituted plant sheets presented in Table 3.
The 3 protocols comprise the following steps:
A mixture of plant leaves and cellulose fibers (wood pulp) is brought into contact with water in the laboratory in a water bath at 85° C. with manual stirring for 30 minutes. The plant extract is separated from the plant fibers by centrifugation.
The plant fibers and the cellulose fibers are passed through a laboratory papermaking machine to obtain a base web.
Protocol 1 further comprises the following steps:
The plant extract is mixed with glycerol. An aqueous solution of nicotine is prepared. The mixture of plant extract and glycerol and the aqueous solution are mixed to form a solution.
The solution is added to the base web by impregnation in a size press so as to obtain, after drying, a reconstituted plant sheet.
The reconstituted plant sheet of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 are produced according to this Protocol 1.
Protocol 2 further comprises the following steps:
An aqueous solution of nicotine is prepared. Glycerol is then added to this aqueous solution to form a mixture. The plant extract is pre heated to 35-40° C. before mixing with the mixture. This final mixture is heated to 48° C. and stirred up to complete solubilisation to form a solution.
The solution is added to the base web by impregnation in a size press so as to obtain, after drying, a reconstituted plant sheet.
The reconstituted plant sheet of Comparative Examples 3, 4 and 5 are produced according to this Protocol 2.
Protocol 3 further comprises the following steps:
The organic acid is mixed with nicotine to form a mixture. Glycerol is then added to this mixture to form a second mixture. The plant extract is pre heated to 35-40° C. before mixing with the second mixture. This final mixture is heated to 48° C. and stirred up to complete solubilisation to form a solution.
The solution is added to the base web by impregnation in a size press so as to obtain, after drying, a reconstituted plant sheet.
The reconstituted plant sheet of Comparative Example 6 is produced according to this Protocol 3.
The properties of the manufactured reconstituted plant sheet of Comparative Examples 1 to 6 and the pH of each solution are presented in Table 3 below.
Reconstituted plant sheet of Example 1A to 1L and 2A to 2C, and reconstituted plant sheet of Comparative Example 1 to 6 are stored during 11 days under the following conditions: 40° C., 600/Relative Humidity.
The total content by weight of solids of nicotine of these examples is then measured by Gas Chromatography coupled with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). For each reconstituted plant sheet, the nicotine loss after storage is presented in Tables 1a, 1b, 2 and 3 below.
The results presented in Tables 1a, 1b, 2 and 3 demonstrate that the nicotine is stabilized in the reconstituted plant sheet according to the present invention having a pH between 4.9 and 7. The stabilization of nicotine is even better for the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 1D, 1E, 1F, 2A, 2B and 2C since no loss is determined.
As evidenced by Example 2A, the extract of gingko biloba confers to the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 2A a pH between 4.9 and 7 without the addition of an organic acid. Accordingly, the extract of gingko biloba comprises an organic acid.
Moreover, the extract of gingko biloba is particularly effective to stabilized nicotine since no loss is determined for the paper sheet of Example 2A.
By comparing Example 2B to Examples 1A to 1G and Example 2C to Examples 1J to 1L, then it is demonstrated that star anise confers to reconstituted plant sheets of Example 2B and 2C a pH between 4.9 and 7 without the addition of an organic acid. Accordingly, the extract of star anise comprises an organic acid.
Moreover, the extract of star anise is particularly effective to stabilized nicotine since no loss is determined for the paper sheet of Example 2B and 2C.
The nicotine content in the aerosol generated by each of the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 1D, Example 1J, Example 1K, Comparative Example 4 and Comparative Example 5 after the high temperature aging of Example 3 is determined with a heating system of Glo™ Hyper type and according to the following protocol:
Commercial Neo sticks bought in Japan in September 2021 tubes for Glo™ Hyper are emptied and said tubes are filled with cut rag of the reconstituted plant sheet, with a weight of reconstituted plant sheet of 340 mg/stick and a drawing resistance of 70+/−3 mm of water column.
An aerosol is generated via a Borgwaldt NGX10 smoking machine on which the filled sticks have been installed (by applying the procedure for use supplied with the Glo™ Hyper heating system).
The material of the aerosol is collected on a 40 mm Cambridge filter. It is then dissolved in methanol, the nicotine content in the aerosol is assayed after separation by gas chromatography and assaying by FID relative to n-heptadecane (used as standard), with an Phenomenex ZB-Wax plus gas chromatography column (column dimensions: length 30 m; internal diameter: 0.53 mm; film thickness 1 μm). The nicotine content of the aerosol is measured according to standard ISO10315:2013, using methanol in place of the isopropanol mentioned in the standard. 6 Replicates are performed for determining the nicotine content in the aerosol.
The nicotine content in the aerosol generated by each of the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 1J and Example 1K is compared to the nicotine content in the aerosol generated by the reconstituted plant sheet of Comparative Example 4 since the plant of said reconstituted plant sheet is the same, i.e. green tea.
The nicotine content in the aerosol generated by the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 1J is 18.4% higher than the nicotine content in the aerosol generated by the reconstituted plant sheet of Comparative Example 4.
The nicotine content in the aerosol generated by the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 1K is 9.20/higher than the nicotine content in the aerosol generated by the reconstituted plant sheet of Comparative Example 4.
The nicotine content in the aerosol generated by the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 1 D is compared to the nicotine content in the aerosol generated by the reconstituted plant sheet of Comparative Example 5 since the plant of said reconstituted plant sheet is the same, i.e. sweet mint.
The nicotine content in the aerosol generated by the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 1 D is 35.4% higher than the nicotine content in the aerosol generated by the reconstituted plant sheet of Comparative Example 5.
This example proves that the aerosol generated by a reconstituted plant sheet according to the invention comprises more nicotine than the aerosol generated by a reconstituted plant sheet having a pH higher than 7.
The organoleptic properties of the aerosol generated by each of the reconstituted plant sheet of Example 1D and of Comparative Example 6 after the high temperature aging of Example 3 are tested by 5 experts in a Glo™ Hyper heating system according to the following protocol: The reconstituted plant sheets are cut into cut rag and then sensorially assessed one after the other.
Despite the molar ratio of nicotine:organic acid of these two reconstituted plant sheets being of the same order of magnitude, the experts noticed that the organoleptic properties of the two aerosols are quite different.
Indeed, according to the experts:
This example proves that the organoleptic properties of an aerosol generated by a reconstituted plant sheet of the present invention are satisfactory to the user of a heating device. On the contrary, the organoleptic properties of an aerosol generated by a reconstituted plant sheet having a pH lower than 4.9 are not satisfactory to said user.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2300293 | Jan 2023 | FR | national |
| 23175610.7 | May 2023 | EP | regional |
