US 7,320,326 B2
Method for the treatment of tobacco
Michael Intorp, Halstenbek (Germany); and Hans-Jürgen Nikulla, Jork (Germany)
Assigned to Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, (Germany)
Appl. No. 10/466,843
PCT Filed Jun. 15, 2001, PCT No. PCT/EP01/06776
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Jul. 21, 2003,
PCT Pub. No. WO02/058490, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 01, 2002.
Claims priority of application No. 101 03 123 (DE), filed on Jan. 24, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2004/0050398 A1, Mar. 18, 2004
Int. Cl. A24B 3/12 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 131—300  [131/290] 24 Claims
 
1. A process of treating tobacco, wherein the treatment process comprises the steps of:
treating the tobacco with a casing; and
thermally treating the casing-treated tobacco with saturated steam, wherein, before the steam treatment, the casing-treated tobacco moisture content is in the range from 15% to 25% and wherein, after the steam treatment, the tobacco moisture content is in the range from 15% to 25% and the tobacco temperature is in the range from 80° C. to 115° C., wherein the tobacco moisture content upon leaving the steam treatment is at or below the tobacco moisture content before the steam treatment.