Terry E Allen

US Patent:

45664684, Jan 28, 1986

Filed:

May 25, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/498000

Inventors:

Leroy R. Sachleben - Louisville KY
Kevin R. Korte - Louisville KY
Daniel D. Snyder - Louisville KY
Terry L. Allen - North Augusta SC

Assignee:

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation - Louisville KY

International Classification:

A24B 1524
A24B 1526

US Classification:

131297

Abstract:

A process and apparatus for producing a smoking tobacco having a low nitrate content includes at least one stage through which a tobacco having a relatively high nitrate content, for example burley tobacco, continuously passes for continuous nitrate removal by dissolution. In the nitrate removal stage, a solvent is added to, for example, the burley tobacco to form a slurry. The free solvent, including dissolved nitrates, is decanted from the slurry leaving saturated burley tobacco. The saturated burley tobacco is subjected to an expression pressure to remove a further amount of solvent and dissolved nitrates therefrom. After the burley tobacco leaves the nitrate removing stage, it is mixed with another tobacco, such as, for example, a flue-cured tobacco. The tobacco mixture is then expanded and dried to a moisture content suitable for use in a smoking article. In order to provide a continuous uniform quantity of the tobacco mixture to the expanding-drying step, the mixture is bulked upon leaving the mixing step.