US 12,329,189 B2
Method of making a tobacco extract
Helena Digard, London (GB); Geoff Foss-Smith, London (GB); and Francis Cheung, London (GB)
Assigned to NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED, London (GB)
Appl. No. 16/614,269
Filed by NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED, London (GB)
PCT Filed May 9, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/062122
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 15, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/210680, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 22, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1707767 (GB), filed on May 15, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0153543 A1, May 27, 2021
Int. Cl. A24B 15/167 (2020.01); A24B 15/24 (2006.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A24F 40/42 (2020.01); B01D 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC A24B 15/167 (2016.11) [A24B 15/24 (2013.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A24F 40/42 (2020.01); B01D 11/0203 (2013.01); B01D 11/0288 (2013.01); B01D 11/0292 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
 
1. A method of making a tobacco extract, the method comprising:
(a) contacting tobacco with an extraction solvent at a first temperature and first pressure which are selected such that the extraction solvent is supercritical, such that tobacco flavor and/or aroma components are extracted from the tobacco into the solvent;
(b) separating the residual tobacco solids from the supercritical extraction solvent containing tobacco components;
(c) exposing the extraction solvent containing the tobacco flavor and/or aroma components to conditions in a vessel at which the extraction solvent is subcritical, thereby releasing the tobacco components from the extraction solvent,
(d) contacting the residual tobacco solids with the extraction solvent at a second temperature and second pressure which are selected such that the extraction solvent is supercritical, such that nicotine is extracted from the tobacco into the extraction solvent; and wherein the second temperature and/or second pressure is higher than the respective first temperature or first pressure;
(e) separating the residual tobacco solids from the supercritical extraction solvent containing the nicotine;
(f) exposing the extraction solvent containing the nicotine to conditions in the vessel at which the extraction solvent is subcritical, thereby releasing the nicotine from the extraction solvent, wherein at (f), the vessel contains a first entrapment solvent which dissolves the nicotine released from the extraction solvent, and wherein the entrapment solvent comprises an aerosol generating agent, the aerosol generating agent promoting the generation of an inhalable aerosol on heating.