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EP-4739119-A1 - METHODS OF TREATING BOTANICAL MATERIAL, TREATED BOTANICAL MATERIAL AND USES THEREOF

EP4739119A1EP 4739119 A1EP4739119 A1EP 4739119A1EP-4739119-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of treating botanical material to incorporate an aerosol-former material. In particular, the methods are suitable for treating leaf material, such as tobacco leaf. The treated material is well suited to being incorporated into aerosol generating material for use in aerosol provision systems and the like.

Inventors

  • CRAINIC, Alina-Mariana
  • JENKINS, BENJAMIN
  • CORTES, Axel
  • LIMA, Pamela

Assignees

  • Nicoventures Trading Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240702

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A method of treating botanical material comprising : a) a first conditioning step wherein the botanical material is contacted with one or both of steam and water; and b) a second conditioning step wherein the botanical material is contacted with a mixture of: (i) one or both of steam and water and (ii) an aerosol-former material.
  2. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a soaking step wherein the botanical material produced by step a) is stored in a container for a period of at least about 30 minutes, optionally wherein the botanical material is sealed in the container during the soaking step.
  3. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, following step b), the method further comprises: a resting step wherein the botanical material produced by step b) is stored in a container for a period of at least 4 hours, and optionally for at least 8 hours.
  4. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the botanical material is sealed in the container during the resting step.
  5. 5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the moisture content of the botanical material produced by step a) is less than about 20%.
  6. 6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the temperature during the first conditioning step a) is from about 40 to about 65°C.
  7. 7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the moisture content of the botanical produced by step b) is less than about 30%.
  8. 8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the temperature during the second conditioning step b) is from about 40 to about 65°C.
  9. 9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the botanical material to be treated is threshed tobacco leaf or a non-tobacco botanical material, optionally a non-tobacco leaf material.
  10. 10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises removing the outer stem from the leaf before step a).
  11. 11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the method further comprises drying the botanical material before step a).
  12. 12. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the botanical material has a moisture content of about 5 to about 20 wt% before step a).
  13. 13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the method further comprises cutting and drying the botanical material following step b).
  14. 14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the aerosolformer material is one or more selected from the group consisting of: glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3- butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.
  15. 15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the amount of aerosol-former applied to the botanical material is from about 10 to about 25% based on the weight of the botanical material (on a wet weight basis), or from about 15 to about 20% based on the weight of the botanical material (on a wet weight basis).
  16. 16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein an active substance is applied to the botanical material during the second conditioning step.
  17. 17. A botanical material obtained or obtainable by a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, comprising the aerosol-former material incorporated into the botanical material.
  18. 18. A botanical material as claimed in claim 17, wherein the botanical material is tobacco leaf or a non-tobacco botanical material, optionally a non-tobacco leaf material.
  19. 19. A botanical material as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, comprising greater than about 15 wt% (on a dry weight basis) of the aerosol-former material.
  20. 20. An article for use in an aerosol provision system, the article comprising aerosol-generating material comprising the botanical material as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19.

Description

Methods of treating botanical material, treated botanical material and uses thereof Field The present invention relates to methods of treating botanical material to incorporate an aerosol-former material. In particular, the methods are suitable for treating leaf material, such as tobacco leaf. The treated material is well suited to being incorporated into aerosol generating material for use in aerosol provision systems and the like. Background It is known to incorporate aerosol-former materials into aerosol generating materials for use in non-combustible aerosol provision systems. This is frequently done by including compositions such as reconstituted materials or dried gel or amorphous solid materials comprising the aerosol-former material. Summary According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of treating botanical material comprising : a) a first conditioning step wherein the botanical material is contacted with one or both of steam and water; and b) a second conditioning step wherein the botanical material is contacted with a mixture of: (i) one or both of steam and water and (ii) an aerosol-former material. In some embodiments, the method further comprises a soaking step wherein the botanical material produced by step a) is stored in a container for a period of at least about 30 minutes, optionally wherein the botanical material is sealed in the container during the soaking step. In some embodiments, following step b), the method further comprises a resting step wherein the botanical material produced by step b) is stored in a container for a period of at least 4 hours, and optionally for at least 8 hours. In some embodiments, the botanical material is sealed in the container during the resting step. In some embodiments, the moisture content of the botanical material produced by step a) is less than about 20%. In some embodiments, the temperature during the first conditioning step a) is from about 40 to about 65°C. In some embodiments, the moisture content of the botanical produced by step b) is less than about 30%. In some embodiments, the temperature during the second conditioning step b) is from about 40 to about 65°C. In some embodiments, the botanical material to be treated is threshed tobacco leaf or a non-tobacco botanical material, optionally a non-tobacco leaf material. In some embodiments, the method further comprises removing the outer stem from the leaf before step a). In some embodiments, the method further comprises drying the botanical material before step a). In some embodiments, the botanical material has a moisture content of about 5 to about 20 wt% before step a). In some embodiments, the method further comprises cutting and drying the botanical material following step b). In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material is one or more selected from the group consisting of: glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. In some embodiments, the amount of aerosol-former applied to the botanical material is from about 10 to about 25% based on the weight of the botanical material (on a wet weight basis), or from about 15 to about 20% based on the weight of the botanical material (on a wet weight basis). In some embodiments, an active substance is applied to the botanical material during the second conditioning step. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a botanical material obtained or obtainable by a method according to the first aspect, comprising the aerosol-former material incorporated into the botanical material. In some embodiments, the botanical material is tobacco leaf or a non-tobacco botanical material, optionally a non-tobacco leaf material. In some embodiments, the botanical material comprises greater than about 15 wt% (on a dry weight basis) of the aerosol-former material. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an article for use in an aerosol provision system, the article comprising aerosol-generating material comprising the botanical material according to the second aspect. In some embodiments, the article comprises the botanical material formed into a rod and circumscribed with a paper wrapper. Brief Description of the Figures Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a process flow chart of an exemplary method; Figure 2 shows a process flow chart of another exemplary method; Figure 3 shows a process flow chart of a further exemplary method; Figure 4 shows a process flow chart of another exemplary method; Figure 5 is a side-on cross-sectional view of a consumable comprising aerosol