Patent EA-002448-B1 (EA)
Title: Method of treating tobacco to reduce nitrosamine conent, and products produced thereby
Inventor: WILLIAMS JONNIE R
IPC: A24B15/00
Filed: 1998-06-09
Abstract: 1. A process for reducing the amount of or preventing formation of nitrosamines in harvested tobacco plant, comprising  (i) a step of (a) removing stems from the tobacco leaves; or (b) pressing the tobacco leaves to remove excess moisture or (c) subjecting the tobacco leaves to a steam treatment, and (ii) a step of subjecting at least a portion of the plant to microwave radiation, while said portion is uncured and in a state susceptible to having the amount of nitrosamines reduced or formation of nitrosamines arrested, for a sufficient time to reduce the amount of or substantially prevent formation of at least one nitrosamine, wherein said subjecting to microwave radiation is carried out on a tobacco leaf or portion thereof after onset of yellowing in the leaf and prior to substantial accumulation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in the leaf, and wherein said tobacco leaf or portion thereof is arranged in single layer thickness without stacking or piling of the leaves. 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein said step is (b) or (c) and the tobacco leaves contain stems. 3. A process for reducing the amount of or preventing formation of nitrosamines in harvested tobacco plant, comprising: subjecting at least a portion of the plant to a concentrated form of radiation having a frequency higher than the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum, while said portion is uncured and in a state susceptible to having the amount of nitrosamines reduced or formation of nitrosamines arrested, for a sufficient time to reduce the amount of or substantially prevent formation of at least one nitrosamine. 4. The process according to claim 3, wherein said subjecting to radiation is carried out on a tobacco leaf or portion thereof after onset of yellowing in the leaf and prior to substantial accumulation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in the leaf. 5. The process according to claim 3, wherein said subjecting to radiation is carried out prior to substantial loss of the plant's cellular integrity. 6. The process according to claim 3, wherein the tobacco is flue tobacco and said subjecting to radiation is carried out within about 24 to about 72 hours post-harvest. 7. The process according to claim 3, wherein said radiation is applied to the plant for a period of at least about one second at a predetermined power level. 8. The process according to claim 3, wherein said subjecting to radiation prevents normal accumulation of at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine in the leaf. 9. The process according to claim 8, wherein said at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine is selected from the group consisting of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N'-nitrosoanatabine and N'-nitrosoanabasine. 10. The process according to claim 4, wherein said subjecting to radiation is carried out on tobacco leaves arranged in single layer thickness, without stacking or piling of the leaves. 11. The process according to claim 10, further comprising, prior to said subjecting to radiation, a step of (a) removing stems from the tobacco leaves, (b) pressing the tobacco leaves to remove excess moisture, or (c) subjecting the tobacco leaves to a steam treatment. 12. The process according to claim 3, further comprising drying the portion after carrying out the radiation step. 13. The process according to claim 3, wherein said radiation is generated by a laser beam. 14. The process according to claim 3, wherein said radiation is an electron beam generated by an electron accelerator. 15. The process according to claim 3, wherein said radiation is gamma radiation. 16. A tobacco product comprising tobacco having a reduced content of at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine, produced by a process comprising subjecting the tobacco, while the tobacco is uncured and susceptible to having formation of said at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine arrested, to a concentrated form of radiation having a frequency higher than the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. 17. The tobacco product according to claim 16, wherein said subjecting to radiation is carried out on a tobacco leaf prior to substantial accumulation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in the leaf. 18. The tobacco product according to claim 16, wherein said subjecting to radiation is carried out prior to substantial loss of the tobacco's cellular integrity. 19. The tobacco product according to claim 17, wherein the tobacco is flue tobacco and said subjecting to radiation is carried out within about 24 to about 72 hours post-harvest. 20. The tobacco product according to claim 16, wherein said microwave radiation is applied to the plant for a period of at least about one second at a predetermined power level. 21. The tobacco product according to claim 20, wherein said subjecting to radiation prevents normal accumulation of at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine in the leaf. 22. The tobacco product according to claim 21, wherein said at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine is selected from the group consisting of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N'-nitrosoanatabine and N'-nitrosoanabasine. 23. The tobacco product according to claim 17, wherein said subjecting to radiation is carried out on tobacco leaves arranged in single layer thickness, without stacking or piling of the leaves. 24. The tobacco product according to claim 23, further comprising, prior to said subjecting to radiation, a step of (a) removing stems from the tobacco leaves, (b) pressing the tobacco leaves to remove excess moisture, or (c) subjecting the tobacco leaves to a steam treatment. 25. The tobacco product according to claim 16, further comprising drying the portion after carrying out the radiation step. 26 . The tobacco product according to claim 16, wherein said radiation is generated by a laser beam.71 <DP=5 27. The tobacco product according to claim 16, wherein said radiation is an electron beam generated by an electron accelerator 28. The tobacco product according to claim 16, wherein said radiation is gamma radiation. 29. A method of manufacturing a tobacco product, comprising subjecting tobacco leaves to a concentrated form of radiation having a frequency higher than the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum, while said leaves are uncured and in a state susceptible to having the amount of tobacco-specific nitrosamines reduced or formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines arrested, for a sufficient time to reduce the amount of or substantially prevent formation of at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine in the leaves, and forming said tobacco product comprising the irradiated leaves, the tobacco product being selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff and tobacco-containing gum and lozenges. 30. The process according to claim 29, wherein the leaves are subjected to said radiation after onset of yellowing in the leaves and prior to substantial accumulation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in the leaves. 31. A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow Virginia flue tobacco suitable for human consumption, substantially free of organic fluids used to extract expanded organic materials for extracting and having a collective content of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N'-nitrosoanatabine and N'-nitrosoanabasine less than 0.2μg/g. 32. A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow tobacco suitable for human consumption, substantially free of organic fluids used to extract expanded organic materials for extracting and having a collective content of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N'-nitrosoanatabine and N'-nitrosoanabasine less than 0.05μg, wherein said cured non-green or yellow tobacco is selected from the group of Virginia flue and Burley varieties. 33. A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow tobacco suitable for human consumption, and having a collective content of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N'-nitrosoanatabine and N'-nitrosoanabasine less than 0.05μg, wherein said cured non-green or yellow tobacco is selected from the group of Virginia flue and Burley varieties. 34. A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow Virginia flue tobacco suitable for human consumption and having a collective content of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N'-nitrosoanatabine and N'-nitrosoanabasine less than 0.2μg/g. 35. A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow tobacco suitable for human consumption, substantially free of organic fluids used to extract expanded organic materials for extracting and having a collective content of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N'-nitrosoanatabine and N'-nitrosoanabasine less than 0.2μg, wherein said cured non-green or yellow tobacco is selected from the group of Virginia flue and Burley varieties. 36. A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow tobacco suitable for human consumption and having a collective content of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N'-nitrosoanatabine and N'-nitrosoanabasine less than 0.2μg, wherein said cured non-green or yellow tobacco is selected from the group of Virginia flue and Burley varieties. 37. A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow tobacco suitable for human consumption, substantially free of organic fluids used to extract expanded organic materials for extracting and having a collective content of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N'-nitrosoanatabine and N'-nitrosoanabasine less than 0.002μg. 38. A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow tobacco suitable for human consumption and having a collective content of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitr