Patent Publication Number: US-2023157348-A1

Title: Production of A Nicotine and Tobacco-Free Flavored Molasses Intended to be Smoked in Hookah

Description:
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the production of a tobacco and nicotine-free flavored molasses intended for smoking in Hookah by using Expanded Perlite as a substitute to tobacco contained in the traditional hookah molasses. Expanded Perlite is an inorganic substance that is non-toxic, tasteless, odorless, and thermally stable (it softens at a temperature above 850 degrees C. 
     During its expansion process, Perlite is heated to a temperature above 870 degrees C. and thus it is quite cleared from any toxic material that it might have before it was subjected to this high temperature. After calcination of Perlite it becomes very light with a bulk density of 0.03-0.15 g/cm3 and a high oil absorption. It is then called Expanded Perlite 
     Under a microscope, Expanded Perlite is revealed as being covered on its surface with countless tiny cells and with such a characteristic it is proving to be highly suitable substance to be used as a substitute to tobacco in a hookah smoking flavored molasses, as it has a high liquid absorption with almost double its weight. It also has a special physical property that allows the flavored liquid smoking mix of the tobacco-free Hookah, to be absorbed only into the exterior surfaces of its particles and these liquids are prevented from entering inside them. 
     In addition, the high liquid absorption of Expanded Perlite assists in controlling the quantity of the smoking liquid mix to be adsorbed on its surfaces to give a smooth and comfortable smoking. 
     Maintaining all the liquid of the flavored liquid smoking mix only on the exterior surface of Expanded Perlite would tend to use much less heat to vaporize this liquid. 
     Perlite is a non-renewable resource. It is a very cheap product and its world reserves are estimated at 700 million tons. It comes in granules of different size: 1—Fine Expanded Perlite: 0-2 mm, 2—Medium Expanded Perlite: 1-3 mm and 3—Horticultural Expanded Perlite: 2-5 mm. 
     The most convenient Expanded Perlite for the purpose of this type of nicotine- and tobacco-free smoking system is the Horticultural type. 
     Expanded Vermiculite is almost similar to the structure of Expanded Perlite, but it has two setbacks, it is usually contaminated with toxic Asbestos, and the liquid mix of hookah smoking system does not go to the surface of its particles, but is accumulated inside them and that mix can&#39;t be easily available to give smooth smoking 
     This nicotine and tobacco-free hookah flavored molasses includes along with the Expanded Perlite a mix of a sweetener based on sugar syrup or glucose syrup or sugar cane syrup or corn syrup or the like or natural zero calorie sweetener or artificial sweeteners, along with the one or two FDA approved humectants namely, vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol PG) with the aqueous flavoring agents. Also small amount of sodium benzoate is added as preservative, and it should not exceed the amount as recommended by World Health Organization. Paraffin oil is also added in small quantities to assist in slow burning of the sugar material contained in the hookah molasses 
     The percentages by weight of the ingredients of this type of nicotine- and tobacco-free flavored molasses shall be as follows: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Ingredient 
                 Percent by weight 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Expanded Perlite 
                 38-48 
               
               
                   
                 Flavoring Agent 
                  5-15 
               
               
                   
                 Propylene Glycol 
                 0-7 
               
               
                   
                 Vegetable Glycerin 
                 10-20 
               
               
                   
                 Sweetener as solid 
                 15-25 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 10-17 
               
               
                   
                 Sodium benzoate 
                 0.05-0.1  
               
               
                   
                 Paraffin oil 
                 0.5-1.5  
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Optional for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 regulating burning) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The following is a guideline formulation for producing a nicotine and tobacco-free hookah flavored molasses: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Ingredient 
                 Quantity (grams) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Expanded Perlite 
                 1000 
               
               
                   
                 Flavoring Agent 
                 100-150  
               
               
                   
                   
                 (depends on its type  
               
               
                   
                   
                 and concentration) 
               
               
                   
                 PG 
                 100-200 
               
               
                   
                 VG 
                 500-600 
               
               
                   
                 Glucose Syrup (60%) 
                 1200-1800 
               
               
                   
                 Sodium Benzoate 
                   2 
               
               
                   
                 Paraffin Oil 
                 35-45  
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Optional) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     This nicotine and tobacco-free flavored molasses is intended to be smoked alone in the hookah as it is or to be mixed with a traditional tobacco-rich molasses in a percentage that is left to the smokers to decide depending on their general physiological mood and their desire to reduce the amount of nicotine they are inhaling to achieve less addiction. Here it is very important to note that this type of flavored molasses contains sugar or the like, and sugar decomposes at 186 degrees C. which is within the temperature range of smoking Hookah (180-200 deg. C.), then the sugar will be decomposed while smoking the hookah to black carbon. The black carbon will be quite seen on the head of the hookah after smoking the hookah. 
     When producing any form/formulation of this flavored molasses to be used in hookah smoking certain matters must be taken into consideration. 
     For instance, both PG and VG are responsible for the production of vapor. But PG produces less vapor than VG. Therefore, if a thick vapor smoke is required in any nicotine and tobacco-free hookah flavored molasses form, the percentage of VG by weight will be increased in the formulation. However, PG, is used to give a throat-hit similar to that the smoker feels when smoking the traditional hookah with tobacco. Its quantity in the formulation is decided whether a soft or hard throat hit is required. 
     With regard to the flavoring agent, the quantity to be used in the smoking substance shall depend on the concentration of the flavor used. 
     The sugar material/sweetener is added to give a sweet mouth feel of the vapor smoke, and its quantity in the formulation of the subject flavored molasses is somehow related to the type of the fruit flavoring agent used. Any of the above shall be taken into consideration when a certain form of the nicotine and tobacco-free hookah flavored molasses is targeted for production. 
    
    
     METHOD OF PRODUCTION 
     Usually the traditional hookah flavored molasses is manufactured by soaking the tobacco in tubs containing its other liquid ingredients in a ratio of 1:3 between tobacco and other liquid ingredients. In this case, the liquid ingredients will be absorbed on the outside surfaces and inside the tobacco leaves. 
     The subject hookah flavored molasses does not accept soaking into the flavored liquid mix since we need the liquid ingredients to be absorbed only on the countless tiny cells covering the surfaces of the Expanded Perlite and not inside them. 
     The best way to achieve that is by spraying regularly and uniformly the liquid ingredients of this subject invention into the surface of the Expanded Perlite while it is moving on a conveyor belt at a fixed speed.