University of Alicante

This invention solves the problems described above.

It is a mixture that comprises:

1. Tobacco.

2. A series of additives which, when used together, give rise to a marked synergistic effect in the reduction of toxic and carcinogenic compounds present in tobacco smoke, among them:

• Tars.

• Nicotine.

• Carbon monoxide (CO).

• Other components of the gaseous and particulate fraction of the smoke.

Among these additives are:

a) At least, one mesoporous compound, hereinafter "catalyst", at a certain concentration, selected from among:

• Aluminosilicate type SBA-15.

• Aluminosilicate type MCM-41.

• Activated carbon with a high degree of activation.

b) At least, one alkaline or alkaline earth metal salt of carboxylic acid, at a certain concentration.

In addition, optionally, the mixture may contain, at least, one of the following compounds: water, glycerin, ethylic alcohol, pigments, flavors and odorants.

To carry out the mixing, the procedure is the following:

I. Sufficient volume of alkaline or alkaline earth metal salt of carboxylic acid (in the form of a concentrated solution) is added to the tobacco strands so that, after evaporation of the water, the desired concentration and some adhesion/greasiness are obtained.

II. Add the selected mesoporous compound(s) directly on the tobacco.

III. Mix manually or automatically.

The present invention has the following advantages:

1) The mixture object of the present invention has a surprising synergistic effect, obtaining excellent results in the reduction of toxic and carcinogenic compounds during the tobacco smoking process, much higher than those reached by other catalysts described at the present time.

2) The wetting and adherent effect of the alkaline or alkaline earth metal salt of carboxylic acid made the mixture of tobacco with the mesoporous compound more effective, resulting in a more stable final product.

3) The process of incorporating the catalyst on the tobacco is greatly simplified, allowing automated industrial scaling using conventional equipment without any significant modification.

4) The dispersion of the catalyst on the tobacco is improved.

5) The stability of the mixture [tobacco + catalyst] is increased.

6) It increases the effectiveness of the catalyst in the reduction of harmful compounds present in tobacco smoke.

The simultaneous and combined addition of mesoporous solids (type SBA-15, MCM-41 and activated carbons) with alkaline or alkaline earth metal salts of carboxylic acid on tobacco, has a surprising synergistic effect with excellent results in the reduction of toxic and carcinogenic compounds present in tobacco smoke, which was not foreseeable with respect to their addition separately.

It is worth noting the reduction of the following compounds:

• Tars: 90%

• Nicotine: 70%

• Carbon monoxide (CO): 50%

• Other gases: 50%

• Condensed liquids: 100%

This technology has been successully prototyped and developed in a pilot plant scale.

Fifteen cigarettes of each sample studied were smoked, following the technical specifications of ISO 3308 (2-second puffs, suction volume of 35 mL, puff frequency of 60 seconds, and pressure loss in puff less than 300 Pa), and it was concluded that the mixture object of the present invention allowed to obtain reductions of 90% in tar, 70% in nicotine, and 50% in carbon monoxide (CO), that is, reductions much higher than those currently achieved with other catalysts.

This invention is framed within the tobacco sector (cigarette manufacturing), in particular, preparation of a synergistic mixture of tobacco and additives (mesoporous compounds and salts of alkaline metals or alkaline earth salts of carboxylic acid), which significantly reduces the toxic and carcinogenic substances present in tobacco smoke.

This technology can be applied, both manually and automatically to:

• Conventional tobacco.

• Reconstituted tobacco.

• Expanded tobacco.

• Rolling tobacco.

• Tobacco of pipe.

• Tobacco mixtures.

We are looking for companies interested in acquiring this technology for commercial exploitation through:

• Patent licensing agreements.

• Development of new applications.

• Agreements regarding technology and knowledge transfer.

Company profile sought:

Manufacturers and/or sellers of:

• Conventional tobacco.

• Reconstituted tobacco.

• Expanded tobacco.

• Rolling tobacco.

• Tobacco of pipe.

• Tobacco mixtures.

• Cigarettes.

• Cigars.

The present invention is protected by a utility model  application:

• Title: "Mezcla de tabaco con una composición sinérgica de aditivos y sales de ácidos carboxílicos para reducir la generación de compuestos tóxicos en el humo del tabaco".

• Application number: U201931018.

• Application date: 1^st June, 2018.