Process for treating tobacco and tobacco obtained by said process

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR MODIFYING THE STRUCTURE OF TOBACCO SO THAT SMOKE PRODUCED BY THE COMBUSTION OF THE RESULTING MODIFIED TOBACCO CONTAINS AT LEAST 30% LESS TARS, AT LEAST 40% LESS ANTHRACENE AND AT LEAST 55% LESS 3,4BENZOPYRENE THAN SMOKE PRODUCED BY THE COMBUSTION OF THE TOBACCO BEFORE MODIFICATION, SAID PROCESS COMPRISING THE SINGLE STEP OF CONTINUOUSLY PARTIALLY EXTRACTINGG CUT TOBACCO WITH CARBON TETRACHLORIDE BY CONTACTING CUT TOBACCO HAVING A MOISTURE CONTENT OF FROM 10 TO 15 PERCENT WITH CARBON TETRACHLORIDE FOR A PERIOD OF AT MOST ONE HOUR AT ABOUT ROOM TEMPERATURE AND ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, THE PROPORTION OF CARBON TETRACHLORIDE TO CUT TOBACCO BEING FROM ABOUT 1 TO 2 LITERS PER KILOGRAM.