Deposition of vaporized flavorant on tobacco

Claim 1

A method of treating tobacco comprising: a. introducing by vapor injection a tobacco flavorant in heated vapor form in the absence of a volatile or semi-volatile carrier fluid, into a conduit having a heated air stream maintained at a temperature within the range of from about 75° to 150° F, the temperature of said air stream being .[.above the vaporizing temperature of the flavorant.]. .Iadd.maintained at a level sufficient to prevent condensation of said vaporized flavorant in said conduit prior to adsorption of said flavorant on the tobacco.Iaddend., the vaporized flavorant being a material selected from the group consisting of menthol, anethol, benzyl.[.;.]. benzoate, cinnamaldehyde, coumarin, eugenol, heliotropin, menthone, methyl salicylate, propylene glycol, gamma-undecalactone and vanillin, a proportion of from .[.15.]. .Iadd.5 .Iaddend.to 30 milligrams per cubic foot of heated air to form a uniform concentration of said vaporized flavorant in said air stream; b. injecting tobacco into said conduit and into said mixture of said heated air and vaporized flavorant at a point downstream from said vapor injection at the outlet side of a negative pressure producing means; c. keeping said tobacco and vaporized flavorant in said conduit in contact for a period of time of .[.from.]. between 3 and 15 seconds to permit uniform adsorption of said flavorant whereby a flavorant level .[.of at least about 0.2 percent.]. on said tobacco is obtained; and finally separating the flavored tobacco from said conduit.

Claim 2

A method of treating tobacco comprising: a. introducing by vapor injection a tobacco flavorant in heated vapor form in the absence of a volatile or semi-volatile carrier fluid, into a conduit having a heated air stream maintained at a temperature within the range of from about 75° to 150° F, the temperature of said air stream being .[.above the vaporizing temperature of the flavorant.]. .Iadd.maintained at a level sufficient to prevent condensation of said vaporized flavorant in said conduit prior to adsorption of said flavorant on the tobacco.Iaddend., the vaporized flavorant being a material selected from the group consisting of menthol, anethol, benzyl.[.;.]. benzoate, cinnamaldehyde, coumarin, eugenol, heliotropin, menthone, methyl salicylate, propylene glycol, gamma-undecalactone and vanillin, a proportion of from .[.15.]. .Iadd.5 .Iaddend.to 30 milligrams per cubic foot of heated air to form a uniform concentration of said vaporized flavorant in said air stream; b. injecting tobacco into said conduit and into said mixture of said heated air and vaporized flavorant at a point downstream from said vapor injection at the outlet side of a negative pressure producing means; c. keeping said tobacco and vaporized flavorant in said conduit in contact for a period of time of .[.from.]. between 3 and 15 seconds to permit uniform adsorption of said flavorant whereby a flavorant level .[.of at least about 0.2 percent.]. on said tobacco is obtained; and finally separating the flavored tobacco from said conduit.

Claim 5

A method of treating tobacco comprising: a. introducing by vapor injection menthol in heated vapor form in the absence of a volatile or semi-volatile carrier fluid into a conduit having a heated air stream maintained at a temperature within the range of from .[˜]. 75° to 150° F, the temperature of said air stream being .[.above the vaporizing temperature of said menthol.]. .Iadd.maintained at a level sufficient to prevent condensation of said vaporized flavorant in said conduit prior to adsorption of said menthol on the tobacco.Iaddend., a vaporized menthol being in the proportion of from between 15 to 30 milligrams per cubic foot of heated air to form a uniform concentration of said menthol in said air stream; b. injecting tobacco into said conduit and into said mixture of said heated air and vaporized menthol at a point downstream from said vapor injection at the outlet side of a negative pressure producing means; c. keeping said tobacco and vaporized menthol in said conduit in contact for a period of time of .[.from.]. between 3 and 15 seconds to permit uniform adsorption of said menthol at a menthol level of at least .[˜]. 0.2 percent on said tobacco; and finally separating the flavored tobacco from said conduit.

Claim 6

A method of treating tobacco comprising: a. introducing by vapor injection menthol in heated vapor form in the absence of a volatile or semi-volatile carrier fluid into a conduit having a heated air stream maintained at a temperature within the range of from .[˜]. 75° to 150° F, the temperature of said air stream being .[.above the vaporizing temperature of said menthol.]. .Iadd.maintained at a level sufficient to prevent condensation of said vaporized flavorant in said conduit prior to adsorption of said menthol on the tobacco.Iaddend., a vaporized menthol being in the proportion of from between 15 to 30 milligrams per cubic foot of heated air to form a uniform concentration of said menthol in said air stream; b. injecting tobacco into said conduit and into said mixture of said heated air and vaporized menthol at a point downstream from said vapor injection at the outlet side of a negative pressure producing means; c. keeping said tobacco and vaporized menthol in said conduit in contact for a period of time of .[.from.]. between 3 and 15 seconds to permit uniform adsorption of said menthol at a menthol level of at least .[˜]. 0.2 percent on said tobacco; and finally separating the flavored tobacco from said conduit.