Inventors:
Samuel G. Wildman - Santa Monica CA
Shuh J. Sheen - Lexington KY
Assignee:
Leaf Proteins, Inc. - Carson CA
International Classification:
A24B 1520
A24B 1524
A24B 1530
A24B 314
Abstract:
Described herein is a process for obtaining a smoking product from tobacco leaves. The leaves, or leaves and stalk together when immature plants are used in the process, are ground or otherwise pulverized to liberate the liquid portion of the leaves from the plant material. The liquid portion of the leaves is treated to remove water-soluble proteins and nicotine and the solid portion of the leaves is treated to remove water and insoluble protein material, nicotine and green pigment material. The residues obtained after separation of the water-soluble and -insoluble protein, nicotine and green pigment material are recombined to yield a processed tobacco which is suitable for use in cigarettes as a tobacco filler or other products of tobacco manufacture.