465 



4,836,224 



10 



solution or the salt in a suitable solvent Such solutions 

 should exhibit a low enough viscosity to allow for 

 spraying or injecting the solution. However, it is desir- 

 able that the concentration of the salt within the solu- 

 tion not be so dilute that the salt experiences significant 5 

 dissociation. Typically, the concentration of salt within 

 the solution is about 20 weight percent or more. 



Suitable solvents for the salts include water, ethanol, 

 glycerol, propylene glycol, and the like, as well as com- 

 binations thereof. Generally, most nicotine/organic "> 

 acid salts are soluble or miscible in such solvenlv and 

 the salts do not undergo substantial dissociation when 

 solubilized to small amounts. For example, the salt can 

 be hydrated in water without undergoing a significant 

 amount of dissociation. However, salts diluted with " 

 substantial amounts of solvent can undergo dissociation 

 to some degree to provide for the application of a mix- 

 ture of nicotine/organic acid salt, nicotine and organic 

 add to the cigarette. Thus, it is possible to apply an 

 additive in the form of nicotine and levulinic acid to the 

 cigarette. 



If desired, cigarettes can have incorporated therein as 

 an additive (i) at least one salt consisting of nicotine and 

 an organic acid, and (ii) nicotine. Preferred additives of 

 such type include at least one salt having a molar ratio 

 of nicotine to organic acid of 1:3. 



The amount of organic acid employed within the 

 cigarette can vary. The amount of organic acid incorpo- 

 rated within the cigarette depends upon factors such as jq 

 the placement of the organic acid within the cigarette, 

 and the configurational aspects of the cigarette. Config- 

 urational aspects include the composition and charac- 

 teristics of the filter material and initial filler blend, the 

 degree of ventilation of the cigarette, and other such jj 

 factors. For example, for most cigarettes of this inven- 

 tion comprising tobacco material having a total or blend 

 nicotine content of from about 2 percent to about 10 

 percent, it frequently is desirable to provide organic 

 add additive to the dgarette in an amount from about 1 4q 

 percent to about 10 percent, based on the dry weight of 

 the tobacco filler material in order to provide accept- 

 able tobacco taste, strength and satisfaction upon use. 

 Generally, the amount of organic add applied to such a 

 dgarette is greater than about 2 percent, and oflentimes 45 

 greater than about 3 percent, based on the dry weight of 

 the tobacco filler materal within the dgarette. 



The amount of nicotine/organic acid salt or salts 

 employed within the cigarette can vary. The amount of 

 salt incorporated within the dgarette depends upon 50 

 factors such as the placement of the salt within the 

 dgarette, and the configurational aspects of the ciga- 

 rette. For most cigarettes having tobacco filler material 

 comprising a nicotine content of from about 1 percent 

 to about 2 percent, it frequently is desirable to provide ;; 

 salt additive to provide a total nicotine content of up to 

 about S percent, more frequently up tp about 4 percent 

 to the cigarette. Such an amount of additive can provide 

 for gtxxl tobacco tsste, strength and satisfaction upon 

 use. Generally, the amount of nicotin/organic acid salt (O 

 applied to a typical cigarette provides from about 0.2S 

 percent to about 20 percent, preferably from about 1.2 

 to about 13 percent of salt additive, based on the dry 

 weight of the tobacco filler material within that ciga- 

 rette. In certain instances, it is desirable to employ about 6S 

 3.S percent of salt additive or more, based on the dry 

 weight of the tobacco filler material within the ciga- 

 rette. 



The cigarettes of this invention preferably provide a 

 mainstream aerosol exhibiting a pH which is essentially 

 equal to or less than that of a similar cigarette having a 

 low amount (e.g , less than about 0.2 weight percent) of 

 the organic acid additive incorporated therein. In cer- 

 tain circumstances, an amount of organic acid additive 

 is incorporated into a cigarette in order to reduce the 

 pH of the mainstream aerosol during use thereof. Main- 

 stream aerosol is that aerosol which is drawn through 

 the article and into the mouth of the user. For example, 

 for a cigarette having smokable tobacco material con- 

 tained in a drcumscribing outer wrapping material, the 

 mainstream aerosol is the mainstream tobacco smoke 

 which includes the combustion and/or pyrolysis prod- 

 ucts of tobacco material. 



By the term, "pH of mainstream aerosol" is meant 

 that averaged per-puff pH of the whole aerosol as mea- 

 sured using the techniques described by Sensabaugh et 

 al in Tobacco Science. Vol. XI. pp. 25-30 (1967). which 

 Is incorporated herein by reference. Typical mainstream 

 aerosol pH for a cigarette ranges from about 4.S units to 

 about 8.S units on average per cigarette. 



In referring to a reduction in the pH of mainstream 

 aerosol, it is meant a lowering of the average pH of the 

 mainstream aerosol per particular cigarette. Such re- 

 duction is provided by the addition of an effective 

 amount of the additive (eg., organic acid additive and- 

 /or nicotine/organic acid salt). Typically, the reduction 

 in pH is a lowering of the pH by more than about 0.03 

 pH unit; preferably by more than about 0.08 pH unit. 

 Typically, reduction in the pH of the mainstream aero- 

 sol does not provide a cigarette which yields main- 

 stream aerosol having a pH significantly below 4.S 

 units. 



The presence of the organic acid (which can be pro- 

 vided by the decomposition of the nicotine/organic 

 acid salt during use of the cigarette can introduce a 

 reduction of the pH of the mainstream aerosol depend- 

 ing upon the quantity and type of organic acid which Is 

 incorporated therein. Thus, a certain balance, mellow- 

 ing or marrying of the flavors culminate in a fully bod- 

 ied tobacco fiavor, strength and satisfaction which is 

 delivered to the user. Such a (lavor enhandng charac- 

 teristic Is particularly desirable for highly air diluted or 

 "ultra low tar" cigarettes. 



The pH of the mainstream aerosol is infiuenced by a 

 number of factors. For example, the pH of mainstream 

 dgarette smoke can be infiuenced by factors such as the 

 type of tobacco material or blend of tobacco materials 

 employed, the type of processed tobacco (e.g., volume 

 expanded tobacco or reconstituted tobacco), the config- 

 uration of the cigarette (eg., the filter tow material, the 

 degree of air dilution, the circumference of the ciga- 

 rette, the type of wrapping material, etc.), the maimer of 

 drawing on or puffing the dgarette. and other such 

 factors. 



Cigarettes of this invention generally deliver from 

 about 0.2 mg to about 3. J mg, frequently from about 0.3 

 mg to about 2.S mg, more frequently from about 0.4 mg 

 to about I.S mg of nicotine when smoked under FTC 

 conditions. Typically, FTC "tar" to FTC nicotine ra- 

 tios for dgarettes of this Invention are less than about 

 12, generally less than about 9, frequently less than 

 about 7, and in certain Instances less than about S. FTC 

 "tar" to FTC nicotine ratios for cigarettes of this inven- 

 tion often can range from about 3 to about 6. Typically, 

 the FTC "tar" to FTC nicotine ratios of a cigarette 

 having a nicotine/organic acid salt incorporated therein 



