Product Design
Continuation of Nicotine Augmentation Project (CONAP)
Abstract
Outlines the current status of the Continuation of Nicotine Augmentation Project [CONAP], says "development of flavorful, enjoyable and physiologically satisfying cigarettes which will deliver lower tar and reduced amounts of gas phase components, yet deliver nearly comparable quantities of nicotine" is crucial, requires a multi-faceted approach and lists personnel assigned to each project. States a thorough literature search will avoid duplication of efforts, notes the commercial sourcing of pure nicotine is integral as "One obvious means to increase the nicotine content...of low tar delivery cigarettes is to add nicotine to the tobacco." and lists internal nicotine sources including: waste tobacco, drier exhaust, and processing-transfer. States nicotine can be applied to total blend or components, that less than 1% nicotine alkaloid [as tartarate] provides impact, and additions will be restricted to reconstituted leaf [RL] or puffed tobacco. States further research of chemical treatment with ammonia and other materials will continue with the objective to increase free nicotine content of smoke, air dilution cigarette construction indicates tar/nicotine ratios can be manipulated and smoke and leaf pH studies remain current. Indicates a focus on reduction of nicotine pyrolysis to increase nicotine delivery, filter materials selective for nicotine passage, and reducing volatile humectants to increase flavor and nicotine in delivered tar. Says plasticizers increase the weight of tar and a less volatile plasticizer be explored. Says literature searches for the physiological effects of nicotine will continue for new information, that nicotine/tar ratios of competitive brands be monitored for elevations beyond the norm, and further exploration of novel flavor supplements may make low tar cigarettes acceptable. States additional studies using nicotine salts for impact or physiological effects be pursued, safety rules for nicotine handling be defined and notes the cooperative efforts of Research and Product Development are required to meet the immediate and long range Marketing Department objectives.
User-Contributed Notes
Fields
- Author
- Minnemeyer, Harry J. (Lorillard R&D Dept.; worked on nicotine augmentation project)
- Recipient
- Chen, L.L.
- Hudson, A.B.
- Ireland, M.S.
- Jessup, Terry D. (Lor, Product Development, Flavorist, 1979)
blending and flavor lab for- Larson, T.S.
- Marmor, R.S.
- McGeady, J.C.
- Moring, Tomas B. (Lor, Research Administrator, 1979)
- Price, T.
- Reid, J.R.
- Routh, W.E.
- Schickedantz, Paul David (Lorillard nicotine augmentation project, R&D)
P. D. Schickedantz was involved in the R&D nicotine augmentation project at Lorillard Tobacco Company. (Multi-State Deposition Team - Identification of Witnesses)- Schultz, Frederick J., Ph.D. (VP of Lorillard, Inc. '89-95)
- Skladanowski, M.A.
- Slaven, R.W.
- Thaggard, N.A.
- Tong, Howard S. (Lor, Biochemistry, Research Pharacologist, 1979)
Supervisor in Biochemistry- Tucker, Charles. L., Jr. (Lor, Product Development Manager, 1979-1983)
- Hudson, A.B.
- Hypothesis
- Design changes over timeChanges in cigarette design over the past half century.
- Nicotine transport, transfer, and uptake
Design changes which alter nicotine delivery or effect how the product causes and maintains dependence, including transfer of nicotine from tobacco to smoke, and uptake into the body.- Smoke constituent testing
Development of methods for measurement of gas and particulate yields in mainstream and sidestream smoke.- Toxicity and consumer intake
Development of scientifically valid procedures for measuring biological activity and neurological effects of nicotine and smoke constituents.- Use of additives
Modification of tobacco products through use of additives and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity.- Use of filters, paper, and ventilation
Modification of tobacco products through use of filters, paper, and ventilation, and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity.- Use of tobacco processing/ blends
Modification of tobacco products through changes in tobacco processing and use of blends, and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity. - Nicotine transport, transfer, and uptake
- Keyword
- Consumer acceptability (Consumer preference)
- Cost savings (Cost reduction)
- Delivery modification
- High impact/low tar
- Impact (Throat grab)
- Low delivery (Reduced delivery)
- Nicotine delivery (Smoke nicotine or nicotine yield)
- Nicotine manipulation
- Physiological effects
- Pyrolysis
- Smoke pH
Acidity/ baseness, scale from 0-14, 7 neutral- Tar/Nicotine ratio (Nicotine/Tar Ratio or T/N ratio)
- Toxicity
- Cost savings (Cost reduction)
- Additive
- Ammoniasee also: Ammonium bicarbonate, Ammonium carbonate, Ammonium chloride, Ammonium hydroxide, Ammonium sulfide, Diammonium phosphate, and Urea
- Smoke Constituent
- ammonia
- Nicotine
- Nicotine salts
- Total particulate matter
- Nicotine
- Design Component
- Air dilution
- Ammoniated blend
- Ammoniated reconstituted sheet (Ammoniated recon)
- Blend ammonia
- Blended leaf (BL)
- Expanded tobacco (Puffed tobacco, ET)
- Filter efficiency (FE)
- Filter ventilation (Filter vents, air vents)
- High flavor/ impact blend
- Humectant
- Leaf nicotine
- Nicotine content (Tobacco nicotine content)
Total nicotine in the unburnt tobacco rod- Nicotine transfer efficiency (NTE)
- Plasticizer
- Reconstituted leaf (RL)
PM @reconstituted_tobacco, c. 1970s-1980s- Selective filtration
- Ammoniated blend
- Operation/Project
- CONAP (Project N-187) 1 (Continuation of Nicotine Augmentation Project)Continuation of nicotine augmentation project
- Named Organization
- Research
- Product Development
- Marketing Department
- Product Development
- Subject
- additives
- Ammonia (Additives)
- Ammoniation (Technology)
- Blends (Design)
- Expanded Tobacco (Design)
- Filters (Design)
- Formulas (Design)
- Humectants (Additives to maintain moisture)
- Low Yield Cigarettes (Products)
- nicotine technology
- Reconstituted Tobacco (Design)
- Smoke Nicotine (Measures)
- T/N Ratios (Measures)
- Tobacco Type (Design)
- Transfer to Smoke (Measures)
- Ammonia (Additives)
Annotations
- 1. CONAP (Project N-187) Operation/Project
- Description:
Continuation of Nicotine Augmentation Project
- Intended Use:
"To continue development of flavorful, enjoyable and physiologically satisfying cigarettes which will deliver lower tar and reduced amounts of gas phase components, yet deliver nearly comparable quantities of nicotine..."
- Description:
Document Images
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- C 0 N F I D E N'T I A L-
MEMORANDUM
February 9, 1977
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT: Dr. F. J. Schultz
H. J. Minnemeyer
Continuation of Nicotine Augmentation Project
(CONAP)
(This is a revision of the memorandum of May 4, 1976, and is
intended to outline the current scope of the project).
INTRODUCTION
There is general agreement among experts both inside
and outside the tobacco industry that there is a great need
to continue development of flavorful, enjoyable and physi-
ologically satisfyi:;g cigarettes which will deliver lower
tar and reduced amounts of gas phase components, yet
deliver nearly comparable quantities of nicotine as compared
to the most popular cigarettes on today's market employingg
conventional cigarette construction. It is a highly impor-
tant business objective that Lorillard accelerate the develop-
ment of the technology internally which will permit the
Company to exhibit a superior degree of competitiveness in
this very important and newly emerging segment of the
cigarette market.
While the immediate application of developed technology
will be directed toward the SUPER HI-FI segment of the market,
it is an additional goal that technology be developed which
is relevant to the entire product line so that it can be
applied upon a suitable indication from the marketplace
wherever needed.
It is almost a certainty that no one single approach
will result in a complete solution to the problem~. The
problem is very complex; technology will have to be developed'
in dozens of areas with the objective that each contribution,
at the best, will allow a small, but positive incremental
movement toward the project objective. The problem is complex
because each area of investigation will have to be related
to its effect on a multitude of'other parameters so that
it will be practical in practice. Every innovation pro-
posed, every avenue explored will have to be quantitated and
related to its effect upon flavor acceptability, manufacturing,
and marketing practices, as well as be related to the other
'i .
Dr. F. J. Schultz
2
approaches to the problem that are currently under inves-
tigation. The practical limitations of each innovation
explored will have to be precisely defined so that it may
be used with minimum upset to the other elements in the
cigarette manufacturing business.
define the problem in writing several times, first, for
the participant's own benefit, because there are likely
objectives. It is probable that it will be necessary to
Personnel assigned to various segments of the overall
problem will be expected to view their assignment in re-
lationship to the overall problem and the ultimate project
' to be subtle changes in the problem with progress on the
project team members, to enable them to keep their work
overall project, and secondly, for the benefit of other
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.The purpose of this memorandum is to briefly outline
=members will use the outline presented here only as a
the overall problem. It is expected that project team
,describe the various approaches now being taken to solve
the scope of this project as it now exists, and to IVvli;:
objectives, as well as to the objectives defined as their
team members should relate results to the overall project
starting point in the definition of their own particular
problem, and that the problem definition will be periodi-
cally revised as the project progresses. In reports, all
.own area of responsibility in their statement of the
problem.
. In the following outline the person or persons most
responsible for leading each approach*are listed.
TECHNICAL APPROACH
1. Literature Survey and Working File Dr. P. D. Schickedantz
A thorough literature search is basic to any research
program, and is particularly important to this program
because the literature base will be very large. A highly
organized approach is being conducted in acquiring this
literature base, with the objective of completeness and
general utility to the research participants in order to
avoid duplication of effort. This is important because
of the large number of participants in the project, and
because of the movement of individuals into and out of the
project.
Dr. Schickedantz has received specific instructions as
to the requirements for this file, and these have been
transmitted to project participants. Projects participants
are expected to assist and cooperate in the rapid imple-
mentation of the system, and to assist and participate in
. F. J. Schultz - 3- Feb. 9, 1977
associated with the project. It is anticipated that the
file will, above all else, be broadly useful, and any
suggestions to achieve this objective will be appreciated.
2. Commercial Nicotine Sources Mr. R. L. Thomas
the maintenance of the system as long as they are actively
One obvious means to increase the nicotine content
Y~of the compound, and storage facilities must be found.
:- must be resolved due to the intensely poisonous properties
at reasonable cost and in adequate supply. Shipping
costs must be determined. Shipping and handling problems
locate commercial sources offering high purity nicotine
in the smoke of low tar-delivery cigarettes is to add
nicotine to the tobaccos incorporated in the cigarette.
Commercial purchase would be the easiest means of pro-
curing the required nicotine. The problem here is to
`:,'To date two commercial brokers have been identified.
Efforts should continue to identify additional commercial
work on this project indicates that much less nicotine
will be required to produce smoking..impact than previously
thought, and the economic picture may have changed in
regard to feasibility.
ledge in this area and to evaluate the feasibility of
using commercial nicotine. This is important since initial
quotations were thought to be too high for our purposes.
Periodic reports should be issued to update our know-
-,past producers to produce and handle nicotine. When
known commercial sources were initially identified, cost
should be gathered on the processes used by present and
`assembled on known commercial sources. Information
;sources, and as much information as possible should be
~ Mr. R. L. Thomas (Engineering)
3 Internal Nicotine Sources
a.) Waste Tobacco Sources
Waste tobacco sources have been identified at all
plant locations and are considered a valid source of
part of our potential nicotine requirement. Other
potential waste tobacco sources must be identified
and evaluated, as tobacco stalks which remain in the
field after harvest, or sources of high nicotine foreign
grown tobaccos.
The various methods of obtaining nicotine from these
sources must be identified and evaluated, as solvent or
aqueous extractions, with or without added acid or base,
brine extraction/refrigeration, or dry distillation. The
yield, cost, and practicability of the various approaches
must be determined, and organoleptic evaluations of the
extracts must be determined.
Dr. J. R. Reid (Chemistry)
Dr. F. J. Schultz - 4
b.) Drier Exhaust Sources
Attention has been given to the partial extraction
Other approaches along this line include the patented
Other possible processes remain to be evaluated;
-:of certain high nicotine leaf lines to give a better
quality lower nicotine leaf, still perfectly useable
be significantly lower than earlier estimates.
mixture. These sources present problems but remain in
contention as nicotine sources, particularly since it
appears that total nicotine requirements, if any, may
Feb. 9, 1977
The Burley drier exhausts, or other drier exhausts
at Greensboro, Louisville, and Danville have been
identified as sources of a poor quality nicotine-containing
c.) Processing-Transfer Sources
extract which may be reapplied to tobaccos used for
in brands having high T&N numbers,'and a nicotine
desirable. Additional work is necessary to refine and
low tar cigarettes in which enriched nicotine is
optimize this approach. ~
Reynolds Freon Process, the Carbon Dioxide Extraction/
Puffing Process,'and the Tamag Process.
transfer of nicotine from wet to dry tobacco by solvent
transfer, microwave energized transfer, etc.
4. Nicotine Utilization
Mr. T. Larson, Mr. J. P. Morgan
Investigations to date indicate that nicotine can
be applied to the total blend, or to components of the blend,
and that it will be stable. It has been shown 'that nicotine
alkaloid provides impact, and that application of less than
1% is sufficient for this purpose. Application of nicotine
tartrate appears to supply satisfaction but little impact.
The limitations of these approaches requires further de-
finitions. More work is required in the area of nicotine
salts. Further work along some of these approaches requires
close cooperation between the Research and Development
Departments to obtain a balanced cigarette of any possible
value.
If it is indeed necessary to add nicotine as a distinct
operation in regard to a particular blend, a decision must
be made to determine the specific manner in which this is
to be accomplished. By a process of elimination it appears
nicotine addition must be confined to RL or puffed tobacco,
-but this in itself presents a multitude of problems which
must be carefully analyzed.
Dr. F. J. Schultz -- 5
5. Chemical Treatment, Ammonia and Other . Mr. W. E. Routh
Materials . Mrs. J. C. McGeady
The treatment of tobacco with ammonia has been discussed
.previously. Initial experiments indicate this treatment,
intended to increase the free nicotine content of smoke, results
in undesirable taste qualities. However this work has not
been quantitated, and the approach may still have merit with
low concentrations of applied ammonia; or by the application
.of other bases in place of ammonia, or approaches which
k
f
ree smo
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- remove acids from tobacco and thus result in more
_ nicotine. Y
'6. Air Dilution --..Mrs. M. A. Skladanowski
., , , . . ; . _ . :_ . ,. . ,. .,
Smoke analyses of hand made cigarettes employing novel
otine/
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t
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c
a
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n
dilution cigarette construction
air
tar ratios can be achieved as great as obtained from cigarettes
containing nicotine enriched tobaccos. Although the parti-,
cular cigarette construction involved was not manufacturable,
the concept was adequately demonstrated. The problem should
-be approached again, in close liason with Product Development
personnel, to construct a practical cigarette with presently
available, but commercially novel materials of cigarette
construction. By taking advantage of some of the other
approaches noted in this memo, and combining these with
what is presently known about air dilution, a further pro-
gression in manipulating nicotine/tar ratios may be possible.
A nicotine/tar ratio of 1.6 might be defined as a realistic
objective, as in a 5 mg tar, 0.8 mg nicotine prototype.
7. Manipulation of Smoke pH Dr. L. L. Chen
The literature of smoke and leaf pH measurement has
already been reviewed as part of the project. It is necessary
to remain current in the methodology and literature on this
topic. Since activities described in other sections of
this project result in smoke pH manipulation, little actual
experimental work is envisioned under this section.
8. Reduction of Nicotine Pyrolysis
Only about 13% of the nicotine present in the tobacco
of a non-filter cigarette is delivered in the mainstream smoke.
If nicotine were efficiently delivered to mainstream smoke,
we would expect a delivery of approximately one-third of
the nicotine present in cigarette tobacco. Inefficient trans- ~
fer of nicotine was never a problem in classical non-filter w
or filter cigarettes. However, with the product of the ~
W'
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Dr. F. J. Schultz - 6 - Feb. 9, 1977
future an understanding of the factors effecting nicotine
transfer assumes high importance and must be studied. Any
way that can be found to increase nicotine transfer to
mainstream smoke will result in considerable leverage.
Nicotine pyrolysis has not yet been investigated as
part of the enriched nicotine project. This approach
will be held in reserve for future consideration as it
would involve considerable planning and extensive exper-
imental work of a basic nature.
9. Filters Selective for Nicotine Passage Mrs. M. A. Skladanowski
Certain filter materials and filter constructions do
not remove tar and nicotine with equal efficiency. Some
combinations permit the selective passage of nicotine
compared to tar. One goal of the project will be to determine
the combinations which can optimize these effects.
Another approach is to consider filter additives which
would permit the selective passage of nicotine.
Again, success would~permit only a partial solution to
the overall problem, but it would probably be not disruptive
to present manufacturing processes.
Nothing has been done to date on determining the feasi-
bility of this approach, but activity in this area should
begin soon.
10. Reduce Humectant Delivery Mr. N. A. Thaggard
A small but significant amount of tar delivered in
mainstream smoke consists of humectants. Perhaps if less
volatile humectants were used more flavor and nicotine
could be packed into a given weight of delivered tar.
Humectants were introduced into cigarette manufacture
many years ago when no attention was paid to tar delivery,
in order to satisfy certain requirements which:existed
at that time. It seems apparent that there is a need to
re-examine the use of humectants in the light of modern
cigarette construction, manufacture, and packaging practices.
11. Redtiiction of Plasticizer Delivery Mr. N. A. Thaggard
A small but significant amount of plasticizer is eluted
from filters into smoke which contributes to the weight of tar.
Perhaps a less volatile plasticizer could~be employed in low
tar cigarette filters.
4
Dr. F. J. Schultz - 7- Feb. 9, 1977
12. Physiological Effect of Nicotine Dr. H. S. Tong
A review of the literature has beenicompleted which
relates as far as possible to the physiological effects
of nicotine in relation to this project. The conclusion
is that the literature is sparce and of little benefit.
The literature survey will continue for newly published
information.
13. Survey of Nicotine/Tar Ratios in Competitive Brands
Mr. T. Price
A historical survey has been completed, and a con-
tinuing survey will be maintained to determine if com-
petitors market any brand in which nicotine/tar ratios
are elevated beyond expected norms.
14: Flavor Dr. R. S. Marmor
Low tar cigarettes will have less flavor than con-
ventional cigarettes. Novel flavor supplements in trace
amounts may make low tar cigarettes acceptable to many
whether or not nicotine is enriched.
15. Nicotine Salt Effects Ms. M. S. Ireland
Some experiments already performed~ indicate that
the fo=in which additional nicotine is added to tobacco
is of importance in determining the relative degree of
impact or physiological satisfaction. A series of nicotine
salts should be added to tobacco so that the nicotine
content is held at a constant level. These tobaccos should
then be smoked for effect.
16. Safety Mr. R. L. Thomas
Mr. T. Larson
Safety rules drafted to date must be further refined
and developed throughout the course of this project.
17. Applications Development Mr. T. D. Jessup
This approach involves the cooperative efforts of
personnel of the Research and'Product Development Depart-
ments to develop prototype cigarettes which meet the
immediate and long range objectives of the Marketing Depart-
ment. It is the means by which the information developed
.
J. Minnemeyer
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Ms.
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Mr.
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Ms.
Mr.
Dr.
Dr.
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Ms.
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Dr. M.
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L. A.
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R.
L. Skladanowski
Jessup
Tong
Marmor
Morgan~
Larson
McGeady
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Chen Mr.
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Mr. C.
A.
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Hudson
Moring
Slaven
Schickedantz
Thaggard
Routh~
Dr. F. J. Schultz
8
Feb. 9, 1977
by project participants in the course of this project may
be reduced to commercial practice.
