Product Design
Subject: R&D Monthly Development Summary - July, 1991
Abstract
Presents monthly summary of progress on various Philip Morris research and development projects. Includes discussion of Projects Grain, ART, BOLD, and FACT. Reports on the progress of standardization of Marlboro Standard IX cigarettes, including subjective evaluation by "all factory panels." Mentions paper and filter developments for Philip Morris brand cigarettes. Discusses product research and development for the international market. Summarizes the new Expanded Tobacco Program. Notes RJR test marketing of Camel Ninety99Nines and Camel Lights Ninety99Nines, "box line extensions of..Camel Full Flavor and Lights versions."
Fields
- Author
- Houghton, Kenneth S., Ph.D. (Senior VP of R&D at Philip Morris)Defense
- Recipient
- Bourlas, Manuel "Manny" C. (PM Science and Technology VP )1994 Neuchatel, Switzerland. VP Environ & Oper Compl in 1993. VP Science & Technology from June 7, 1993 to May 24, 1994. Member of PM Ventilation Task Force. Reported to Steven Parrish, Senior Vice President, PM External Affairs 1994. Represented PM interest in international markets.
- Campbell, William Ian (PM, CEO and President, 1986, & 1991-95)VP of PM Inc. from 1984 to 1985. President and CEO of PM in 1986 and then again from 1991 to 1995. He was on the Board of Directors for Philip Morris, Inc. from 1986 to 1987 and then again from 1992 to 1995. He stated, "I believe that nicotine is not addictive, yes."
- Charles, James L., Ph.D. (PM, R&D VP, Pharmacologist, Industry Expert)Vice President of Research and a scientist for Philip Morris, Inc. Vice President of Research for Philip Morris, Inc. in 1986 and then again from 1992 to 1993.
- *Kuhn, W. F. (use Kuhn, William F.)Senior Professional
- Serrano, Mark A. (Senior VP of Operations, PM)Senior VP of Operations. Formerly head of Park 500 (RL factory where Uydess worked on de-nitration process improvement.) Sent to South Africa to buy tobacco among other purposes
- Taylor, William P.Defense
- Hypothesis
- Low-yield cigarettesModification of low yield products to assure that adequate levels of nicotine delivery are maintained, and effects of yield changes on toxicity and dependence.
- Mainstream constituent yieldsModification of selected mainstream smoke constituents in response to health concerns.
- Sidestream constituent yieldsModification of selected sidestream smoke constituents in response to health concerns.
- Use of additivesModification of tobacco products through use of additives and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity.
- Use of filters, paper, and ventilationModification of tobacco products through use of filters, paper, and ventilation, and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity.
- Keyword
- Flavor (Taste)
- Low delivery (Reduced delivery)
- Menthol delivery (Smoke menthol, menthol yield)
- Nicotine delivery (Smoke nicotine or nicotine yield)
- Per puff deliveryPer puff tar, per puff nicotine, and per puff CO
- Sidestream smoke
- Additive
- Diammonium phosphate
- Menthol (dl- Menthol or l-Menthol)
- Design Component
- Band cast reconstituted sheet (Band cast sheet)
- Blended leaf (BL)
- Bright tobacco (Flue-cured tobacco)
- Burley casing
- Burley tobacco
- Charcoal filter
- Denicotinized tobacco
- DIET (Dry ice expanded tobacco)PM @expanded_tobacco especially during 1980's and early 1990's
- Expanded tobacco (Puffed tobacco, ET)
- Filter efficiency (FE)
- Filter ventilation (Filter vents, air vents)
- Flavorant
- Humectant
- Low sidestream paper
- NET
- Oriental tobacco (Turkish)
- Perforated tipping paper
- Pressure drop (PD, Resistance to draw (RTD), Flow rate or Draft)
- Reconstituted tobacco
- Tipping paper
- Tobacco weight
- Operation/Project
- Project ART (Denicotinized cigarette)
- Project BOLD
- Project FACT
- Project Grain
- Named Organization
- American Tobacco Company
- Basic Flavor Investigation Group
- Cabarrus
- Filtrona
- Flavor Panel
- Hauni
- Philip Morris Europe SA
- Product Opinion Lab (industry-funded)
- R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (Cigarette manufacturer (Camel, Winston, Doral))Cigarette manufacturer (Camel, Winston, Doral)
- Richmond Panel
- Rothman's Tobacco Company
- Sagemuller
- Schweitzer Company (Invented reconstituted leaf (RL) process)
- Semiworks
- Brand
- Benson & Hedges (PM)
- Bold
- Bucks
- Cambridge (PM)
- Camel (RJR)
- Camel Ninety99Nines
- Carlton (ATC)
- FRONTIER
- HALF-NIC
- Lark
- LARK MILDS
- Marlboro (PM)
- Marlboro Lights 100
- Marlboro Medium 100s
- Marlboro Ultra Lights
- Merit (PM)
- Now (RJR)
- Parliament (PM)
- Parliament 100 s
- Philip Morris
- PM Lights
- Sterling
- Sterling 100
- Sterling Lights 100
- Sterling Lights Menthol 100
- Superslims
- Virginia Slims (PM)
- Virginia Slims Lights
- Winston (RJR)
- WINSTON LIGHTS
- Winston Lights 100
- Winston Ultra 100
- Subject
- additives
- Ammonia (Additives)
- Blends (Design)
- Expanded Tobacco (Design)
- Filters (Design)
- Humectants (Additives)
- Menthol (Additives)
- nicotine technology
- Paper (Design)
- Reconstituted Tobacco (Design)
- Ventilation (Design)
Document Images
PHILIP MORRIS U. S. A.
INTER'-OF'F'ICE CORRESPONDE'NCE
Richmond, Virginia
1
To: Mr. M. A. Serrano Date: August 20; 1991
From: K. S, Houghton
Subject: R&D t11 onthlv DevelQprnent SummM - Ju1v.1991
EXECUTIVE SU'MMAR~
1. Project BnLD-1 me KSJ2' m,g 100' mm: The BOLD factory triall at Cabarrus indicated
no~problems wiih King Size filter APHT'Sfeeding, tipping, or filter machineability. In
the 100's circumference study, all filkers ini the: range of 24.1 mm to 24.$'rnmmachined
acceptably.
2. Marlboro Medium 100's: Preliminary product specifications are complete and have
been submitted to Operations Services.
3. PrQ iect Grain: POL testing results showed: no differences for the Marlboro: KS
cigarettes with 100% reduction of alcohol in the Burley Top Casing. Plans are in
progress to make an initial trial with 100% reduction in the BTC in Marlboro at.
Louisvillle prior to extended trials.
4. Cast Leaf Development: Installation of structural steel, declcing, and electrical conduitt
has begtan for the Pilot Plant. Major pieces of equipment, including the sheet dryer and
coater, will be delivered by mid-August.
The physical quality of a guar gtam sheet product using guar in the binder and gutar
blended in the tobacco was not found to be significantly different. The addition of
guar in tobacco will simplify a commercial operation.
5. BL Plant CapacitV Increase: Machine made cigarettes with 24% RCB from the June
test at 350 ft/min. were subjectively equivalent to the BL Control. Cigarettes from the
July trial are being made to confirm this subjective acceptability.
6. Primarv Lmprovem+ent: Efforts are underway to evaluate the concepts associated with
the new primary process. Testing, has been initiated to measure: the: physical gains and
su~bjective impact of processing individual tobacco components! through the flavoring,
cutting, and drying operations.
C91-0496fi
7. New Expanded'Tobacco: Iralprovements to the gaseous CO, batch impregnation cycle
at t'he Bermuda Hundred Facility were successfully implemented, resulking in a furtherr
reduction in the total cycle time.
Work is continuing on, the design and construction of a short' cycle impregnation
(continuous) pilot plant:
8. Vision Inspection S,vstems: The QA force feed test was done this month to obtaini the
inspection efficiencies of the Osiris System, the CI-750 (3' Camera Itran), and the MVP
(2 Camera Itt-an). QA has issued a report summarizing test results.
Pteparations for building the!prototype on-line web inspection systerni are in progress.
MONTHLY SUMMARY
1. Proyect BOLD:
- Bold 1 mgKS/2mg 1M mm: TheB'OLD factory, trial atCabarrusindncated no:
problerns with, King Size filter APHIS feeding, tipping or filter machinability. In the:
100's circumference study, all filters ini the range of 24.1 mm to 24.8 mrn machined
acceptably.
QA and R&D data have been received from, the Cabarrus factory trial'. (June 26). A
confirmation trial was completed at the same location oni July 26 which included aa
primary runi as well as a cigarette manufacturing test of two tipping paper pressure
dirops for both 83' mm and 1100' mm box designs. The trial product has been
submitted to both QA and R&D for analysis.
- Bold 3 mg KS/4 mg 100 mm: Data has beeni received for ~the 85 mrn and 100 mm
baseline matriic using, blend, ventilation, and cigarette paper as the variables.
Subjective evaluations have warranted a request to Filtrona for filkers to achieve a
lower RTD on bothi the 3' and 4 mg models. Primary/Make-Pack requests are being
submitted for 85 mmand 11M mm models using two blends [298 (38% JET)/2441
(50% JET)] and threeffilters (current DPCC/modil"ied DPCC/1L8'DPF tow)..
2. Low Sidestream Program
- Supersiims Single Wrap: Sidestream visibility testing was performed' on samples of
regular and menthol Superslims cigarettes produced in the i~nitial production runs..
Equivalent visibilaty reductions were measured for regtfllar and menthol versions and'.
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ranged from 61% to 67% compared to Marlboro Lights 100. Testing, will continue
on subsequent production samples:
3. Marlboro Medium l00's; Product specifications (preliminary) are complete and~ have
been distributed to Operations Serviices: Plans call for Cabarrus to manufacture the
FTB and the Manufacturing Center to make the soft pack. Currently, we are
attempting to arrange factory trials at these locations to finalize tipping paper pressure
drop and evaluate one row of perforation instead of two rows.
4. Benson & Hedges KS: All pertinent analytical data frorn previous prototypes were
studied' ini order to predict menthol deliveries of prototypes using current, factory
materials, i.e., foils and filler. This information has been utilized to develop designs
for upcoming POL testing. Proposedlproducts to be made are as follows:
1. Factory B&H menthol filler using 10-058-A cigarette paper, 0% ventilation to
achieve 2.0 tar per puff/0:09 menthol per puff.
2. Factory MB4B filler and' foil (65 mg/pack), 0% ventilation to target 16:3' tar/2.0
tpp/0.09 rnPP.
5. Parliament Lights Menthol: Factory trials for the 100's SP, LS 20's FTB, and LS 1i0's
FTB were completed at Stockton Street.
6: 70' mm Product: Factory trials with 1.4 and I.8' tar/puff using Marlboro and Bucks
blends were evaliuated by the Richmond Panel. The panel preferred the models wirth,
the Marlboro Blend (11.9 tar/14.2 tar). A glue roller is being, manufactured that will
accommodate a 15 mm filiter.
7.Cambridge1mg KSJ2mg100mm;Cambridge: 85 mm 1 mg (POL, 02028)and!
Cambridge 100 mm 2 mg (POL 0581) were tested on the 85 and 100, mm global
monadic panels, respectively. The 1 mg king, size product was rated significantly
lower than Now and Bbld and equal to Carlton on: liking, The 2 mg,1001 mm product
was not significantly different from Ca'rlton, Now or Bold (white tipping).
ProjeCt ART:
- Ha1f-Niic: Development activities are in progress to determine the optimall
extraction/processing parameters which will offer the most subjectively acceptable
product, wit'hthe higlnest', impact. All models are being made in the 9 mg tar, 8'puffs,
100 mnn configuration. The following, models have been produced for subjective
com parisons:
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1'. Blending of unextracted~ (2.8% Nic.) and' fully extracted (<0.1i% Nic } cut fillers
with 35%1215-ET.
2. Partial extraction of cut filler (1'_1% Nic:) with 35%012'15-ET. Nine models were
made from this filler varying, cigarette paper,: filter efficiency, ventilation and,
tobacco weight.
Analyses of the above prototypes are inprogress andl subjective evaluations will begin,
upon completion of the series. Production of the following prototypes is in progress:
3. Partial extraction of total b'lend (0:75% Nic.) with 35% ET'produeed' by DIET:.
4. Partial extraction of total blend (0:75% Nic.) with 35% ET'produced!by NET..
All the above models should have a total blend' nicotine of ~ 0.70 - 0.75%: The ET for
models 3 and 4 will be produced from the same parttiall extractzoni batch used for the
cut filler.
9. Marlboro Standardization: Subjective evaloation, of Standard IX cigarettes is. in
progress by alt factory panels, including Semiworks. Factory panel leaders' will submit
raw data for correlation between factory panels and the Flavor Technology panel.
Preliminary analytical data from Standard IX have beeni received from CTSD and ARD.
Flavor and casing analyses have been completed by the! Basic Flavor Investigation
group.
10. Proiect Grainr POL 0397 and~ 0398 results showed no differences for the Marlboro
KS cigarettes with 100% reductioni of alcohoI in the BTC: Plans are in progress to
make an initial trial with the 100% reduction of alcohol in the BTC in: Marlboro at
Louisville prior to extended trials. Evaluations are in progress for the six Marlboro
models with alcohol reductiion, humectant rearrangement and low humectant sheet by
the MC'paneL
The initial factory trial' of 50% reduction of alcohol in the BTC was condlucted at the
Manufacturing Center. A storage study has been initiated on the factory triali model.
Subjective evaluation of Merit KS' with 1100% alicohol reduction in the BTC has been
completed by the MC pane11 No differences were detected.
11. Paper Development:
- Bandled' Pa e~rs; Porosity evaluartions of banded papers produced' at Beloit indicate
that insufficient Cellulon was applied to the web. High speed video shots of the
banded device indicate that not only was a portaoni of the Celluloni slurry rejiected at
the coater, but also a portion remained in the grooves after contact with the sheet.
Both actions may have resulted in insufficient Cellulon being applied to the web. A
program is being developed! to modify slurry rheology and tack characteristics to
improve application level.
-'TiRping Pa ep r Programs: A Bristol FF 100 model made in the factory with tipping,
printed with lbw silicate inks was evaluated by the Flavor Panel versus the
production control cigarette. htol differences were reported between the two
cigarettes. Factory machinability testing will be conducted~ by Manufacturing
Services for the low silicate ink tipping.
12. Filter Development:
- Carbon Studies: The Richmond Panel fdttnd no differences between Lark Mild
cigarettes made with standard prodtiction SCC'W and~ Lark Mild cigarettes made with.
SCCW without zinc and iron additives.
- Black Tow Elimination: Depletion of the black tow item 5.0j!36,p00 i5 forecasted for
7/31/91. Alll' Parliament 100 mm products and Virginia Slims Lights charcoal' willl
then be converted to white filter tow. Black tow inventories for the two remaining
brands, Lark Deluxe Milds 100 FT'B' and Multifilter KS SP are still' scheduled'. for
depletion in October and December, respectively.
13: Internaruonal:
Pan Asian M~enthol:~~ Danchiltest~E'-S690~~andHKCP~~ testE~S~666~were subjectively and
analytically approved for release. T'he following prototypes will be evaluated on each
test:
8 mg tar PMSL/0.15 mg smoke menthol delivery O i
8 mg tar PMSLl0.30 mg smoke menthol delivery N
8 mg tar PMSL/0.45 mg smoke menthol delivery jy
8' mg tar PMSL/0.60 mg smoke menthol delivery ~
~
E-S666: is scheduled to be shipped to Hong Kong 7/29/91, wit'h results expected Ir
9V9/91. ~
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F=S690 is scheduled to be shipped to Japan 8/12)'91, with results expected 9/19/91.
a, an
- Danehi' Testl: Danchi I-PMSL Carbon Load/Activity
Models:.
1. P1VI'SL 501mg Carbon Load~ Nbrmal Activity
2. PIVISL 401mg Carbon Load, Nbrmal Activity
3. PTvISL 501mg Carbon Load; Increased Activity
4. PTVISL 401mg Carbon Load, Increased Activity
The models were analyzed by combined carbon load and activity level scores. Results
show that for combined smoker groups, carbon load did not have a significant effect
on liking scores while the effect of higher activity did increase liking scores by a,
significant' degree.
- Parliament Graphiics Change; Production, of Parliament 100 SP (0500 JPN)i began
7/10/91 using revised graphics. The graphics change also included a pack print
change from 1.0 mg TIOJ' nicotine to 0.9 mg, TIOJ nicotine. Shipment of thiss
product began on 7/19/91. Product2oni of Parliament 100 FTB (1000 JPN), with the
same printed nicotine revision is forecasted for early August. Materials for
Parliament Lights 100 FTB Japan, incorporating the pack print change from 0:8' mg
TIOJ nicotine to 0:7 mg TIOJ nicotine, will be available November, 1991.
-11rlarlbora: Members of Flavor Technology subjectively evaluated andl approved
cigarettes for Danchi Test E-R961'_ The four models evaluated were Marlboro and
Marlboro Lights (U.S. MF blend) withi and without charcoal filters. The test was
approved by Richmond Panel and has been shipped to Japan. The results are due
September 2, 1991.
- Project BOLD: Consumer testing of a BOLD-type product is scheduled for August,
1991. Current plans are to, test BOLD at 1 mg and~ 3 mg against Frontier and.
Frontier Lights obtained frorn the Japanese marketplace. In light of rce ent increasedd
sales, additional sarnplcs of Frontier and Frontier Lights were analytically and
subjectively evaluated, and a report summarizing the results has been issued.
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Korea
- Parliament Lights KS (FTB): P1VII' consumer test results were received 7/18/91, and"
the "softer°' version of Parliament Lights KS was selected for launch, in Korea. The
initial quantity of 41.55 million cigarettes is scheduled to arrive in Korea by 8/4/91
for the launch of 8/12/91.
Hong Kong
- PMSL 83 mm Menthol FTB: A 500,000 order of the redesigned PMSL 83 mm
Menthol FTB at 8.0 mg UK tar and 0.45 mg smoke menthol was shipped to, Hong
Kong 7/74/91 for product re-launch.
PM Europe
- BOLD Testing: A requesu was received from PM'1 Europe for 20O;0Q0 BOLD
cigarettes at 2' mg, ISO: tar for consumer testing in Switzerland and Germany. The
cigarettes were produced in Semiworks the week of 7/22/91 using the current design
and' blend for BOLD with a slight decrease in ventilation to achieve 2 mg ISO tar.
Upon subjective and analytical approval, the cigarettes will be shipped to Neuchatel.
Testing is scheduled to begin t'he end of Augusty 1991.
14'. Environmental Studies:
- Liiquid Absorber Effluent Disposalt Final arrangements have been made for the
production of nicotine citrate solution by an outside laboratory. This solution wiill be
used as feedi;tock for the pilot activated slud'ge system. The first shipment of
nicotine citrate is expected! in late August, withi the pilot system startup to follow
shortly thereafter.
For the pilot system, primary effluent from Waste Treatment will' be used to dilute the
nicotine citrate. Deionized water has been used as the diluent for the bench-scale
system but it had to, be supplemented with ammonium bicarbonate to increase the
nitrogen content of the feed stream to support microbial growth. The primary
effluent is expected to provide enough supplemental n2trogeni so that ammonium,
bicarbonate addition will not be necessary.
- VOiC Emissions: VOC emissions from the factories are due mainly to ethanol in the
flavorings. POL testing to date indicates that it is possible to remove the ethanoll
fromi the BTC. PM USA Engineering has conducted ai test on the Cabarrus aftercur
cylinders. Preliminary analysis by the Analytical Research Divisiioni indicates that
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about three-fourths of the ethanol exits the cylinder vents. Final results are expected
in early August.
P1V1, USA Engineering is starting a pilot test of an incinerator in the BL Plant to remove
various compounds from the stacks. R&D, has completed a feasibility study to scrub
the BL Plant stacks with water. This study indicates that a small amount of water is
required to reduce the levels of compounds emitted.
- BL Plant Water Treattnent: The batch tests of a modified~ Burley stemi washing
process have been completed. The results were generally negative from an
environmental point of view. The ratios of phosphorus and BOD to1 nitrate in the
extract were not sigttificantly different from the current process. For a given nitrate
extraction target, varying the time and temperature of the wash will not siignificantly
reduce levels of the other pollutants:
115. Cast Leaf Process Developmenf:
- Cast Leaf Pilot Plant: The State approved the air permit for pilot plartt construction.
Installatiion of structural steel, decking, and electrical conduit was begun. The sheet
dryer and coater, as well as other major pieces of equipment, will be delivered mid-
August.
Cast Leaf Development: The physical quality of guar gumi sheet product using guar
in the binder and guar blended in the tobacco was not found to be significantly
different. The addition of guar ini tobacco will simplify a commercial' operation
because guar gum binder can become very viscous in a holding tank. It will also
improve product uniformity by maintaining a fixed guar gum: hydration time.
Quantification of t'he effect on smoke delivery of guar gum products of different
sheet weights and different particle sizes of feedstock was delayedl by the Semiworks
Small-Scale facility shutdown.
Fifteen flavored formulations at two DAP levels and various levels of five flavor
components were processed in the Cast Leaf Laboratory and screened' subjectrvely
by Flavor Technology personnel in~ handmade cigarettes to select a flavor
formulation for scaleup. The subjective data is being analyzed: Screening results are
expected in early August.
- Cadiz: Initial trials with the slurry deaeration equipment showed a! marked
improvement in sheet quality when the air was reduced in the slurry. Pinholes in t'hee
sheet were visibly reduced and the tensile strength of the sheet was increased over
50%. A~ test plan as~~ formulated fo:r~ Cad'iz to optimize deaeration cond'atiions before
PM trials will be run in August.
- BL Plant Capaity Increase: RCB' products at hzgherplant throughput have not been
subjectively identical to control RCB withi handmade cigarettes. Machine made
cigarettes withi 24% RCB from the! June test' at 350 ftilminute were subjectively
equivalent to the BL control. Machine made cigarettes from the July triall are being
made to confirnt the previous subjective acceptability.
- Alternate ~ Sheet SuR l® iers; RLTC made in Schweitzer (Spotswood, New Jersey) was
found to be subjectively different from PM-RLTC. The reasons for this difference
were discussed with Schweitzer on July 26. Schweitzer identified action steps to ~ be
taken prior to thenextqualafication triat mid-September.
Cigarettes containing RLTC from the last American Tobacco Company trial
substatuting, 50% and 100% of PM RLTC in a Marlboro blend were subjectively
equivalent. RLTC from LTR arrived in the Ui.S.A., and blends substituting 50% and
100% PM RLTC have been made for subjective analysis. Results are expected by
mid-August.
16. Primar,v Im~provement Program: Efforts are underway to evaluate the concepts
associated with the New Primary Process. Testing has been initiated to measure the
physical gains and subjective impact of processing individuaf tobacco components
(Bright, Burley, Oriental, reconstituted) through the flavoring, cutting, and drying
operations.
- Process Simulation: An init2all approach to determine the subjective impact of
selected operational changes has been developed. Each component! will be processed
separately at two lievelis of' cut width,, with and without Hauni tunnel treatment.
Additionally, each! treated component will be flavored by the current method and
with the flavor addition after filler drying. The first component to be evaluated in this
manner will be Bright, andl cigarette models (100% components and Marlboro blend))
were made in the Semiworks the week of July 2!9,.
Upcoming trials, scheduled for August, include blending trials to~establish a protocol
for blending individual cut fiiller components. Haunz. tunnel trials to establi'sh the
process conditions for optional' individual component physical properties are also
anticipated.
-~Thermal Treatment: Testing ~~ to~ esta~~blish~ the~ s~uibjective~ and chemical res~ponse~ to~
thermal treatment in the Burley dryer is in progress. The initial test, involving ai
.
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range of dryi'ng conditions with the sugar water casing, has been completed. Fillerr
analyticals, smoke analyticals, and subjective evaluations from two of three: panels
have been completed. Correlation studies of the results are underway: Followup
testing with Burley spray casing will be conducted at selected conditions identified
by the subjective responses.
- Steam Tunnel Evaluation: The Sagemuller steam tunnel has been installed prior to
the Burley spray cylinder in the SemRiworks. Cigarettes have been~ produced for
subjective qualification. T'he initial test to determine the effect on spray uniforrnity
indicated no improvement. Further testing, with operational changes will' continue
through August.
17. New Expanded Tobacco Program:
- Bat'ch Gas Itnp~regnation: Improvements to the gaseous CO2 impregnation cycle at
the Bermuda Hundred' facility were successfully implemented resulting in further
redtzctaon ini the total cycle time. The: CO2 flbhv rate during the cooling step was
successfully increased to 1000 lbs/minute without adverse: effects on the bed'
temperature uniformity or bed pressure drop. At this flinsv rate, target bed':
temperatures were achaevedl within 6 to 7 minutes resulting in a total time under
pressure of approxsmately 22 minutes. The depressurization step took 10 of the total
22 minutes and was rate limited by the exist2ng, recovery compressor in Module 3.
With the properly sizedi equipment for this recovery step and a loading and unloading
duration of approximately 15 minutes, a total cycle time of approximately 33
minutes to meet the targeted 5,000 pounds of expanded' tobacco per hour is.
achievable. Plans are to, test a series of fi've: consecutive runs with 15% OV tobacco
and 800 psig impiegnation, pressure using the current operating cycle to establish the
effects of continuous operation oni the temperature profiles and impregnation.
- Short Cycle Irnpregnation: Work is continuing on the designi and construction of a
short cycle impregnation (SCI) pilot plant. The SCI process will utilize four
modified 8" high pressure ball valves as impregnators whichi will be fed sequentially
by Rothmans' TWD feeders. Equipment layout drawing& and a process andd
instrumentation diagram have been finalized. Purchase orders have been initiated for
all of the long, delivery items to expedite receipt of the equipment. A critiical' path
analysis of the project schedule is being conducted to improve the estimated start-up
date of October 1991.
- NE"I1' Product Evaluations: Marlboro, Ultra Lights and PM Lights were made for
comparative testing using ET' blend5 that were DIET processed and NET processed
forparitywithDlE'IP. 'h'hecigareztes~ were evalbated int,ernallyby Flavor
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