VERFAHREN ZUM EXPANDIEREN VON TABAK

A process for the expansion of tobacco, wherein in step (a) the tobacco is cooled by being mixed with cold carbon dioxide; (b) the cooled tobacco is impregnated with liquid carbon dioxide through treatment with gaseous carbon dioxide under a predetermined pressure; (c) the liquid carbon dioxide condensed in the tobacco is converted to solid carbon dioxide through pressure reduction; and (d) the tobacco containing solid carbon dioxide is subjected to a hot gas treatment to achieve the expansion. In step (a) the tobacco is cooled to a temperature of -30 DEG C. to -100 DEG C. through expansion of liquid carbon dioxide and the simultaneous mixing of the tobacco therewith.