PROCEDE POUR LE TRAITEMENT DE TABAC

A process of expanding the filling capacity of tobacco which comprises introducing tobacco and a stream of vapors of a compound having an atmospheric pressure boiling point between about -50 DEG and +80 DEG C. into one end of an impregnating zone wherein the temperature of the tobacco and of the vapors introduced into said zone are, respectively, below and above the boiling point of the compound at the prevailing pressure. The tobacco is impregnated with the compound and the impregnated tobacco is withdrawn from the impregnation zone and subjected to vapor-expanding conditions such as immediate treatment with a hot gas to expand the tobacco. The relative amounts of the compound and the tobacco introduced into the impregnating zone and in the impregnated tobacco at the time of expansion is within the range of about 5 to 200 parts by weight of compound per 100 parts by weight of tobacco (dry basis). The flow of vapors to the impregnating zone is controlled with respect to the rate at which the tobacco is introduced into said zone.