Processes for removing the basic components of a selective solvent extraction and for removing the basic components of a selective product of plant containing a series of substances

摘要

A process is provided for the selective removal of basic materials from plant products, in particular, for removing nicotine from tobacco without materially affecting the content of the other components of the tobacco. Tobacco is traversed with a solvent in the supercritical state or in the liquid state wherein nicotine and the other components dissolve in the solvent. The solvent is then passed through an acid-containing trap where the solvent is essentially freed of nicotine. The solvent, depleted of nicotine and enriched in the other components, is then recycled to the tobacco to reextract nicotine. In addition, the tobacco may be pretreated with a chemical base which does not substantially react withe the tobacco components under ambient conditions but rather is activated under the conditions of the extraction process. Pretreatment of the tobacco with a chemical base neutralizes nicotine salts and permits the extraction process to be carried out under milder conditions.