R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Hamid Neshan

Lucas J Conrad

Hoyt Sturdivant Beard

James Edward Lovette

Robert Calvin Johnson

Donald A Newton

J Edward Crook

This invention provides tobacco expansion processes and apparatus that can be employed for expanding tobacco at rapid throughput rates employing high pressure tobacco impregnation conditions. The processes and apparatus of the invention are particularly useful in tobacco expansion processes employing cycle times of less than 20-30 seconds; the use of preheated, prepressurized expansion agent such as propane; preheating of tobacco batches; and/or compression of tobacco within a high pressure impregnation zone for greatly improving use of available space in a high pressure impregnation vessel.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Hamid Neshan