Effects of the key cutting process parameters on the tobacco product's color and luster.

The effects of processing parameters of vacuum conditioning, tobacco leaf storage, cutting, and cut tobacco roller drying processing on tobacco leaf cut tobacco product's color and lustre were studied using color difference instrument. The results showed that tobacco leaf brightness and color processed by two cycle vacuum conditioning more decreased than one, and tobacco leaf brightness and color also more decreased when conditioning temperature increased, time of keeping temperature and time of vacuum pumping longer in one cycle vacuum conditioning. Tobacco leaf brightness and color decreased more, color increases, color and lustre worse when temperature and humidity of storage environment increased and time of storage became longer. Cut tobacco brightness and color decreased more, color increased, color and lustre were worse when moisture content of tobacco and cutter mouthpiece pressure increased. The color had little influence on cut tobacco roller drying. According to the experiments results, the preferable process conditions were determined to keep excellent color and lustre of tobacco leaf and cut tobacco, which were one cycle vacuum conditioning, lighter processed strength (conditioning temperature was less than or equal to 55 °C,time of keeping temperature and vacuum pumping were less than or equal to 50 s and 70 s) ; temperature and humidity of storage environment were 26 °C and 63 % respectively, time of leaf storage was 2~8 h; moisture content of cutting was below 18.5%, and cutter mouthpiece pressure was below 0. 2 MPa, the hot air temperature was 105 °C and the temperature of the tube wall of roller was 125 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]