Ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis of tobacco leaf scraps for enhanced utilization of aromatic components.

Extraction of tobacco extracts from tobacco leaf scraps can promote the maximum utilization of tobacco waste and offer tobacco industries a formula to improve cigarette qualities and flavors. Tobacco extracts can be used as a reconstituted tobacco coating solution for reconstituted tobacco sheet (RTS)-based paper. Aroma components in the tobacco extracts can determine the fragrance style of the RTS. However, traditional extraction methods usually have many problems. Herein, the ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis was first applied to improve the aroma of tobacco extracts from tobacco leaf scraps. After ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis, the total aroma components content in tobacco extracts was increased by 5.0 times compared with that in aqueous extracts, and the total extraction yield was increased by 51.57%. Moreover, other compositions in tobacco extracts, including total sugar, nicotine, lignin, total phenols, formic acid, and acetic acid were also increased. This study provides a method to improve the aroma in the tobacco extracts and the quality of RTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]