WO2023083719A1

WO2023083719A1 - Aerosol-generating article comprising a cavity with germinable plant seeds

Info

Publication number: WO2023083719A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/080840
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rolando CAVICCHIOLI
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2021-11-11
Filing date: 2022-11-04
Publication date: 2023-05-19
Also published as: KR20240089550A; CN118215412A; EP4429488A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an aerosol-generating article, comprising a cavity and one or more plant seeds arranged within the cavity. The invention further relates to an aerosol-generating system. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing an aerosol-generating article.

Description

AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE COMPRISING A CAVITY WITH GERMINABLE PLANT SEEDS

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating article. The present disclosure further relates to an aerosol-generating system. The present disclosure further relates to a method for manufacturing an aerosol-generating article.

It is known to provide an aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable vapor. Such devices may heat an aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature at which one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate are volatilised without burning the aerosolforming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may form part of an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-forming article may further comprise a filter element. An aerosolgenerating system may comprise an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article.

When an aerosol-generating article is consumed, a new aerosol-generating article is to be inserted into the aerosol-generating device. Typically, a consumed aerosol-generating article is discarded into trash cans. An accumulated quantity of the discarded aerosolgenerating articles may impact the ecosystem.

It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating article which reduces the environmental impact after being used. It would further be desirable to provide an aerosolgenerating article which contributes to a sustainable development of the environment. It would further be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating article which is easy to manufacture. It would further be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating article with low manufacturing costs.

According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may comprise a cavity. One or more plant seeds may be arranged within the cavity.

According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an aerosol-generating article comprising a cavity and one or more plant seeds arranged within the cavity.

Thereby, an aerosol-generating article which reduces the environmental impact after being used may be provided. An aerosol-generating article which contributes to a sustainable development of the environment may be provided. An aerosol-generating article which is easy to manufacture may be provided. An aerosol-generating article with low manufacturing costs may be provided.

One or more of the plant seeds arranged within the cavity may be capable of germinating. The one or more plant seeds arranged within the cavity may be capable of germinating. In other words, the one or more plant seeds arranged within the cavity may be viable. In other words, the one or more plant seeds arranged within the cavity may be alive. Generally, if a seed is viable, it is alive and capable of germinating and growing. A plurality of plant seeds may be arranged within the cavity. At least 30 percent, preferably at least 40 percent, more preferably at least 50 percent, more preferably at least 60 percent, more preferably at least 70 percent, more preferably at least 80 percent, more preferably at least 85 percent, more preferably at least 90 percent, more preferably at least 95 percent, of the plurality of plant seeds arranged within the cavity may be capable of germinating.

One or more of the plant seeds arranged within the cavity may be untreated seeds. The one or more plant seeds arranged within the cavity may be untreated seeds.

One or more of the plant seeds arranged within the cavity may be pristine seeds. The one or more plant seeds arranged within the cavity may be pristine seeds.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise a first element and a second element arranged separate from and distanced to the first element. The cavity may extend along the whole distance between the first element and the second element. During manufacture of the article, the cavity may conveniently be formed by an empty space created by providing a distance between the first and second elements. A plant seed comprising aerosol-generating article which is particularly easy to manufacture may be provided. A plant seed comprising aerosol-generating article with particularly low manufacturing costs may be provided.

The first element may be located upstream of the cavity. The first element may be a filter element. The first element may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate. The first element may be a tobacco plug.

The second element may be located downstream of the cavity. The second element may be a filter element. The second element may be a mouthpiece filter.

One or both of the first and second elements may be filled cylindrical plugs. One or both of the first and second elements may be filled cylindrical filter plugs. Both the first and second elements may be cylindrical filter plugs uniformly filled with filter material.

One or both of the first and second elements may comprise a biodegradable material. The biodegradable material may be selected from one or more of PI_A (polylactic acid), cotton, cellulose acetate, linen fibres, viscose, and jute. Cellulose acetate may advantageously biodegrade quickly when placed into soil.

Some or all elements of the article which comprise filter materials may comprise PLA as the only filter material.

A length of each of the first element, the second element and the cavity along a longitudinal direction of the article may be between 2 millimeters and 7 millimeters, preferably between 3 millimeters and 6 millimeters, more preferably between 4 millimeters and 5 millimeters.

A length of the cavity along a longitudinal direction of the article may be at least 2 millimeters, preferably at least 3 millimeters, more preferably at least 4 millimeters, more preferably at least 5 millimeters. A length of the cavity along a longitudinal direction of the article may be about 4 millimeters. A length of the cavity along a longitudinal direction of the article may be about 5 millimeters. A length of the cavity along a longitudinal direction of the article may be between 8% and 14% of the total length of the aerosol-generating article, preferably about 11% of the total length of the aerosol-generating article.

An inner diameter of the cavity along a transversal direction of the article may be at least 2 millimeters, preferably at least 3 millimeters, more preferably at least 4 millimeters, more preferably at least 5 millimeters, more preferably at least 6 millimeters, more preferably at least 7 millimeters. An inner diameter of the cavity along a transversal direction of the article may be about 7 millimeters.

A volume of the cavity may be between 10 cubic millimeters and 1000 cubic millimeters, preferably between 50 cubic millimeters and 500 cubic millimeters, more preferably between 150 cubic millimeters and 250 cubic millimeters, more preferably, wherein a volume of the cavity is about 200 cubic millimeters.

The seeds may fill between 1% and 99%, preferably between 10% and 90%, more preferably between 20% and 80%, more preferably between 40% and 60%, and more preferably between 45% and 55% of the total volume of the cavity. The seeds may fill about 50% of the total volume of the cavity.

The cavity may be filled with seeds by between 1% and 99%, preferably by between 10% and 90%, more preferably by between 20% and 80%, more preferably between by 40% and 60%, and more preferably by between 45% and 55% of the total filling capacity of the cavity. The cavity may be filled with seeds by about 50% of the total filling capacity of the cavity. The ‘total filling capacity of the cavity’ refers to the maximum number of plant seeds that fit into the cavity. When the total filling capacity of the cavity is reached, there may still be some empty space left between the seeds, but no further seeds fit into the cavity.

The cavity may be defined as the interior space of a hollow tubular element.

The hollow tubular element may be made of cellulose acetate, PI_A, cardboard, or wrapping paper.

A thickness of a wall of the hollow tubular element may be between 0.05 millimeters and 2 millimeters, preferably between 0.15 millimeters and 0.25 millimeters or between 0.5 millimeters and 1.5 millimeters.

The thickness of the hollow tubular element may be between 0.5 millimeters and 2 millimeters, preferably between 0.5 millimeters and 1.5 millimeters and, optionally, the hollow tubular element may be formed from PI_A.

The thickness of the hollow tubular element may be between 0.05 millimeters and 0.25 millimeters, preferably about 0.2 millimeters and, optionally, the hollow tubular element may be formed from wrapping paper. A length of the hollow tubular element along a longitudinal direction of the article may be at least 2 millimeters, preferably at least 3 millimeters, more preferably at least 4 millimeters, more preferably at least 5 millimeters. A length of the hollow tubular element along a longitudinal direction of the article may be about 4 millimeters. A length of the hollow tubular element along a longitudinal direction of the article may be about 5 millimeters. A length of the hollow tubular element along a longitudinal direction of the article may be between 8% and 14% of the total length of the aerosol-generating article, preferably about 11% of the total length of the aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise one or more ventilation holes. The ventilation holes may be arranged in form of one or more rows of ventilation holes. Each row of ventilation holes may be arranged circumferentially around the aerosol-generating article in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aerosolgenerating article.

One or more ventilation holes may be provided at the same longitudinal position of the article as the cavity holding the plant seeds. This may advantageously enhance the exposure of the plant seeds to one or both of air and moisture. This may advantageously promote germination of the plant seeds.

One or more ventilation holes may be provided at a longitudinal position of the article upstream of the cavity holding the plant seeds. This may enhance dilution of a hot airflow with cooler ambient air before the airflow reaches the plant seeds in the cavity. This may reduce the temperature of the airflow when reaching the plant seeds. This may advantageously help reducing or preventing thermal degradation of the plant seeds.

All of the one or more ventilation holes of the article may be provided at a longitudinal position of the aerosol-generating article upstream of the cavity holding the plant seeds. All of the one or more ventilation holes of the article may be provided at a longitudinal position of the aerosol-generating article upstream of all of the seeds.

One or more ventilation holes may be provided at a longitudinal position of the article downstream of the cavity holding the plant seeds.

The hollow tubular element may comprise one or more ventilation holes. The ventilation holes may be arranged in form of one or more rows of ventilation holes. Each row of ventilation holes may be arranged circumferentially around the hollow tubular element in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hollow tubular element.

An aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention may have a ventilation level of at least 5 percent, preferably at least 10 percent, more preferably at least 15 percent, more preferably at least 20 percent, more preferably at least 25 percent. The term “ventilation level” is used throughout the present specification to denote a volume ratio between the airflow admitted into the aerosol-generating article via the ventilation zone (ventilation airflow) and the sum of the aerosol airflow and the ventilation airflow. The greater the ventilation level, the higher the dilution of the aerosol flow delivered to the consumer. The aerosol-generating article preferably has a ventilation level of at least 25 percent, more preferably at least 30 percent, even more preferably at least 40 percent, even more preferably at least 50 percent.

An aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention may have a ventilation level of up to 90 percent. Preferably, an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention has a ventilation level of less than or equal to 80 percent, more preferably less than or equal to 70 percent, even more preferably less than or equal to 60 percent.

An aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention may have a ventilation level from 25 percent to 90 percent, preferably from 30 percent to 80 percent, more preferably from 40 percent to 70 percent, even more preferably from 50 percent to 60 percent.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise one or more ventilation holes at a longitudinal position of the article upstream of the cavity holding the plant seeds and the ventilation level of the article may be provided by the one or more ventilation holes at a longitudinal position of the article upstream of the cavity holding the plant seeds.

The cavity may be defined as the interior space of a first hollow tubular element and the article may comprise at least one further hollow tubular element. One or more or each of the first and further hollow tubular elements may be a hollow acetate tube (HAT) or a fine hollow acetate tube (FHAT). Such hollow acetate tubes are cylindrical components which are made from cellulose acetate and which are provided with centrally arranged axial holes. The dimensions of the hollow acetate tubes such as their outer diameter or the diameter of the hole vary and can be designed according to the demands of the respective products.

The cavity may comprise between 2 and 1000 plant seeds, preferably between 10 and 500 plant seeds, more preferably between 50 and 200 plant seeds, preferably between, more preferably between 75 and 125 plant seeds, more preferably between 85 and 115 plant seeds, more preferably between 90 and 110 plant seeds, more preferably between 95 and 105 plant seeds.

The one or more plant seeds may comprise one or more of basil seeds and cat grass seeds.

The aerosol-generating article may substantially consist of biodegradable materials. The biodegradable materials may be selected from one or more of PLA, cotton, cellulose acetate, linen fibres, viscose, and jute. The aerosol-generating article may be a HNB (“Heat-not-Burn”) article.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate with an aerosol-former content of at least 5% by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-forming substrate.

A total length of the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article may be between 9 millimeters and 15 millimeters, preferably about 12 millimeters. A total length of aerosol-generating article may be between 40 millimeters and 50 millimeters, preferably about 45 millimeters. A length of the aerosol-forming substrate along a longitudinal direction of the article may be between 24% and 30% of the total length of the aerosol-generating article, preferably about 27% of the total length of the aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise a susceptor material configured to be heated by an inductor coil of an aerosol-generating device.

The invention further relates to an aerosol-generating system. The aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating article as described herein. The aerosol-generating system further comprises an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device comprises a heating chamber for insertion of at least a distal portion of the aerosolgenerating article and an electric heating element for heating the heating chamber.

The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing an aerosol-generating article. The method comprises providing a first element adjacent to a second element on a conveyer belt. The method comprises creating a cavity between the first element and the second element. The method comprises inserting one or more plant seeds into the cavity by means of a seed inserter. The method comprises circumscribing the first element, the second element, and the cavity with an outer wrapper. The first element and the second element may be filter plugs.

The cavity may be created by separating the first element from the second element by means of a spacer wheel. The seed inserter may be cone-shaped.

The method may comprise loading a combiner with different pre-formed elements of the aerosol-forming article and combine these elements to provide an aerosol-generating article.

The method may comprise pre-forming a filter element with a cavity with seeds. Therefore, a hopper may be loaded with long mouthpiece filter rods which are then cut in smaller mouthpiece filter plugs. The smaller plugs may have a length of 10 millimeters. Subsequently, each smaller plug may be cut in half to form two final plugs, for example final plugs which are each 5 millimeters in length. The spacer wheel may then create a cavity between two final plugs on a perforated belt converging towards a final combination zone. On the perforated belt carrying the plugs, the seed inserter may insert one or more seeds before the two final plugs with the seed filled cavity in between are wrapped by a plug wrapper to form the filter element.

The filter element may then be combined with other pre-formed elements to form the final aerosol-generating article.

The invention further relates to an aerosol-generating article comprising plant seeds, preferably an HNB aerosol-generating article comprising plant seeds.

In comparison to combustible aerosol-generating articles, HNB articles generally may comprise less total mass of filter material which may reduce the environmental impact of the article and/or which may promote biodegradability of the article. These effects may be synergistically enhanced when using a HNB article with plant seeds, preferably with plant seeds within a cavity. High temperatures may adversely affect plant seeds. HNB articles may be operated at lower temperatures in comparison to a combustible article. Thereby, an article providing more gentle conditions for the plant seeds may be provided. HNB articles may be operated at more humid conditions in comparison to a combustible article. This may advantageously promote germination of the plant seeds after the HNB article has been used.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise a hollow mouthpiece tube, for example a spirally wound paper tube, at a proximal end of the article. Adjacent to the mouthpiece tube, the article may comprise a filter element, preferably, wherein the filter element comprises a first filter plug and a second filter plug, wherein the second filter plug is arranged separate from and distanced to the first filter plug to form a cavity between the first filter plug and the second filter plug, and wherein the filter element comprises one or more plant seeds arranged within the cavity. Adjacent to the filter element, the article may comprise a hollow tube, for example a spirally wound paper tube. The hollow tube may comprise one, two, or more rows of ventilation holes, each row being arranged circumferentially around the hollow tube in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the article. The article may comprise a portion of aerosol-forming substrate at a distal end thereof. One or more outer wrappers circumscribing at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article may be provided.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise a hollow mouthpiece tube, for example a spirally wound paper tube, at a proximal end of the article. Adjacent to the mouthpiece tube, the article may comprise a filter plug. Adjacent to the filter plug, the article may comprise a hollow tube, for example a spirally wound paper tube. The hollow tube may comprise one, two, or more rows of ventilation holes, each row being arranged circumferentially around the hollow tube in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the article. At least one plant seed may be arranged within the inner cavity of the hollow tube. The article may comprise a portion of aerosol-forming substrate at a distal end thereof. One or more outer wrappers circumscribing at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article may be provided.

The invention further relates to a filter element for an aerosol-generating article, comprising a first filter plug and a second filter plug, wherein the second filter plug is arranged separate from and distanced to the first filter plug to form a cavity between the first filter plug and the second filter plug. The filter element further comprises one or more plant seeds arranged within the cavity.

As used herein, the term “aerosol-forming substrate” refers to a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. The volatile compounds may be released by heating or combusting the aerosol-forming substrate. As an alternative to heating or combustion, in some cases, volatile compounds may be released by a chemical reaction or by a mechanical stimulus, such as ultrasound. The aerosol-forming substrate may be solid or liquid or may comprise both solid and liquid components. An aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol-generating article.

As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating article” refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. An aerosol-generating article may be disposable. An aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate comprising tobacco may be referred to herein as a tobacco stick.

As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating device” refers to a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. An aerosol-generating device may interact with one or both of an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, and a cartridge comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. In some examples, the aerosol-generating device may heat the aerosol-forming substrate to facilitate release of volatile compounds from the substrate. An electrically operated aerosol-generating device may comprise an atomiser, such as an electric heater, to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol.

As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating system" refers to the combination of an aerosol-generating device with an aerosol-forming substrate. When the aerosol-forming substrate forms part of an aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating system refers to the combination of the aerosol-generating device with the aerosol-generating article. In the aerosol-generating system, the aerosol-forming substrate and the aerosol-generating device cooperate to generate an aerosol.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises plant material and an aerosol former. Preferably, the plant material is a plant material comprising an alkaloid, more preferably a plant material comprising nicotine, and more preferably a tobacco-containing material. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises at least 70 percent of plant material, more preferably at least 90 percent of plant material by weight on a dry weight basis. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises less than 95 percent of plant material by weight on a dry weight basis, such as from 90 to 95 percent of plant material by weight on a dry weight basis.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises at least 5 percent of aerosol former, more preferably at least 10 percent of aerosol former by weight on a dry weight basis. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises less than 30 percent of aerosol former by weight on a dry weight basis, such as from 5 to 30 percent of aerosol former by weight on a dry weight basis.

In some particularly preferred embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises plant material and an aerosol former, wherein the substrate has an aerosol former content of between 5% and 30% by weight on a dry weight basis. The plant material is preferably a plant material comprising an alkaloid, more preferably a plant material comprising nicotine, and more preferably a tobacco-containing material. Alkaloids are a class of naturally occurring nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Alkaloids are found mostly in plants, but are also found in bacteria, fungi and animals. Examples of alkaloids include, but are not limited to, caffeine, nicotine, theobromine, atropine and tubocurarine. A preferred alkaloid is nicotine, which may be found in tobacco.

An aerosol-forming substrate may comprise nicotine. An aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco, for example may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds, which are released from the aerosol-forming substrate upon heating. In preferred embodiments an aerosol-forming substrate may comprise homogenised tobacco material, for example cast leaf tobacco. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds, which are released from the substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may further comprise an aerosol former. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerine and propylene glycol.

As used herein, the term “tobacco material” is used to describe any material comprising tobacco, including, but not limited to, tobacco leaf, tobacco rib, tobacco stem, tobacco stalk, tobacco dust, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco material and homogenised tobacco material.

As used herein, the term “homogenised tobacco material” is used to describe a material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco.

The term “cast leaf” is used herein to refer to a sheet product made by a casting process that is based on casting a slurry comprising plant particles (for example, clove particles, or tobacco particles and clove particles in a mixture) and a binder (for example, guar gum) onto a supportive surface, such as a belt conveyor, drying the slurry and removing the dried sheet from the supportive surface. An example of the casting or cast leaf process is described in, for example, US-A-5,724,998 for making cast leaf tobacco. In a cast leaf process, particulate plant materials are mixed with a liquid component, typically water, to form a slurry. Other added components in the slurry may include fibres, a binder and an aerosol former. The particulate plant materials may be agglomerated in the presence of the binder. The slurry is cast onto a supportive surface and dried to form a sheet of homogenised plant material.

As used herein, the term "flavourant" refers to a composition having organoleptic properties, which provide a sensory experience to the user, for example to enhance the flavour of aerosol. A flavourant can be used to deliver a gustatory sensation (taste), an olfactory sensation (smell), or both a gustatory and an olfactory sensation to the user, for example when inhaling the aerosol.

As used herein, the term "tubular segment" is used to denote an elongate element defining a lumen or airflow passage along a longitudinal axis thereof. In particular, the term "tubular" is used herein to encompass any tubular element having a substantially cylindrical cross-section and defining at least one airflow passage establishing an uninterrupted fluid communication between an upstream end of the tubular element and a downstream end of the tubular element. However, it will be understood that alternative geometries of the tubular element may be possible.

As used herein, the terms “upstream” and “front”, and “downstream” and “rear”, are used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the aerosol generating article in relation to the direction in which airflows through the aerosol generating article during use thereof. Aerosol generating articles according to the invention comprise a proximal end through which, in use, an aerosol exits the article. The proximal end of the aerosol generating article may also be referred to as the mouth end or the downstream end. The mouth end is downstream of the distal end. The distal end of the aerosol generating article may also be referred to as the upstream end. Components, or portions of components, of the aerosol generating article may be described as being upstream or downstream of one another based on their relative positions between the proximal end of the aerosol generating article and the distal end of the aerosol generating article. The front of a component, or portion of a component, of the aerosol generating article is the portion at the end closest to the upstream end of the aerosol generating article. The rear of a component, or portion of a component, of the aerosol generating article is the portion at the end closest to the downstream end of the aerosol generating article. Below, there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Example A: An aerosol-generating article, comprising a cavity and one or more plant seeds arranged within the cavity.

Example B: The aerosol-generating article according to Example A, comprising a first element; and a second element arranged separate from and distanced to the first element, wherein the cavity extends along the whole distance between the first element and the second element.

Example C: The aerosol-generating article according to Example B, wherein the first element is located upstream of the cavity, and wherein the first element is a filter element.

Example D: The aerosol-generating article according to Example B, wherein the first element is located upstream of the cavity, and wherein the first element comprises an aerosol-forming substrate.

Example E: The aerosol-generating article according to any of Examples B to D, wherein the second element is located downstream of the cavity, and wherein the second element is a filter element, preferably a mouthpiece filter.

Example F: The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein a length of the cavity along a longitudinal direction of the article is at least 2 millimeters, preferably at least 3 millimeters, more preferably at least 4 millimeters, more preferably at least 5 millimeters, more preferably, wherein a length of the cavity along a longitudinal direction of the article is about 5 millimeters.

Example G: The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein an inner diameter of the cavity along a transversal direction of the article is at least 2 millimeters, preferably at least 3 millimeters, more preferably at least 4 millimeters, more preferably at least 5 millimeters, more preferably at least 6 millimeters, more preferably at least 7 millimeters, more preferably, wherein an inner diameter of the cavity along a transversal direction of the article is about 7 millimeters.

Example H: The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein a volume of the cavity is between 10 cubic millimeters and 1000 cubic millimeters, preferably between 50 cubic millimeters and 500 cubic millimeters, more preferably between 100 cubic millimeters and 400 cubic millimeters, more preferably between 150 cubic millimeters and 250 cubic millimeters, more preferably, wherein a volume of the cavity is about 200 cubic millimeters. Example I: The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the cavity is defined as the interior space of a hollow tubular element.

Example J: The aerosol-generating article according to Example I, wherein the hollow tubular element is made of cellulose acetate, PLA, cardboard, or wrapping paper.

Example K: The aerosol-generating article according to Example I or Example J, wherein a thickness of a wall of the hollow tubular element is between 0.05 millimeters and 2 millimeters, preferably between 0.15 millimeters and 0.25 millimeters or between 0.5 millimeters and 1.5 millimeters.

Example L: The aerosol-generating article according to any of Examples I to K, wherein the hollow tubular element comprises one or more ventilation holes.

Example M: The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the cavity comprises between 2 and 1000 plant seeds, preferably between 10 and 500 plant seeds, more preferably between 50 and 200 plant seeds, more preferably between 75 and 125 plant seeds, more preferably between 90 and 110 plant seeds.

Example N: The aerosol-generating article according to any of Examples B to M, wherein both the first and second elements are in the form of filled cylindrical plugs.

Example O: The aerosol-generating article according to Example N, wherein both the first and second elements are cylindrical filter plugs uniformly filled with filter material.

Example P: The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the one or more plant seeds comprise one or more of basil seeds and cat grass seeds.

Example Q: The aerosol-generating article according to any of Examples B to P, wherein one or both of the first and second elements comprise a biodegradable material, preferably, wherein the biodegradable material is selected from PLA and cotton.

Example R: The aerosol-generating article according to any of Examples B to Q, wherein a length of each of the first element, the second element and the cavity along a longitudinal direction of the article is between 2 millimeters and 7 millimeters, preferably between 3 millimeters and 6 millimeters, more preferably between 4 millimeters and 5 millimeters.

Example S: The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating article substantially consists of biodegradable materials.

Example T: The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating article is a HNB article. Example II: The aerosol-generating article according to Example T, comprising an aerosol-forming substrate with an aerosol-former content of at least 5% by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-forming substrate.

Example V: The aerosol-generating article according to Example II, wherein a total length of the aerosol-forming substrate is between 9 millimeters and 15 millimeters, preferably about 12 millimeters.

Example W: An aerosol-generating system, comprising the aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples; and an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber for insertion of at least a distal portion of the aerosol-generating article and an electric heating element for heating the heating chamber.

Example X: A method for manufacturing an aerosol-generating article, comprising providing a first element adjacent to a second element on a conveyer belt; creating a cavity between the first element and the second element; inserting one or more plant seeds into the cavity by means of a seed inserter; and circumscribing the first element, the second element, and the cavity with an outer wrapper.

Example Y: The method according to Example X, wherein the cavity is created by separating the first element from the second element by means of a spacer wheel.

Example Z: The method according to Example X or Example Y, wherein the first element and the second element are filter plugs.

Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figs. 1a and 1b show filter elements for an aerosol-generating article;

Fig. 1c shows an aerosol-generating article;

Figs. 2a to 2d show aerosol-generating articles; and

Figs. 3a to 3c show aerosol-generating articles.

Fig. 1a shows a filter element 10 for an aerosol-generating article in perspective view. The filter element 10 comprises a first filter plug 12 and a second filter plug 14. The second filter plug 14 is arranged separate from and distanced to the first filter plug 12 to form a cavity 16 between the first filter plug 12 and the second filter plug 14. The filter element 10 further comprises a plurality of plant seeds 18 arranged within the cavity 16. The filter element 10 may be wrapped by an optional plug wrapper 20. The cavity 16 may thus be confined by the first and second filter plugs 12, 14 and the plug wrapper 20. By this arrangement, the plant seeds 18 may be prevented from falling out of the cavity 16.

Fig. 1b shows a filter element 10 of an aerosol-generating article in perspective view. The filter element 10 of Fig. 1b comprises a row of ventilation holes 22 arranged circumferentially around the filter element 10 in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the filter element 10. The filter element 10 of Fig. 1b is elsewise identical to the filter element 10 of Fig. 1a.

Fig. 1c shows an aerosol-generating article in perspective view. The aerosolgenerating article comprises a filter element 10 as shown in Fig. 1a. The aerosol-generating article further comprises a tobacco portion 24. The aerosol-generating article is wrapped by an outer wrapper 26. In embodiments where the optional plug wrapper 20 shown in Fig. 1a is omitted, the cavity 16 may be confined by the first and second filter plugs 12, 14 and the outer wrapper 26.

Figs. 2a to 2d show aerosol-generating articles, particularly HNB articles, in cross- sectional views.

The article of Fig. 2a comprises a second filter plug 14 being configured as a mouthpiece filter and being located at a proximal end of the article. A cavity 16 is formed between the second filter plug 14 and a first filter plug 12. The cavity 16 is filled with plant seeds 18. The article further comprises a PLA plug 28, a hollow acetate tube 30, and a portion of aerosol-forming substrate 24, for example reconstituted tobacco. The article is circumscribed by an outer wrapper 26.

An outer diameter of the article may be about 7 millimeters. A total length of the article may be about 45 millimeters. In one embodiment, a length of the each of the first and second filter plugs 12, 14 and the cavity 16 is about 5 millimeters, a length of the PI_A plug 28 is about 10 millimeters, a length of the hollow acetate tube 30 is about 8 millimeters, and a length of the portion of smokable material 24 is about 12 millimeters. In one embodiment, a length of the each of the first and second filter plugs 12, 14 and the cavity 16 is about 4 millimeters, a length of the PLA plug 28 is about 13 millimeters, a length of the hollow acetate tube 30 is about 8 millimeters, and a length of the portion of smokable material 24 is about 12 millimeters.

The article of Fig. 2b mainly corresponds to the article of Fig. 2a with the exception that the article of Fig. 2b comprises at least one row of ventilation holes 22 provided within the outer wrapper 26 and arranged circumferentially around the cavity 16 in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the article.

The article of Fig. 2c comprises an inner plug wrapper 20 circumscribing a filter element formed by the first and second filter plugs 12,14 and the cavity 16. The inner plug wrapper 20 is also circumscribed by the outer wrapper 26. The article of Fig. 2b is elsewise identical to the article of Fig. 2a.

The article of Fig. 2d mainly corresponds to the article of Fig. 2c with the exception that the article of Fig. 2d comprises at least one row of ventilation holes 22 provided within one or both of the inner plug wrapper 20 and the outer wrapper 26. The at least one row of ventilation holes 22 is arranged circumferentially around the cavity 16 in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the article.

Figs. 3a to 3c show aerosol-generating articles, particularly HNB articles, in cross- sectional views.

The article of Fig. 3a comprise a mouthpiece filter element 10 being structured as a filled filter plug. The article further comprises a PLA plug 28, a hollow acetate tube 30, and a portion of aerosol-forming substrate 24, for example reconstituted tobacco. The article is circumscribed by an outer wrapper 26. The cavity provided within the hollow acetate tube 30 is filled with plant seeds 18.

An outer diameter of the article may be about 7 millimeters. A total length of the article may be about 45 millimeters. In one embodiment, a length of the filter element 10 is about 15 millimeters, a length of the PLA plug 28 is about 10 millimeters, a length of the hollow acetate tube 30 is about 8 millimeters, and a length of the portion of smokable material 24 is about 12 millimeters. In one embodiment, a length of the filter element 10 is about 12 millimeters, a length of the PLA plug 28 is about 13 millimeters, a length of the hollow acetate tube 30 is about 8 millimeters, and a length of the portion of smokable material 24 is about 12 millimeters.

The article of Fig. 3b mainly corresponds to the article of Fig. 3a with the exception that the article of Fig. 3b comprises at least one row of ventilation holes 22 provided within one or both of the hollow acetate tube 30 and the outer wrapper 26. The at least one row of ventilation holes 22 is arranged circumferentially around the cavity 16 in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the article.

The article of Fig. 3c comprises first and second filter plugs 12, 14, a cavity 16 filled with plant seeds 18, a fine hollow acetate tube 32, a hollow acetate tube 30, a portion of smokable material 24, and a front plug 34. The front plug 34 may be a filter plug. The article is circumscribed by an outer wrapper 26. Optionally, at least one row of ventilation holes (not shown) may be provided within the outer wrapper 26 and arranged circumferentially around the cavity 16 in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the article.

An outer diameter of the article may be about 7 millimeters. A total length of the article may be about 45 millimeters. In one embodiment, a length of the each of the first and second filter plugs 12, 14 and the cavity 16 is about 4 millimeters, a length of the fine hollow acetate tube 32 is about 8 millimeters, a length of the hollow acetate tube 30 is about 8 millimeters, a length of the portion of smokable material 24 is about 12 millimeters, and a length of the front plug 34 is about 5 millimeters.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating article, comprising a cavity and one or more plant seeds capable of germinating arranged within the cavity.

2. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1 , comprising a first element; and a second element arranged separate from and distanced to the first element, wherein the cavity extends along the whole distance between the first element and the second element.

3. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 2, wherein the first element is located upstream of the cavity, and wherein the first element is a filter element.

4. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 2, wherein the first element is located upstream of the cavity, and wherein the first element comprises an aerosol-forming substrate.

5. The aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the second element is located downstream of the cavity, and wherein the second element is a filter element, preferably a mouthpiece filter.

6. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an inner diameter of the cavity along a transversal direction of the article is at least 2 millimeters, preferably at least 3 millimeters, more preferably at least 4 millimeters, more preferably at least 5 millimeters, more preferably at least 6 millimeters, more preferably at least 7 millimeters, more preferably, wherein an inner diameter of the cavity along a transversal direction of the article is about 7 millimeters.

7. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity is defined as the interior space of a hollow tubular element, preferably wherein the hollow tubular element is made of cellulose acetate, PLA, cardboard, or wrapping paper.

8. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 7, wherein the hollow tubular element comprises one or more ventilation holes.

9. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity comprises between 2 and 1000 plant seeds, preferably between 10 and 500 plant seeds, more preferably between 50 and 200 plant seeds, more preferably between 75 and 125 plant seeds, more preferably between 90 and 110 plant seeds.

10. The aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein both the first and second elements are in the form of filled cylindrical plugs, preferably wherein both the first and second elements are cylindrical filter plugs uniformly filled with filter material.

11. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more plant seeds comprise one or more of basil seeds and cat grass seeds.

12. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol-generating article substantially consists of biodegradable materials, preferably, wherein the biodegradable material is selected from PLA and cotton.

13. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an aerosol-forming substrate with an aerosol-former content of at least 5% by weight of the total weight of the aerosol-forming substrate, preferably, wherein the aerosolgenerating article is a HNB article.

14. An aerosol-generating system, comprising the aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims; and an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber for insertion of at least a distal portion of the aerosol-generating article and an electric heating element for heating the heating chamber.

15. A method for manufacturing an aerosol-generating article, comprising providing a first element adjacent to a second element on a conveyer belt; creating a cavity between the first element and the second element; inserting one or more plant seeds capable of germinating into the cavity by means of a seed inserter; and circumscribing the first element, the second element, and the cavity with an outer wrapper.