BALED TOBACCO FERMENTATION METHOD Russian patent published in 1996 - IPC

FIELD: tobacco industry. SUBSTANCE: method involves preliminarily packaging tobacco into tightly sealed bags made from vapor-gas-impermeable polymeric film; heating bags with following holding and cooling. Tobacco is heated in microwave radiation field to 40-100 C. Tobacco bale holding and cooling processes are combined and conducted under natural conditions for 1-10 days with following unpacking and storage of tobacco bales. If humidity of tobacco to be fermented exceeds 16%, polymeric bags are heated and depressurized to evaporate excessive vapors. Bags are then sealed and holding and cooling processes are continued. If humidity of tobacco to be fermented is below 12%, water is sprayed onto tobacco bales in bags and bags are sealed, with sprayed water being taken in an amount sufficient to obtain humidity ranging from 14 to 16% in tobacco mass. EFFECT: increased efficiency and improved quality of tobacco. 6 tbl