METHOD FOR FERMENTING TOBACCO IN BALES Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: tobacco industry. SUBSTANCE: method involves preliminary packaging and two-staged heating of tobacco bales in microwave radiation field, with following holding and cooling processes. At first stage raw tobacco packages are opened and tobacco bales are heated to temperature of 30-40 C to provide for moisture content of 10-12%. At second stage water is introduced into bales until moisture content reaches 14-16% with following sealing of packages and heating bales to temperature of 60-90 C. Method allows tobacco moisture content in all bales to be brought to equal values despite initial tobacco moisture content and before fermentation process. EFFECT: increased efficiency and provision for unifying all subsequent tobacco bale treatment operations.