Nicotine Augmentation Project

	Inter-Office Lorillard correspondence: Nicotine Augmentation Project (NAP) TO: Dr. F. J. Schultz FROM: H.J. Minnemeyer May 4, 1976
	Summary of Image Page One Pressure from health oriented agencies and competing companies made it "imperative that Lorillard develop a flavorful cigarette delivering lower tar while at the same time delivering a level of nicotine higher than could be obtained normally by conventional cigarette construction." Lorillard assigned this project the "highest priority by the Research Department." [click on image to enlarge to full size -- 16K]
	Summary of Image Page Two "1. Nicotine Addition:" "Shipping and handling problems must be resolved due to the intensely poisonous properties of the compound..." "One of the most feasible extraction procedures described in the technical literature, employing a brine solution, is covered by a Philip Morris patent." [click on image to enlarge to full size -- 21K]
	Summary of Image Page Three "By licensing a procedure covered by a [RJ] Reynolds patent, it may be possible to take a given leaf line and partially extract the nicotine from it with Freon." "...it appears most practical to apply it in some way to the reconstituted leaf. Evidence indicates that Philip Morris is successfully using this procedure." The advantage is the process will be relatively isolated "permitting better control of the operation using the intensely poisonous nicotine." [click on image to enlarge to full size -- 19K]
	Summary of Image Page Four "An alternative approach is to treat the tobacco, which has its nicotine naturally tied up in the form of nicotine salts, with a stronger base than nicotine, such as ammonia." The "free nicotine in smoker would have a much greater physiological effect than nicotine salts." "...It has been reported in the literature, and verified by experiments here that air dilution of cigarette smoke results in up to 40% higher nicotine delivery than might be expected by conventional construction." [click on image to enlarge to full size -- 22K]
	Summary of Image Page Five "It is known that the higher the pH of the smoke, (i.e., the more basic), the more nicotine exists in the free form. Free nicotine has a greater physiological effect,..." Therefore, "an optimum smoke pH level must be determined,..." "Only about 13% of the nicotine present in the tobacco of a non-filter cigarette is delivered in the mainstream smoke,..." [click on image to enlarge to full size -- 21K]
	Summary of Image Page Six "A study of the existing literature on the physiological effect of nicotine may provide some insight as to what is the minimum amount of nicotine delivery necessary per cigarette to give satisfaction to the largest number of people." [click on image to enlarge to full size -- 18K]
	Summary of Image Page Seven "A thorough understanding of the physiological action and disposition of nicotine in the human body may provide some insight into how the effect might be heightened or prolonged, if indeed, that is even possible." "...The preceding sections have been devoted to the concept of reducing tar numbers while increasing the relative ratio of nicotine to tar. Participants in this research should be aware of the historical and developing trend of these ratios, and how they relate to the sales performance..." [click on image to enlarge to full size -- 18K]
	BACKGROUND NOTE: This Lorillard Tobacco Company memo, Nicotine Augmentation Project (NAP), reveals Lorillard's goal to increase the amount of nicotine delivery from their cigarette products, and discusses the various ways the company could achieve this goal. The dictionary definition of nicotine is "a poisonous alkaloid used as an insecticide." Quotes One of the most obvious ways to deliver additional nicotine in a low tar cigarette is to add nicotine from an outside source to that naturally present in cigarette tobaccos... The problem is one of finding a source of the additional nicotine, and determining how to apply it... Nicotine Sources: 1. Commercial Sources: Only two sources of nicotine have been found thus far...Shipping and handling problems must be resolved due to the intensely poisonous properties of the compound, and storage facilities must be found... ...The exhaust gases of the Greensboro and Louisville burley driers and the drier exhausts of the Danville plant constitute another source of nicotine...Extensive engineering and construction would be required to scrub the nicotine from these sources... If the company is successful in obtaining a supply or source of nicotine, the next immediate problem is to determine how and where to apply it to our product. It is very clear that nicotine can not be used in its pure form.... ....the whole operation will be relatively isolated and remote from the cigarette manufacturing facilities, permitting better control of the operation using the intensely poisonous nicotine. 2. Chemical Treatment An alternate approach is to treat the tobacco...with a stronger base than nicotine, such as ammonia. Ammonia would then displace nicotine from its salts giving...free nicotine. Free nicotine in smoke would have a much greater physiological effect than nicotine salts..... The concept may well evolve or merge with the approach presented later, which considers increasing the pH of smoke to increase the physiological effect of nicotine. 3. Air Dilution It has been reported in the literature, and verified by experiments here that air dilution of cigarette smoke results in up to 40% higher nicotine delivery than might be expected by conventional construction. The reason for the effect is not understood. This could well be a very rewarding and inexpensive partial solution to the whole problem. Surely, new concepts of filter construction involving air dilution should be vigorously pursued to heighten and maximize the effect. Anne Landman American Lung Association of Colorado, West Region Office Grand Junction Title: Nicotine Augmentation Project (NAP) Type of Document: memo (Lorillard) Date: May 4, 1976 Author: H.J. Minnemeyer Recipient: Dr. F. J. Schultz No. of Pages: 6 Site: Lorillard Document Site URL: http://www.lorillarddocs.com/getallimg.asp?DOCID=81130764/0770

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Inter-Office Lorillard correspondence: Nicotine Augmentation Project (NAP)