Influence of cutting through the middle vein of tobacco leaves on the technological properties of raw materials of the Virginia 202 variety of various drying methods

The Virginia 202 tobacco variety, selected by FSBSI ARSRITMTP for the production of smoking tobacco, is in high demand. Intensification of post-harvest processing of large leaves of a variety with a massive middle vein is proposed to be carried out by cutting through the middle vein, which will reduce the drying time and energy costs. Studies have been conducted on the use of this method and the quality indicators of tobacco raw materials of natural and combined drying methods has been assessed. It has been found that the cutting technique shortens the drying time with the combined method by 2.8 times, with the natural method by 2.3 times, while the commercial quality improves when drying by the combined method, the yield of 1 commercial grade makes 86.5%, the taste qualities of raw materials improve, due to an increase in the ratio of carbohydrate-protein balance to 1.08–1.5; the strength is preserved, due to less nicotine consumption during a shorter drying period; fiber yield increases by 3–5%. The volume-elastic properties of the fiber affect the consumption of raw materials in the smoking product. The fiber of natural drying of raw materials reduces its consumption for the production of smoking products, the fiber of combined drying of raw materials obtained using high temperatures of drying of the vein increases the consumption of raw materials by 18.65%. The aim of the research is to determine the elastic properties of the cut vein present in the fiber of combined drying. The vein has been flattened and its elastic properties have been determined. It has been established that the recoil value of the flattened uncut vein is 6.0% greater, the undisturbed structure of the middle vein has a greater degree of volume recovery and better elastic properties. An increase in the elastic properties of the raw materials of combined drying can be carried out due to its preparation in a differentiated way, with the allocation of the middle vein, the method of striping and, separately, the preparation of the vein and the leaf plate. When preparing, moistening and flattening the cut vein, which has a better moisture-absorbing ability and a lower destructive load when it is flattened by 2.2 times, it is possible to reduce energy consumption for these technological processes.