Cigarette filter

A Cigarette filter is a component of an cigarette, together with cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter might be created from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either being a cavity filter or embedded into the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos have also been found in cigarette filters The acetate and paper get a new particulate smoke phase by particle retention (filtration), and finely divided carbon modifies the gaseous phase (adsorption). Filters is effective in reducing “tar” and nicotine smoke yields as much as 50%, with a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), but they are ineffective in filtering toxins including carbon monoxide. Most factory-made cigarettes include a filter; those who roll their own can get them from a tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is created by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. In the three cellulose hydroxy groups intended for esterification, between two and three are esterified by managing the amount of acid (a higher level substitution (DS) 2.35-2.55). The ester is spun into fibers and formed into bundles called filter tow. Flavors (menthol), sweeteners, softeners (triacetin), flame retardants (sodium tungstate), breakable capsules releasing flavors on demand, and additives colouring the cigarettes could be put into cigarette filters. 5 largest manufactures of filter tow are Hoechst-Celanese and Eastman Chemicals in the us, Rhodia Acetow in Germany, Daicel in Japan, and Courtaulds in the United Kingdom.

Starch glues or emulsion-based adhesives can be used for gluing cigarette seams. Hot-melt and emulsion-based adhesives are used for filter seams. Emulsion-based adhesives are used for bonding the filters for the cigarettes.

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It really is resistant against weak acids which is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils in addition to petroleum. It is biodegradable as well as the raw material is a renewable natural polymer likely to find application for other uses down the road. Smoked cigarette butts contain 5-7 mg nicotine (about 25% from the total cigarette nicotine content), children ingesting >2 whole cigarettes, 6 cigarette butts or even a total of 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine should be admitted to a hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, which most are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting with the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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