Cigarette filter

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A Cigarette filter is part of an cigarette, together with cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter could possibly be produced from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either as being a cavity filter or embedded in the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos have also been found in cigarette filters The acetate and paper customize the particulate smoke phase by particle retention (filtration), and finely divided carbon modifies the gaseous phase (adsorption). Filters can help to eliminate “tar” and nicotine smoke yields as much as 50%, having a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), however are ineffective in filtering toxins for example deadly carbon monoxide. Most factory-made cigarettes come with a filter; those who roll their unique can buy them coming from a tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is created by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. Of the three cellulose hydroxy groups intended for esterification, between two and three are esterified by managing the level of acid (degree of 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 when needed, and additives colouring the tobacco smoke might be combined with cigarette filters. The 5 largest manufactures of filter tow are Hoechst-Celanese and Eastman Chemicals in america, Rhodia Acetow in Germany, Daicel in Japan, and Courtaulds in england.

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

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It’s resistant against weak acids and is also largely stable to mineral and fatty oils as well as petroleum. It can be biodegradable along with the raw materials are a renewable natural polymer likely to find application for other uses later on. Smoked cigarette butts contain 5-7 mg nicotine (about 25% in the total cigarette nicotine content), children ingesting >2 whole cigarettes, 6 cigarette butts or a total of 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine must 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 through the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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