A Cigarette filter is part of the cigarette, together with cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter might be created from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either as being a cavity filter or embedded into the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos are also utilized in cigarette filters The acetate and paper modify the particulate smoke phase by particle retention (filtration), and finely divided carbon modifies the gaseous phase (adsorption). Filters can reduce “tar” and nicotine smoke yields up to 50%, which has a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), but you are ineffective in filtering toxins for example co. Most factory-made cigarettes are equipped with a filter; people that roll their unique can buy them from your tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is done by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. With the three cellulose hydroxy groups available for esterification, between two and three are esterified by governing the level 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 cigarette could be put into cigarette filters. 5 largest manufactures of filter tow are Hoechst-Celanese and Eastman Chemicals in the usa, Rhodia Acetow in Germany, Daicel in Japan, and Courtaulds in the United Kingdom.

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

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It can be resistance against weak acids and it is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils as well as petroleum. It is biodegradable as well as the raw materials are a renewable natural polymer likely to find application for other uses down the road. Smoked cigarette butts contain 5-7 mg nicotine (about 25% with 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 some hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, which most are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting over the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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