Cellulose acetate tow

A Cigarette filter is an element of the cigarette, as well as cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter might be created from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either as a cavity filter or embedded to the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos have been used 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 is able to reduce “tar” and nicotine smoke yields approximately 50%, which has a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), however are ineffective in filtering toxins including deadly carbon monoxide. Most factory-made cigarettes have a filter; people that roll their own can get them from your tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is made by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. With the three cellulose hydroxy groups intended for esterification, between two and three are esterified by manipulating 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 when needed, and additives colouring the cigarette smoke might be combined with cigarette filters. 5 largest manufactures of filter tow are Hoechst-Celanese and Eastman Chemicals in the United States, Rhodia Acetow in Germany, Daicel in Japan, and Courtaulds in britain.

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

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It really is resistance against weak acids and is also largely stable to mineral and fatty oils along with petroleum. It is biodegradable as well as the raw materials are a renewable natural polymer anticipated to find application for other uses in the future. 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 ought to be admitted to some hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, of which many are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting through the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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