A Cigarette filter is part of the cigarette, in addition to cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter may be made out of cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either being a cavity filter or embedded in the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos have been utilized 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 can help to eliminate “tar” and nicotine smoke yields approximately 50%, with a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), however are ineffective in filtering toxins for example co. Most factory-made cigarettes are equipped with a filter; people who roll their own can buy them from your tobacconist.
Cellulose acetate is made by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. From the three cellulose hydroxy groups available for esterification, between two and three are esterified by manipulating the quantity of acid (amount 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 at the moment, and additives colouring the cigarette could possibly be included 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 the United Kingdom.
Starch glues or emulsion-based adhesives bring gluing cigarette seams. Hot-melt and emulsion-based adhesives are used for filter seams. Emulsion-based adhesives can be used for bonding filters to the cigarettes.
Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It is proof against weak acids and 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 supposed to find application for other uses later on. 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 a total of 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine should be admitted into a hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, ones many are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting through the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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