Cellulose acetate tow

A Cigarette filter is a component of the cigarette, in addition to cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter could possibly be produced from 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 also been 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 is effective in reducing “tar” and nicotine smoke yields approximately 50%, having a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), but are ineffective in filtering toxins for example carbon monoxide. Most factory-made cigarettes include a filter; those that roll their unique can purchase them from the tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is manufactured by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. In the three cellulose hydroxy groups available for esterification, between two and three are esterified by governing the amount 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 tobacco smoke might be added to 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 can be used for gluing cigarette seams. Hot-melt and emulsion-based adhesives can be used for filter seams. Emulsion-based adhesives bring bonding filters for the cigarettes.

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It’s resistant to weak acids and it is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils and also petroleum. It is biodegradable and also the raw material is a renewable natural polymer anticipated to find application for other uses in the future. Smoked cigarette butts contain 5-7 mg nicotine (about 25% of 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 lots of people are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting from the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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