A Cigarette filter is a component of the cigarette, together with cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter could possibly be made from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either like a cavity filter or embedded in the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos seemed to be employed 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 effective in reducing “tar” and nicotine smoke yields as much as 50%, using a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), but are ineffective in filtering toxins such as deadly carbon monoxide. Most factory-made cigarettes have a filter; people who roll their own can purchase them from your tobacconist.
Cellulose acetate is done by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. From the three cellulose hydroxy groups designed for esterification, between two and three are esterified by controlling 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 will, and additives colouring the tobacco smoke may be combined with cigarette filters. The five largest manufactures of filter tow are Hoechst-Celanese and Eastman Chemicals in the us, Rhodia Acetow in Germany, Daicel in Japan, and Courtaulds in britain.
Starch glues or emulsion-based adhesives are used for gluing cigarette seams. Hot-melt and emulsion-based adhesives can be used for filter seams. Emulsion-based adhesives bring bonding the filters towards the cigarettes.
Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It can be resistant to weak acids and it is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils as well as petroleum. It really 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% of the total cigarette nicotine content), children ingesting >2 whole cigarettes, 6 cigarette butts or possibly 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, ones most are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting through the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
For additional information about cellulose acetate tow see this popular internet page
