A Cigarette filter is an element of an cigarette, along with cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter could possibly be made out of cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either being a cavity filter or embedded in to the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos have been 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 around 50%, which has a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), however are ineffective in filtering toxins including carbon monoxide. Most factory-made cigarettes include a filter; those who roll their very own can buy them from a tobacconist.

Cellulose acetate is manufactured by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. In the three cellulose hydroxy groups designed for esterification, between two and three are esterified by managing the amount of acid (level 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 included with cigarette filters. The five 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 are used for filter seams. Emulsion-based adhesives can be used bonding filters on the cigarettes.

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It is resistant against weak acids and is also largely stable to mineral and fatty oils as well as petroleum. It is biodegradable as well as the raw material is a renewable natural polymer likely to find application for other uses down the road. Smoked cigarette butts contain 5-7 mg nicotine (about 25% in the total cigarette nicotine content), children ingesting >2 whole cigarettes, 6 cigarette butts or perhaps a total of 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine needs to be admitted with a hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, that many are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting through the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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