A Cigarette filter is a component of a cigarette, along with cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter could be produced from 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 found 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 up to 50%, having a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), but they are ineffective in filtering toxins for example dangerous. Most factory-made cigarettes are equipped with a filter; people that roll their unique can purchase them coming from a tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is manufactured 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 controlling the level 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 when needed, and additives colouring the cigarette might be added to cigarette filters. 5 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 bring gluing cigarette seams. Hot-melt and emulsion-based adhesives can be 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 really is resistance against weak acids and is also largely stable to mineral and fatty oils in addition to petroleum. It is biodegradable and 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 even 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 the majority are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting over the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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