A Cigarette filter is part of a cigarette, as well as cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter might be produced from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either as 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 change 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%, which has a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), however are ineffective in filtering toxins such as deadly carbon monoxide. Most factory-made cigarettes include a filter; those who roll their own can buy them from your tobacconist.
Cellulose acetate is made by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. With the three cellulose hydroxy groups readily available for esterification, between two and three are esterified by manipulating the volume 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 added to cigarette filters. The 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 england.
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 bonding the 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’s biodegradable as well as the raw materials are a renewable natural polymer anticipated to find application for other uses later on. Smoked cigarette butts contain 5-7 mg nicotine (about 25% from the total cigarette nicotine content), children ingesting >2 whole cigarettes, 6 cigarette butts or perhaps a total of 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine must be admitted to some 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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