A Cigarette filter is part of the cigarette, in addition to cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter might be made out of cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either as a cavity filter or embedded to the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos have also been employed 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 as much as 50%, which has a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), but they are ineffective in filtering toxins such as co. Most factory-made cigarettes come with a filter; people who roll their own can get them coming from a tobacconist.

Cellulose acetate is made by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. Of the three cellulose hydroxy groups designed for esterification, between two and three are esterified by controlling the amount of acid (degree 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. 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 the uk.

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 the filters for the cigarettes.

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It is resistance against weak acids and it is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils as well as petroleum. It can be biodegradable and also 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% from the total cigarette nicotine content), children ingesting >2 whole cigarettes, 6 cigarette butts or even a total of 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine ought to be admitted with a hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, which most are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting from the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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