Filter tow

A Cigarette filter is a component of a cigarette, as well as cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter could be created from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either like a cavity filter or embedded to the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos have also been found 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 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 including dangerous. Most factory-made cigarettes include a filter; those that roll their unique can find them from a tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is done by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. From the three cellulose hydroxy groups intended for esterification, between two and three are esterified by manipulating the volume 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 tobacco smoke could be put into cigarette filters. The five 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 United Kingdom.

Starch glues or emulsion-based adhesives are used for gluing cigarette seams. Hot-melt and emulsion-based adhesives can be used filter seams. Emulsion-based adhesives are used for bonding the filters on the cigarettes.

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It’s proof against weak acids and it is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils and also petroleum. It can be biodegradable and the raw materials are a renewable natural polymer likely to find application for other uses in the future. 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 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 with the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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