A Cigarette filter is part of a cigarette, along with cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter could be produced from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either as being a cavity filter or embedded 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 as much as 50%, with a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), however are ineffective in filtering toxins like dangerous. Most factory-made cigarettes come with a filter; those that roll their particular can purchase 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 governing the volume 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 when needed, and additives colouring the cigarette could be combined with 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 uk.

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 can be resistant against weak acids which is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils along with petroleum. It is biodegradable and the raw materials are a renewable natural polymer likely to find application for other uses down the road. Smoked cigarette butts contain 5-7 mg nicotine (about 25% with the total cigarette nicotine content), children ingesting >2 whole cigarettes, 6 cigarette butts or possibly a total of 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine should be admitted to some hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, ones many are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting through the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
For more details about cellulose acetate tow you can check the best resource