A Cigarette filter is a component of a cigarette, in addition to cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter may be produced from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either like a cavity filter or embedded in the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos are also employed in cigarette filters The acetate and paper customize the particulate smoke phase by particle retention (filtration), and finely divided carbon modifies the gaseous phase (adsorption). Filters can help to eliminate “tar” and nicotine smoke yields as much as 50%, using a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), but they are ineffective in filtering toxins such as carbon monoxide. Most factory-made cigarettes include a filter; those who roll their own can buy them from the tobacconist.

Cellulose acetate is made by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. Of the three cellulose hydroxy groups available for esterification, between two and three are esterified by manipulating the level 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 at the moment, and additives colouring the cigarette could possibly be put into cigarette filters. 5 largest manufactures of filter tow are Hoechst-Celanese and Eastman Chemicals in america, Rhodia Acetow in Germany, Daicel in Japan, and Courtaulds in england.

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

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It really is resistant against weak acids and is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils in addition to petroleum. It’s biodegradable along with 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 perhaps a total of 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine should be admitted with a hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, of which many are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting from the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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