Press "Enter" to skip to content

Filter tow

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 being a cavity filter or embedded into the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos are also utilized 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 can reduce “tar” and nicotine smoke yields approximately 50%, using a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), but you are ineffective in filtering toxins such as deadly carbon monoxide. Most factory-made cigarettes are equipped with a filter; those that roll their particular can purchase them from your 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 quantity of acid (a higher level 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 tobacco smoke could possibly be added to cigarette filters. The five largest manufactures of filter tow are Hoechst-Celanese and Eastman Chemicals in the us, 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 are used for filter seams. Emulsion-based adhesives can be used bonding the filters towards the cigarettes.

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It really is resistant to weak acids which is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils as well as petroleum. It can be biodegradable along with the raw materials are a renewable natural polymer likely to find application for other uses in the foreseeable 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 ought to 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.
More details about cellulose acetate tow go to our new web site