Filter tow

A Cigarette filter is part of an cigarette, as well as cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter could possibly be made from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either like a cavity filter or embedded into the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos are also used 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 up to 50%, using a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), but they are ineffective in filtering toxins for example deadly carbon monoxide. Most factory-made cigarettes are equipped with a filter; people that roll their unique can purchase them from the tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is manufactured by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. With the three cellulose hydroxy groups available for esterification, between two and three are esterified by managing the quantity 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 possibly be put into cigarette filters. The five 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 United Kingdom.

Starch glues or emulsion-based adhesives can be used gluing cigarette seams. Hot-melt and emulsion-based adhesives bring 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 is proof against weak acids and it is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils as well as petroleum. It can be biodegradable as well as the raw materials are a renewable natural polymer anticipated to find application for other uses in the foreseeable future. Smoked cigarette butts contain 5-7 mg nicotine (about 25% of 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 many are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting with the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
To get more information about cellulose acetate tow explore our web page