Filter tow

A Cigarette filter is a component of a cigarette, in addition to cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter may be created from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either being a cavity filter or embedded in the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos have been employed 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 can reduce “tar” and nicotine smoke yields around 50%, having a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), however are ineffective in filtering toxins such as dangerous. Most factory-made cigarettes come with a filter; people who roll their unique can buy them from the tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is created by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. In the three cellulose hydroxy groups intended for esterification, between two and three are esterified by manipulating the quantity of acid (amount 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 cigarettes could be added to cigarette filters. The five 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 bring gluing cigarette seams. Hot-melt and emulsion-based adhesives can be used for filter seams. Emulsion-based adhesives can be used for bonding the filters on the cigarettes.

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It’s resistant to weak acids which is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils and also petroleum. It’s biodegradable as well as the raw material is a renewable natural polymer anticipated to find application for other uses later on. Smoked cigarette butts contain 5-7 mg nicotine (about 25% from the total cigarette nicotine content), children ingesting >2 whole cigarettes, 6 cigarette butts or even a total of 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine needs to be admitted with a hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, ones the majority are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting from the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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