Cellulose acetate tow

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 a cavity filter or embedded to the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos have also been used 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 is effective in reducing “tar” and nicotine smoke yields approximately 50%, using a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), but are ineffective in filtering toxins including co. Most factory-made cigarettes have a filter; those who roll their very own can buy them from a tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is manufactured by esterifying bleached cotton or wood pulp with acetic acid. From the three cellulose hydroxy groups intended for esterification, between two and three are esterified by controlling the amount of acid (degree 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 tobacco smoke could possibly be included with 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 are used for gluing cigarette seams. Hot-melt and emulsion-based adhesives can be used for filter seams. Emulsion-based adhesives bring bonding filters for the cigarettes.

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It can be resistance against weak acids and it is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils in addition to petroleum. It can be biodegradable as well as 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% 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 ought to be admitted into a hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, that most are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting from the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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