Cellulose acetate tow

A Cigarette filter is a component of a cigarette, as well as cigarette paper, capsules and adhesives. The filter may be made from cellulose acetate fibre, paper or activated charcoal (either like a cavity filter or embedded in to the cellulose acetate). Macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins and asbestos seemed to be employed in cigarette filters The acetate and paper get a new 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 around 50%, with a greater removal rate for other classes of compounds (e.g., phenols), however are ineffective in filtering toxins including co. Most factory-made cigarettes have a filter; those that roll their particular can find them from your tobacconist.


Cellulose acetate is manufactured 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 governing the amount 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 when needed, and additives colouring the cigarette smoke could be combined with 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 gluing cigarette seams. Hot-melt and emulsion-based adhesives bring filter seams. Emulsion-based adhesives bring bonding filters on the cigarettes.

Cellulose acetate is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and weakly flammable. It’s resistant to weak acids and is largely stable to mineral and fatty oils in addition to petroleum. It is biodegradable along with the raw material is a renewable natural polymer expected to find application for other uses in the foreseeable 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 must be admitted with a hospital. Cellulose acetate is hydrophilic and retains the water-soluble smoke constituents, which the majority are irritating (acids, alkali, aldehydes, and phenols), while letting from the lipophilic aromatic compounds.
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