Process for the conversion of cellulose acetate waste fibers into a suitable form for paper production and the resultant paper products

Abstract

A process for producing artificial fibers without significant fiber surface hydrolysis from waste cellulose acetate continuous filament or filter rods which can then be used in the manufacture of specific paper products. Waste cellulose acetate fibers generated during filament manufacture or cigarette manufacture as off quality production is used for rendering the into a form suitable for specific paper manufacture. Paper products which comprise 1-10% of the subject fiber as part of the pulp furnish is also disclosed.

Description

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from Provisional Application No. 60 / 465,743, filed Apr. 25, 2003.TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002] This invention relates to a process for the conversion of cellulose acetate waste fibers into a suitable form for paper production, and resultant paper products.[0003] The majority of cigarettes manufactured today have a filter composed of cellulose acetate fibers. Cigarettes having a cellulose acetate filter are typically prepared by using a continuous length of cellulose acetate fiber to prepare a long filter rod, then cutting the long filter rod into a multiplicity of shore lengths, or plugs, to form individual cigarette filters. The cigarette is then prepared by attaching these filters to an elongate column of tobacco contained in cigarette paper.[0004] The above described process for preparation of cigarettes results in three waste streams of cellulose acetate fiber. The first waste stream results from the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024] The paper products produced from cellulose acetate fibers in accordance with to the invention benefit from reduced bulk or more open sheet porosity, with usage levels typically below 10% of the fiber furnish.

[0027] The cellulose fiber used to prepare the paper of this invention is conventional paper making cellulose fiber obtained from wood, cotton, hemp, bagasse, straw, flax and other plant sources. Both hardwood and softwood may be used. The paper products produced from these fibers with the addition of cellulose acetate as described above benefit from reduced bulk and more open sheet porosity. The cellulose acetate is added at levels typically below 10% of the fiber furnish.

[0028] In other paper product applications, the waste cellulose acetate fiber can be used to enhance product performance. One specific product is cigarette filter tips. At least 10% of the world's cigarette filter tips are manufactured using continuous paper in bobbin form which contains approximately 25 grams / meter.sup.2 of essentially 100% cellulose fibers. Addition of 1-90% waste cellulose acetate fiber to this existing type paper filter will provide enhanced porosity, reduced yellowing, selective smoke stream component filtration, reduced wet collapse and improved cigarette butt environmental dispersion for cigarette filter tips manufactured in this manner.

Problems solved by technology

Although these filaments can be redissolved and recycled back into an acetate dope filament production process, this recycling method is sometimes undesirable.

However, because of the increasing cost of disposal and decreasing landfill space, cigarette filter tow suppliers and cigarette manufacturers are looking for alternatives to disposal.

However, the amount of cellulose acetate fibers that can be added to paper without substantial Tinting during the printing process is typically below 10 percent by weight, thus limiting the extent of the addition of this artificial fiber to the paper.

With binders the cellulose acetate fiber content may be doubled, however this technology is not desirous because of the expense and difficulty in processing binders.

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