A sustainable smoking article filter

Abstract

A sustainable filter (100) for use in a smoking article, the filter comprising: a longitudinally extending core comprising: a first segment (104) of sustainable filtering material; a second segment (108) of sustainable filtering material, wherein the second segment of sustainable filtering material is of higher density than the first segment of sustainable filtering material; a third segment (114) of sustainable filtering material; and a filter wrapper (118) engaged around the longitudinally extending core; wherein the first and second segments of sustainable filtering material are distanced longitudinally from each other such that the filter wrapper defines a cavity (120) between the first and second segments of filtering material; and wherein the first, second, and third sustainable filtering materials comprise paper and / or other biodegradable material.

Description

[0001] A SUSTAINABLE SMOKING ARTICLE FILTER

[0002] INTRODUCTION

[0003] The present invention provides a sustainable filter for use with a smoking article such as a heated tobacco product or a heat-not-burn product.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Tobacco heating products or heat-not-burn (HNB) products (also known as heated tobacco products or HTP products) are well known. The idea of a tobacco heating product is that the tobacco is heated to a specific temperature (such as 260°C) without burning. This delivers an aerosol containing nicotine and it is believed that heating without burning avoids creation of combustion products that are harmful to the consumer.

[0006] Tobacco heating products or HNB or HTP products may include a plug of modified tobacco and other mouthpiece elements which are wrapped in a paper plugwrap so as to provide a cigarette-like appearance. In one such product a reconstituted tobacco plug, a ventilated paper tube, a conventional wrapped acetate segment; and an acetate tube are wrapped in a white paper. In use the product is inserted into a tube in a heating device, tobacco end first. The tobacco plug is then heated by collar heating when inserted into the device so the product can be “smoked” by the consumer. In the device, an electric current is transformed into heat that heats up the tube inside the device and eventually heats up the tobacco column. With collar heating, the heat comes from the outside of the tobacco plug to the inside. The function of the “filter” in these products is very different from that of a cigarette filter; the main functions are to provide the look and feel of a cigarette and also to cool the aerosol down to an acceptable temperature for the consumer.

[0007] It is well known to use materials such as PLA for cooling elements. More recently it has become known to use cellulose acetate for cooling elements, as discussed in WO2021 / 074222.

[0008] However, cellulose acetate and PLA are not readily biodegradable. As a result, aerosol generating article elements such as cellulose acetate containing filter elements and cooling elements may persist in the environment for many years. Due to this, and in consideration of new EU legislation (aimed at reducing the use of single-use plastics such as cellulose acetate filters), there is increasing interest in filters and filter elements that do not comprise single-use plastics and are readily biodegradable.

[0009] Consequently, there is a need for a filter or filter element that provides acceptable cooling of the aerosol in a collar type HTP product and acceptable filtration properties while having an improved biodegradability to conventional materials such as cellulose acetate.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] According to the present invention in a first aspect there is provided a sustainable filter for use in a smoking article, the filter comprising: a longitudinally extending core comprising: a first segment of sustainable filtering material; a second segment of sustainable filtering material, wherein the second segment of sustainable filtering material is of higher density than the first segment of sustainable filtering material; a third segment of sustainable filtering material; and a filter wrapper engaged around the longitudinally extending core; wherein the first and second segments of sustainable filtering material are distanced longitudinally from each other such that the filter wrapper defines a cavity between the first and second segments of sustainable filtering material; and wherein the first, second, and third sustainable filtering materials comprise paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing material).

[0012] The applicants have surprisingly found that a filter with this configuration is readily biodegradable while providing a comparable thermal profile and aerosol chemistry delivery to that of standard cellulose acetate filters currently on the market. Furthermore, the configuration of the sustainable filter is customizable to match a desired aerosol delivery request.

[0013] The sustainable filtering material of the first segment of the sustainable filter may have a density of 0.1500 g / cm3or less, for example from 0.1200 g / cm3to 0.1500 g / cm3, for example from 0.1300 g / cm3to 0.1480 g / cm3, for example 0.1422 g / cm3. Preferably, the sustainable filtering material of the first segment of the sustainable filter has a density from 0.1400 g / cm? to 0.1450 g / cm3.

[0014] The applicants found that sustainable filtering material of lower density acts as an air flow chamber to permit passage of the aerosol through that segment of the filter, with minimal retention. The low density of the sustainable filtering material further enables the aerosol to be more dispersed upon exiting the first segment (e.g. into the cavity) with the aim of providing a more uniform temperature throughout the aerosol. Without the dispersion provided by the first segment, the column of aerosol would have a higher temperature in the outer region and a lower temperature at the core (due to the collar heating method). A more uniform temperature throughout the column of aerosol was found to improve the cooling effect on the aerosol when passing through the cavity within the filter.

[0015] The sustainable filtering material of the first segment of the sustainable filter may have a basis weight from 50 GSM to 100 GSM, for example from 60 GSM to 85 GSM, for example 78 GSM. Preferably, the filter material has a basis weight from 75 GSM to 80 GSM.

[0016] The sustainable filtering material of the first segment of the sustainable filter may be paper (e.g. uncoated paper or coated paper, e.g., siliconized paper, e.g., cellulose pulp). The paper may be gathered laterally into rod form and held in place by a first segment wrapper.

[0017] The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) is preferably readily biodegradable. The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be comprised of any paper (in any form) which is conventionally used in filters or filter elements. The paper may be, for example, filtering paper, filter paper, non-woven paper, aperture paper, crepe paper, air-laid paper, machine glazed paper or cellulose / lyocell / viscose based paper etc.. The fibre of the paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be a natural fibre (e.g. flax, hemp, sisal, jute, abaca, cotton, coconut fibres, bamboo fibres, starch (e.g. from corn), woodpulp or tobacco) or any roll material. The paper may be woven or non-woven, or in the form of a coherent web of paper, or a longitudinally corrugated and / or fibrillated web of paper e.g. gathered laterally into, and held, in plug form. The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be in the form of a coherent web comprising a first paper and / or other biodegradable material(e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) and a second paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material). The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be in the form of a blend of different paper materials and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering materials). The paper filtering material may have the same or a similar structure to those papers sold under the trademark Myria® or Puracel® (of Essentra pic). The paper may be coated with a hydrophobic coating or hydrophobic material. The applicants have found that the use of non-woven papers (e.g., made with non-plastic plant based fibres (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch or wood pulp) and / or airlaid papers are particularly suitable for production of (and use as) the sustainable filter material because they have excellent filtration properties and filtration performance, while also being biodegradable.

[0018] The term “biodegradable” refers to the filtering material and element being able to exhibit a biodegradation of at least 90% after 6 months under controlled composting conditions (see ISO14855-1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide).

[0019] Preferably, the paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing material) used in the sustainable filtering material(s) of the first segment of the sustainable filter is “readily biodegradable” and has an enhanced biodegradability compared to cellulose acetate. Therefore, the present invention provides an element of enhanced biodegradability, and thus is more environmentally friendly and is more in line with Ell legislation.

[0020] The phrase “readily biodegradable” refers to the sustainable filtering material and sustainable filter being able to disintegrate rapidly and completely biodegrade when immersed in water. Preferably the element has the ‘Ready Biodegradability’ level of biodegradability as measured according to OECD 301 B ‘Ready Biodegradability’ method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art. The phase “readily biodegradable” will here be understood to mean ‘Ready Biodegradability’ level of biodegradability.

[0021] The sustainable filtering material of the first segment of the sustainable filter may have a wrapper (first segment wrapper) engaged therearound. The applicants have found that the use of a paper (e.g., plugwrap) segment wrapper of basis weight from 50 to 150 gsm engaged around the first segment comprising sustainable filtering material is a suitable outer wrap and may provide a firmness (i.e., hardness) similar to cellulose acetate based tubes (e.g., hollow acetate tubes), which in turn may provide the filter with a desirable firmness (i.e., hardness). Advantageously, a paper (e.g., plugwrap) segment wrapper of basis weight 50 to 150 gsm is biodegradable. It will be appreciated that the filter wrapper is engaged around the first segment and first segment wrapper. The first segment wrapper (e.g., plugwrap) engaged around the first segment of the sustainable filter may be non-porous. Alternatively, the first segment wrapper (e.g., plugwrap) may be ventilated or air permeable, with an air permeability of from 0 to 32,000 Coresta units.

[0022] The sustainable filtering material of the second segment of the sustainable filter may have a density of 0.1510 g / cm3or more, for example from 0.1510 g / cm3to 0.1800 g / cm3, for example from 0.1550 g / cm3to 0.1700 g / cm3, for example 0.1610 g / cm3. Preferably, the sustainable filtering material of the first segment of the sustainable filter has a density from 0.1580 g / cm? to 0.1650 g / cm3.

[0023] The applicants found that sustainable filtering material of a higher density creates in effect a bottleneck for the aerosol in the cavity. This bottleneck provides resistance to the aerosol such that the aerosol is kept within the cavity for a desired period of time and therefore cooled to an optimal temperature.

[0024] The sustainable filtering material of the second segment of the sustainable filter may have a basis weight from 10 GSM to 50 GSM, for example from 15 GSM to 40 GSM, for example 27 GSM. Preferably, the filter material has a basis weight from 25 GSM to 35 GSM.

[0025] The sustainable filtering material of the second segment of the sustainable filter may be paper (e.g. uncoated paper or coated paper, e.g., siliconized paper, e.g., cellulose pulp). The paper may be gathered laterally into rod form and held in place by a second segment wrapper.

[0026] The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) is preferably readily biodegradable. The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be comprised of any paper (in any form) which is conventionally used in filters or filter elements. The paper may be, for example, filtering paper, filter paper, non-woven paper, aperture paper, crepe paper, air-laid paper, machine glazed paper or cellulose / lyocell / viscose based paper etc.. The fibre of the paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be a natural fibre (e.g. flax, hemp, sisal, jute, abaca, cotton, coconut fibres, bamboo fibres, starch (e.g. from corn), woodpulp or tobacco) or any roll material. The paper may be woven or non-woven, or in the form of a coherent web of paper, or a longitudinally corrugated and / or fibrillated web of paper e.g. gathered laterally into, and held, in plug form. The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be in the form of a coherent web comprising a first paper and / or other biodegradable material(e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) and a second paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material). The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be in the form of a blend of different paper materials and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering materials). The paper filtering material may have the same or a similar structure to those papers sold under the trademark Myria® or Puracel® (of Essentra pic). The paper may be coated with a hydrophobic coating or hydrophobic material.

[0027] The applicants have found that the use of non-woven papers (e.g., made with non-plastic plant based fibres (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch or wood pulp) and / or airlaid papers are particularly suitable for production of (and use as) the sustainable filter material because they have excellent filtration properties and filtration performance, while also being biodegradable.

[0028] The term “biodegradable” refers to the filtering material and element being able to exhibit a biodegradation of at least 90% after 6 months under controlled composting conditions (see ISO14855-1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide).

[0029] Preferably, the paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing material) used in the sustainable filtering material(s) of the second segment of the sustainable filter is “readily biodegradable” and has an enhanced biodegradability compared to cellulose acetate. Therefore, the present invention provides an element of enhanced biodegradability, and thus is more environmentally friendly and is more in line with Ell legislation.

[0030] The phrase “readily biodegradable” refers to the sustainable filtering material and sustainable filter being able to disintegrate rapidly and completely biodegrade when immersed in water. Preferably the element has the ‘Ready Biodegradability’ level of biodegradability as measured according to OECD 301 B ‘Ready Biodegradability’ method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art. The phase “readily biodegradable” will here be understood to mean ‘Ready Biodegradability’ level of biodegradability. The sustainable filtering material of the second segment of the sustainable filter may have a wrapper (second segment wrapper) engaged therearound. The applicants have found that the use of a paper (e.g., plugwrap) segment wrapper of basis weight from 50 to 150 gsm engaged around the second segment comprising sustainable filtering material is a suitable outer wrap and may provide a firmness (i.e., hardness) similar to cellulose acetate based tubes (e.g., hollow acetate tubes), which in turn may provide the filter with a desirable firmness (i.e., hardness). Advantageously, a paper (e.g., plugwrap) segment wrapper of basis weight 50 to 150 gsm is biodegradable. It will be appreciated that the filter wrapper is engaged around the second segment and second segment wrapper.

[0031] The second segment wrapper (e.g., plugwrap) engaged around the second segment of the sustainable filter may be non-porous. Alternatively, the second segment wrapper (e.g., plugwrap) may be ventilated or air permeable, with an air permeability of from 0 to 32,000 Coresta units.

[0032] The sustainable filtering material, where the sustainable filtering material is paper, may have a thickness from 30 pm to 90 pm, for example from 40 pm to 80 pm, for example 66 pm. Preferably, the paper has a thickness from 62 pm to 68 pm.

[0033] The third segment of sustainable filtering material may abut the second segment of sustainable filtering material. The third segment of sustainable filtering material may act to provide a conventional end appearance to the sustainable filter. The third segment of the sustainable filter may be paper (e.g. Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36 and / or Greenbutts) which is gathered laterally into rod form and held in place by a third segment wrapper.

[0034] The sustainable filtering material of the third segment of the sustainable filter may be paper (e.g. Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36 and / or Greenbutts). The paper may be gathered laterally into rod form and held in place by a third segment wrapper.

[0035] The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) is preferably readily biodegradable. The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be comprised of any paper (in any form) which is conventionally used in filters or filter elements. The paper may be, for example, filtering paper, filter paper, non-woven paper, aperture paper, crepe paper, air-laid paper, machine glazed paper or cellulose / lyocell / viscose based paper etc.. The fibre of the paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be a natural fibre (e.g. flax, hemp, sisal, jute, abaca, cotton, coconut fibres, bamboo fibres, starch (e.g. from corn), woodpulp or tobacco) or any roll material. The paper may be woven or non-woven, or in the form of a coherent web of paper, or a longitudinally corrugated and / or fibrillated web of paper e.g. gathered laterally into, and held, in plug form. The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be in the form of a coherent web comprising a first paper and / or other biodegradable material(e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) and a second paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material). The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering material) may be in the form of a blend of different paper materials and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing filtering materials). The paper filtering material may have the same or a similar structure to those papers sold under the trademark Myria® or Puracel® (of Essentra pic). The paper may be coated with a hydrophobic coating or hydrophobic material.

[0036] The applicants have found that the use of non-woven papers (e.g., made with non-plastic plant based fibres (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch or wood pulp) and / or airlaid papers are particularly suitable for production of (and use as) the sustainable filter material because they have excellent filtration properties and filtration performance, while also being biodegradable.

[0037] The term “biodegradable” refers to the filtering material and element being able to exhibit a biodegradation of at least 90% after 6 months under controlled composting conditions (see ISO14855-1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide).

[0038] Preferably, the paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing material) used in the sustainable filtering material(s) of the second segment of the sustainable filter is “readily biodegradable” and has an enhanced biodegradability compared to cellulose acetate. Therefore, the present invention provides an element of enhanced biodegradability, and thus is more environmentally friendly and is more in line with Ell legislation.

[0039] The phrase “readily biodegradable” refers to the sustainable filtering material and sustainable filter being able to disintegrate rapidly and completely biodegrade when immersed in water. Preferably the element has the ‘Ready Biodegradability’ level of biodegradability as measured according to OECD 301 B ‘Ready Biodegradability’ method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art. The phase “readily biodegradable” will here be understood to mean ‘Ready Biodegradability’ level of biodegradability.

[0040] The sustainable filtering material of the third segment of the sustainable filter may have a wrapper (third segment wrapper) engaged therearound. The applicants have found that the use of a paper (e.g., plugwrap) segment wrapper of basis weight from 50 to 150 gsm engaged around the third segment comprising sustainable filtering material is a suitable outer wrap and may provide a firmness (i.e., hardness) similar to cellulose acetate based tubes (e.g., hollow acetate tubes), which in turn may provide the filter with a desirable firmness (i.e., hardness). Advantageously, a paper (e.g., plugwrap) segment wrapper of basis weight 50 to 150 gsm is biodegradable. It will be appreciated that the filter wrapper is engaged around the third segment and third segment wrapper.

[0041] The third segment wrapper (e.g., plugwrap) engaged around the third segment of the sustainable filter may be non-porous. Alternatively, the third segment wrapper (e.g., plugwrap) may be ventilated or air permeable, with an air permeability of from 0 to 32,000 Coresta units.

[0042] The filter includes a filter wrapper engaged around the longitudinally extending core. The first and second segments of sustainable filtering material are distanced longitudinally from each other such that the filter wrapper defines a cavity between the first and second segments of sustainable filtering material. The filter wrapper may be paper (e.g., plugwrap), preferably a paper (e.g., plugwrap) of basis weight 20 to 160 gsm, for example a paper (e.g., plugwrap) of basis weight 24 to 150 gsm, for example a paper (e.g., plugwrap) of basis weight 70 to 150 gsm, for example a paper (e.g., plugwrap) of basis weight 70 to 140 gsm.

[0043] The filter wrapper may be ventilated (e.g., in register with the cavity).

[0044] The ventilation may be provided by one, or a plurality of, perforations in the filter wrapper in register with the cavity. The applicants have found that the presence of a cavity within the filter can reduce the temperature of the aerosol. Perforations in the filter wrapper, which defines the cavity, permits ambient air to be drawn into the cavity and mixed with the aerosol. The applicants have found that the mixing of ambient air, which is of a lower temperature than the aerosol within the cavity, leads to a greater cooling effect on the aerosol and a desired temperature of aerosol delivered to the user. The first segment of sustainable filtering material may have a length from 6 mm to 20 mm, for example from 8 mm to 15 mm, for example 12 mm. Preferably, the first segment of sustainable filtering material has a length from 10 mm to 14 mm.

[0045] The second segment of sustainable filtering material may have a length from 4 mm to 15 mm, for example from 5 mm to 10 mm, for example 7 mm. Preferably, the second segment of sustainable filtering material has a length from 6 mm to 8 mm.

[0046] The third segment of sustainable filtering material may have a length from 4 mm to 15 mm, for example from 5 mm to 10 mm, for example 7 mm. Preferably, the third segment of sustainable filtering material has a length from 6 mm to 8 mm.

[0047] The cavity, defined by the filter wrapper of the sustainable filter, may have a length from 5 mm to 25 mm, for example from 10 mm to 20 mm, for example 15 mm. Preferably, the cavity has a length from 13 mm to 17 mm.

[0048] The sustainable filter may have a length from 19 mm to 75 mm, for example from 30 mm to 50 mm, for example 41 mm. Preferably the filter has a length from 37 mm to 47 mm.

[0049] The sustainable filter may be cylindrical. The circumference or perimeter of the sustainable filter may be from 15 to 25 mm, for example from 17 to 22 mm. Preferably the circumference or perimeter of the sustainable filter is 20.80 mm.

[0050] In a further aspect there is provided an aerosol generating article (e.g., tobacco heating product, HTP) comprising a sustainable filter according to the present invention.

[0051] In yet a further aspect there is provided a tobacco heating product and / or HTP and / or HNB product comprising a filter according to the present invention.

[0052] It will be appreciated that the sustainable filter according to the present invention may be used in any multi-segment filter or consumable such as a HTP and / or tobacco heated product and / or HNB product.

[0053] It will be appreciated that the sustainable filter according to the present invention may be manufactured according to methods and machinery well known in the art. A filter according to the invention may be adjoined to a wrapped plug of tobacco (e.g. wrapped plug of modified tobacco, as is well known in the art). The filter may be adjoined to the wrapped tobacco plug by ring tipping (i.e. an outer wrapper (e.g. tipping paper) which engages around just the adjacent ends of the wrapped filter and the tobacco plug to leave much of the filter wrap exposed). The filter may be adjoined to the wrapped tobacco plug by a full tipping overwrap (i.e. an outer wrapper (e.g. tipping paper) which engages around the full wrapped filter length and the adjacent end of the tobacco plug).

[0054] The filter wrapper may be ventilated by e.g. laser perforations. The ventilation may be applied to the filter wrapper before or after the filter is adjoined to the wrapped tobacco plug. The ventilation may be (applied to the filter wrapper) in register with a cavity in the filter (if present).

[0055] It will be appreciated that every component of the sustainable filter may be readily biodegradable.

[0056] The term “biodegradable” refers to the filtering material and element being able to exhibit a biodegradation of at least 90% after 6 months under controlled composting conditions (see ISO14855-1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide).

[0057] Preferably, the paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g. non-cellulose acetate containing material) used in the sustainable filtering material(s) of the sustainable filter of the present invention is “readily biodegradable” and has an enhanced biodegradability compared to cellulose acetate. Therefore, the present invention provides an element of enhanced biodegradability, and thus is more environmentally friendly and is more in line with Ell legislation.

[0058] The phrase “readily biodegradable” refers to the sustainable filtering material and sustainable filter being able to disintegrate rapidly and completely biodegrade when immersed in water. Preferably the element has the ‘Ready Biodegradability’ level of biodegradability as measured according to OECD 301 B ‘Ready Biodegradability’ method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art. The phase “readily biodegradable” will here be understood to mean ‘Ready Biodegradability’ level of biodegradability. The present invention will now be described in further detail by reference to the attached Figures in which:

[0059] Figure 1 shows a partially unwrapped isometric view of a sustainable filter according to the present invention;

[0060] Figure 2 is a graphical representation of how the temperature at the mouth end of heated tobacco product varies as puffs are taken when the heated tobacco product contains a filter according to the present invention in comparison with a reference product, Gio Neo Stick.

[0061] Figure 1 illustrates a partially unwrapped isometric view of one embodiment of a sustainable filter for use in a smoking article (e.g., heated tobacco product). The sustainable filter 100 is cylindrical in shape with a length 41 mm and a circumference 20.80 mm.

[0062] The sustainable filter 100 includes, at the tobacco end 102, a first segment 104 of sustainable filtering material of length 12 mm and a circumference of 19.97 mm. The first segment 104 of sustainable filtering material is formed form a plug of a first filtering material in the form of a sheet of paper (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd of Mundanjiang, China) of 78gsm weight and width 60 mm, which is gathered together laterally into plug form and held in place with a first segment wrapper 106 of non-porous plug wrap (Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd of Mundanjiang, China) of 78gsm weight. The sustainable filtering material of the first segment 104 has a density of 0.1422 g / cm3and a basis weight of 78 gsm.

[0063] The sustainable filter 100 also includes a second segment 108 of sustainable filtering material of length 7 mm and a circumference of 19.97 mm. The second segment 108 is spaced longitudinally from the first segment 104 by a distance of 15 mm. The second segment 108 of sustainable filtering material is formed form a plug of a second filtering material in the form of a sheet of paper (obtained from PT Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ) of West Java, Indonesia) of width 200mm which is gathered together laterally into plug form and held in place with a second segment wrapper 110 of non-porous plug wrap [Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd of Mundanjiang, China] of 78gsm weight. The sustainable filtering material of the second segment 108 has a density of 0.1610 g / cm3and a basis weight of 27 gsm.

[0064] The sustainable filter 100 also includes, at a mouth end 112, a third segment 114 of sustainable filtering material of length 7 mm and a circumference of 19.97 mm. The third segment 114 abuts the second segment 108 and provides the mouth end 112 of the sustainable filter 100 with a conventional end appearance. The third segment 114 of sustainable filtering material is formed from a plug of a third filtering material in the form of a sheet of Puracel FM26 paper (150 mm Puracel® FM26 g / m2SWM [of Essentra pic]) which is gathered together laterally into plug form and held in place with a third segment wrapper 116 of non-porous plug wrap [Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd of Mundanjiang, China] of 78gsm weight.

[0065] A further filter wrapper 118 of stiff plugwrap of 78 g / m2weight [Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd of Mundanjiang, China] encases the wrapped first 104, second 108, and third 114 segments to define a cavity 120 of length 15 mm between the first 104 and second 108 segments. The filter wrapper 118 is ventilated in register with the cavity by a line of perforations (not shown). Both ends of the filter wrapper 118 are flush with the ends of the wrapped first 104 and third 114 segments. The filter wrapper 118 has an overlapping longitudinal edge with adhesive applied thereon which provides a lapped and stuck seam (not shown) holding the filter wrapper 118 around the wrapped first 104, second 108, and third 114 segments and a further adhesive in anchor lines (not shown) in register with the wrapped first 104, second 108, and third 114 segments to hold the segments in place.

[0066] The first 104, second 108, and third 114 segments of sustainable filtering material, the corresponding first 106, second 110, and third 116 segment wrappers, and the filter wrapper 118 are all made from paper material and are all “readily biodegradable”, meaning they are able to disintegrate rapidly and completely biodegrade when immersed in water, such that sustainable filter 100 (and materials therein) have the ‘Ready Biodegradability’ level of biodegradability as measured according to OECD 301 B ‘Ready Biodegradability’ method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art.

[0067] The applicants have surprisingly found that filters such as the sustainable filter 100 of the present invention combine biodegradability (are “readily biodegradable”) with a comparable thermal profile and / or comparable Aerosol Chemistry Delivery to the product in the market which uses cellulose acetate (see Example 1 below). Further, the applicants have found the sustainable filter 100 of the present invention is adaptable (e.g., varying segment lengths) to provide a customizable design to match a desired aerosol chemistry delivery profile. It will be appreciated that the sustainable filter 100 may be made by methods known in the art. The sustainable filter 100 may be prepared as a multiple rod comprising a plurality (e.g. 2, 4, 6 etc.) of filters or filter rods integrally joined end-to-end.

[0068] The sustainable filter 100 may be joined, at the tobacco end 102, to a wrapped plug of modified tobacco for collar heating, by methods well known in the art. A suitable plug of reconstituted tobacco is 33 mm long and has a circumference of 20.80 mm. Such plugs of reconstituted tobacco are well known in the art. Together the filter and plug of tobacco form a HTP including filter of the invention.

[0069] In use, the tobacco plug end of a HTP including sustainable filter 100 of the invention is inserted in a HTP device. This plug is heated in use by a heating device (HTP device) to produce a vapour, as is well known in the art. This produces a column of hot aerosol which is first drawn through the first segment 104 of sustainable filtering material, through the cavity 120, through the second segment 108 of sustainable filtering material, and through the third segment 114 of sustainable filtering material to the smoker’s mouth (i.e. , the mouth end 112).

[0070] It is believed that drawing this column of hot aerosol through the first segment 104 of sustainable filtering material of density 0.1422 g / cm3causes the column of hot aerosol to be more dispersed upon exiting the first segment 104 with the aim of providing a more uniform temperature throughout the aerosol.

[0071] It is believed that drawing the column of hot aerosol through the ventilated cavity 120 will enable the hot aerosol to mix with ventilating air which has a cooling effect (e.g., on the aerosol drawn through the first segment and / or the filter).

[0072] It is believed that the third segment 114 of sustainable filtering material of density 0.1610 g / cm3provides in effect a bottleneck such that the aerosol is kept within the cavity 120 for a desired period of time and therefore cooled to an optimal temperature. The third segment 114 then provides airflow pathways for the aerosol to the mouth end 112.

[0073] Experiment

[0074] A HTP according to the invention as illustrated with reference to Figure 1 of length 41 mm including a first segment of length 12 mm (ZNP paper); a second segment of length 7 mm (ZNP paper); a third segment of length 7 mm (FM26 paper); and a cavity between the first and second segments of length 15 mm, was attached to a plug of reconstituted tobacco for collar heating by methods well known in the art to provide a HTP for testing. This is referred to as test Example ZVZ111622.

[0075] The reference product Gio Neo Stick included a plug of reconstituted tobacco for coil heating, a paper tube of length 25 mm with ventilation holes and acting as a cavity, a segment of wrapped acetate filtering material of length 10 mm, and an acetate tube of length 6 mm abutted to the wrapped acetate filtering material, in an analogous configuration to that of Figure 1.

[0076] The HTP test example and the Gio Neo Stick reference product were compared as follows:

[0077] Each HTP product was inserted into a heating device. The mouth end of the HTP product was inserted into a smoking machine which is configured to smoke the HTP. An IR camera was used to analyse the temperature at the mouth end of the product while it was being smoked. The smoking machine was configured to take a puff on the product every 30 seconds, each puff being 2 seconds long. The temperature at the mouth end of the product was measured for each puff. The experiment was performed at standard room temperature and humidity. The experiment was repeated for each example product i.e. ZVZ111622 and the reference product Gio Neo Stick.

[0078] Figure 2 illustrates the temperature at the mouth end for each puff for ZVZ111622 in comparison with the reference product Gio Neo Stick. The Figure shows that paper based ZVZ111622 of the present invention is capable of providing a cooling effect that is equivalent (less than 5% different) to conventional cooling elements, while providing the huge benefit of being readily biodegradable.

[0079] The temperature change and aerosol chemistry of the example HTP product ZVZ111622 and the reference product Gio Neo Stick in conventional heating devices (HNB devices) were measured by methods well known in the art (ISO 3308:2012 Routine analytical cigarettesmoking machine - Definitions and standard conditions). The results are illustrated in Table 1. Table 1 Table 1 shows that the sustainable filter according to the present invention may provide comparable thermal profile and / or comparable Aerosol Chemical Delivery performance to conventional heat sticks (the reference), while also providing improved biodegradability (due to not containing e.g. cellulose acetate elements).

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sustainable filter for use in a smoking article, the filter comprising: a longitudinally extending core comprising: a first segment of sustainable filtering material; a second segment of sustainable filtering material, wherein the second segment of sustainable filtering material is of higher density than the first segment of sustainable filtering material; a third segment of sustainable filtering material; and a filter wrapper engaged around the longitudinally extending core; wherein the first and second segments of sustainable filtering material are distanced longitudinally from each other such that the filter wrapper defines a cavity between the first and second segments of filtering material; and wherein the first, second, and third sustainable filtering materials comprise paper and / or other biodegradable material.

2. A sustainable filter according to claim 1 , wherein the sustainable filtering material of the first segment has a density from 0.1200 g / cm? to 0.1500 g / cm?, e.g. from 0.1300 g / cm? to 0.1480 g / cm? , e.g., from 0.1400 g / cm? to 0.1450 g / cm? , e.g., 0.1422 g / cm?.

3. A sustainable filter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sustainable filtering material of the second segment has a density from 0.1510 g / cm? to 0.1800 g / cm?, e.g. from 0.1550 g / cm? to 0.1700 g / cm?, e.g., from 0.1580 g / cm? to 0.1650 g / cm? , e.g., 0.1610 g / cm? .

4. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and / or second segments are formed from paper and / or other biodegradable material which is gathered laterally into rod form and held in place (e.g. by a segment wrapper).

5. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the sustainable filtering material of the first segment of the sustainable filter has a basis weight from 50 GSM to 100 GSM, for example from 60 GSM to 85 GSM, for example 75 GSM to 80 GSM, for example 78 GSM.

6. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the sustainable filtering material of the second segment of the sustainable filter has a basis weight from 10 GSM to 50 GSM, for example from 15 GSM to 40 GSM, for example 25 GSM to 35 GSM, for example 27 GSM.

7. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the sustainable filtering material is paper and the paper has a thickness from 30 pm to 90 pm, e.g., from 40 pm to 80 pm, e.g., from 62 pm to 68 pm, e.g., 66 pm8. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the third segment abuts the second segment.

9. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the filter wrapper is ventilated (e.g. in register with the cavity if present).

10. A sustainable filter according to claim 6, wherein the ventilation is provided by one, or a plurality of, perforations in the filter wrapper in register with the cavity.

11. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the biodegradable material is readily biodegradable, measured according to OECD 301 B ‘Ready Biodegradability’ method (modified Sturm test).

12. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the first segment of sustainable filtering material has a length from 6 mm to 20 mm, e.g., from 8 mm to 15 mm, e.g., from 10 mm to 14 mm, e.g., 12 mm.

13. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the second segment of sustainable filtering material has a length from 4 mm to 15 mm, e.g., from 5 mm to 10 mm, e.g., from 6 mm to 8 mm, e.g., 7 mm.

14. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the third segment of sustainable filtering material has a length from 4 mm to 15 mm, e.g., from 5 mm to 10 mm, e.g., from 6 mm to 8 mm, e.g., 7 mm.

15. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the cavity defined by the filter wrapper has a length from 5 mm to 25 mm, e.g. from 10 mm to 20 mm, e.g., from 13 mm to 17 mm, e.g., 15 mm.

16. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the sustainable filter has a length from 19 mm to 75 mm, e.g., from 30 mm to 50 mm, e.g., from 37 mm to 47 mm, e.g., 41 mm.

17. A sustainable filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the sustainable filter is cylindrical with circumference from 15 mm to 25 mm, e.g., from 17 mm to 22 mm, e.g., 20.80 mm.

18. An aerosol generating article (e.g., tobacco heating product, HTP) comprising a sustainable filter according to any of claims 1 to 14.

19. A tobacco heating product and / or HTP and / or HNB product comprising a filter according to any of claims 1 to 14.

20. The use, in a HTP and / or a tobacco heated product and / or HNB product, of a sustainable filter according to any of claims 1 to 14.

21. A filter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1.

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