Sustainable Filters

Abstract

A filter (100) or mouthpiece for a smoking article, such as a cigarette or a heated tobacco product, the filter or mouthpiece comprising several segments (105, 110, 115), at least one segment comprising paper and / or biodegradable filtration material.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention provides a filter or mouthpiece for use with a smoking article such as a cigarette, a heated tobacco product, or a heat-not-burn (HNB) product, or a heated tobacco product (HTP). [Background technology]

[0002] Mouthpieces or filter elements for smoking articles, such as cigarettes, heated tobacco products, or heat-not-burn (HNB) products or HTPs, can be manufactured from several different materials. Currently, 98% of commercially available cigarette filters contain cellulose acetate (source: Euromonitor International). However, cellulose acetate is not readily biodegradable, and as a result, cigarette filters (and cigarette butts) containing cellulose acetate can persist in the environment for years. For this reason, and in light of new EU legislation aimed at reducing the use of single-use plastics, such as cellulose acetate filters, there is growing interest in filters and filter elements (and mouthpieces) that are both single-use plastic-free and biodegradable.

[0003] An alternative filtration material to cellulose acetate is paper. Filters containing paper as a filtration material are well known in the art. Paper filters offer many advantages over cellulose acetate filters in terms of improved biodegradability and higher filtration efficiency at a given pressure drop. However, paper filters also have several disadvantages compared to cellulose acetate filters. For example, paper filters can adversely affect the taste of cigarettes, reduce filter stiffness, and can result in unattractive pre- and post-smoking appearances (as a result of staining). Furthermore, paper filters typically retain less toxic phenolic compounds and much more tar and nicotine than those made from cellulose acetate. Therefore, the smoking experience of cigarettes using conventional paper filters is inferior to that of cigarettes with conventional cellulose acetate filters.

[0004] It is therefore desirable to provide a mouthpiece or filter for a smoking article (e.g., a cigarette, a heated tobacco product, a heat-not-burn (HNB) product, or an HTP) that offers acceptable filtration properties and firmness (i.e., hardness) while having improved biodegradability compared to conventional materials such as cellulose acetate. Summary of the Invention

[0005] First aspect of the invention According to the present invention, in a first aspect, there is provided a filter (or mouthpiece) (e.g. for a smoking article such as a cigarette, a heated tobacco product, an HNB product, or an HTP), comprising: a first longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and a second longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element; a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core between the first longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the second longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element, the core comprising a filtration material comprising paper and / or other biodegradable material; and a filter wrapper engaged about a first longitudinally extending tubular element, a second longitudinally extending tubular element, and a longitudinally extending core; A filter (or mouthpiece) is provided in which the first longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the second longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element each (independently) comprise a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material, a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, and a wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, packing layer, and wrapper are the same length.

[0006] The components used in the present invention are biodegradable and have improved biodegradability compared to cellulose acetate, and therefore the present invention provides a mouthpiece or filter element that is improved in biodegradability and therefore more environmentally friendly and more compliant with EU legislation.

[0007] The term "biodegradable" refers to a filter or mouthpiece (and its components such as filter wrapper, paper hollow tube, filtration material, etc.) that is capable of exhibiting at least 90% biodegradability after 6 months under controlled composting conditions (see ISO 14855-1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide).

[0008] Preferably, the filter or mouthpiece of the present invention (or its components, such as the filter wrapper, hollow paper tube, filtration material, etc.) is "readily biodegradable." The phrase "readily biodegradable" refers to the ability of the filter or mouthpiece (or its components, such as the filter wrapper, hollow paper tube, filtration material, etc.) to rapidly disintegrate and completely biodegrade when immersed in water. Preferably, the filter or mouthpiece (or its components, such as the filter wrapper, hollow paper tube, filtration material, etc.) has a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability when measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art. The phrase "readily biodegradable" is understood herein to mean a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability.

[0009] Applicant has found that a filter or mouthpiece according to this aspect of the invention provides excellent filtration characteristics and performance whilst also being biodegradable.

[0010] The length of the filter or mouthpiece is preferably 5 to 50 mm, for example, 15 to 40 mm, for example, 20 to 30 mm, for example, 27 mm. Preferably, the circumference or perimeter of the mouthpiece or filter element is 14 to 30 mm, for example, 16 to 25 mm, for example, 24 to 25 mm. Preferably, the first (e.g., oral or buccal end) longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element is 5 to 10 mm (e.g., 7.5 mm) long. Preferably, the second (e.g., non-oral or tobacco end) longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element is 5 to 10 mm (e.g., 7.5 mm) long. Preferably, the longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core is 10 to 14 mm (e.g., 12 mm) long.

[0011] longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element The first longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the second longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element each (independently) comprise a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material, a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, and a wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, packing layer, and wrapper are the same length.

[0012] Preferably, the or each longitudinally extending tubular (eg, annular) element(s) is / are of uniform cross-section (eg, uniform axial cross-section).

[0013] Preferably, the cross-section is annular, meaning that the cross-section of the or each longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element(s) has an inner or inner periphery and an outer or outer periphery. Preferably, the inner or inner periphery is circular, meaning that the hollow tube is substantially cylindrical. Preferably, the outer or outer periphery is circular, meaning that the or each longitudinally extending tubular element is substantially cylindrical in shape. This can be seen, for example, in FIG. 1 . However, the inner or inner periphery and the outer or outer periphery may be any shape. For example, the outer or outer periphery may be circular or elliptical in shape, and the inner or inner periphery may be circular, semicircular (D-shaped), square, triangular, star-shaped, trefoil-shaped, pentagonal, or gear-shaped in cross-section, or in the shape of a logo or other pattern.

[0014] Preferably, the circumference or girth of the hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material is from 4 to 25 mm, such as from 5 to 20 mm, for example from 6 to 18 mm, for example from 8 to 10 mm.

[0015] The hollow tube can comprise paper. Preferably, the paper of the hollow tube is plug wrap having a basis weight of 80 to 160 gsm, e.g., plug wrap having a basis weight of 90 to 140 gsm, e.g., plug wrap having a basis weight of 100 to 120 gsm, e.g., plug wrap having a basis weight of 100 gsm. Applicants have found that the use of plug wrap having a basis weight of 80 to 160 gsm provides a suitably rigid hollow tube that can support a filler layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material and maintain its tubular shape. Advantageously, plug wrap having a basis weight of 80 to 160 gsm is also biodegradable.

[0016] Preferably, the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length. In other words, the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material surrounds the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, and thus has substantially no underlap or overlap / extension beyond the entire (e.g., longitudinal) length of the hollow tube. Preferably, the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube has a width or thickness (t) of 0.6 to 2.0 mm, e.g., 0.8 to 1.8 mm, e.g., 1.0 to 1.6 mm, e.g., 1.3 mm. This can be seen, for example, in FIG. 1 .

[0017] The term "width or thickness" as used herein is readily understood to mean the shortest distance from any point on the circumference of a hollow tube (e.g., when the hollow tube is substantially cylindrical) to the outer periphery or circumference of a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material. However, it will be understood that there may be more than one value for width or thickness as long as the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is not uniformly (e.g., circularly) fitted around the hollow tube. Furthermore, it will be understood that there may be more than one value for width or thickness if the cross-section (i.e., the inner periphery or circumference) of the hollow tube is semicircular (D-shaped), square, triangular, star-shaped, trefoil-shaped, pentagonal, or gear-shaped, or in the shape of a logo or other pattern. The term "width or thickness" as used herein is readily understood to mean the shortest distance from any point on the circumference of a hollow tube to the outer periphery or circumference of a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material.

[0018] The paper filter material and / or other biodegradable filter material can be paper (in any form) conventionally used in mouthpieces or filter elements. The paper can be, for example, filter paper, nonwoven paper, airlaid paper, or cellulose / lyocell / viscose-based paper. The paper can also be nonwoven paper made from non-plastic plant-based fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch, or wood pulp) or a blend of these materials. Preferably, the other biodegradable filter material does not contain cellulose acetate. Preferably, the filler layer does not contain cellulose acetate.

[0019] The paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material may be in the form of a blend of different paper and / or other biodegradable filtration materials. The paper may be coated with a hydrophobic coating or material.

[0020] Applicants have found that the use of nonwoven paper (e.g., made from non-plastic plant-based fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch, or wood pulp)) and / or airlaid paper is particularly suitable for the filler layer because it is flexible, easy to manufacture into a layer that is engaged around a hollow tube, has excellent filtration properties and performance, and is also biodegradable. Furthermore, Applicants have found that the use of nonwoven paper (e.g., made from non-plastic plant-based fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch, or wood pulp)) and / or airlaid paper provides a unique visual edge appearance that is appealing to consumers and may help combat counterfeiting.

[0021] The packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material may be comprised of multiple (ie, two or more) sheets or layers of paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material.

[0022] The filler layer including the paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material may also include carbon (e.g., activated carbon granules). The paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material may be impregnated or embedded with carbon.

[0023] Preferably, the wrapper engaged around the filler layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 50 to 150 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 60 to 140 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 130 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 80 to 120 gsm, for example a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 100 gsm.

[0024] Applicants have found that the use of a 50-150 gsm paper (e.g., plug wrap) wrapper engaged around a filler layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is a suitable outer wrap and can provide a stiffness (i.e., hardness) similar to that of a cellulose acetate-based tube (e.g., hollow acetate tube), thereby providing a mouthpiece or filter element with a desirable stiffness (i.e., hardness). Advantageously, the 50-150 gsm paper (e.g., plug wrap) wrapper is biodegradable.

[0025] The wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer containing the paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material may be non-porous, or alternatively, the wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer containing the paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material may be breathable or air permeable, having an air permeability of 0 to 32,000 Coresta units.

[0026] The wrapper engaged around the packing layer including paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is engaged around the packing layer including paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material along the entire (e.g., longitudinal) length of the packing layer. In other words, the wrapper engaged around the packing layer including paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material surrounds the layer including paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material along the entire (e.g., longitudinal) length of the packing layer, such that there is substantially no underlap / overlap or extension beyond the packing layer.

[0027] The (or each) longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element(s) may be biodegradable and may have a biodegradability of greater than 90% as measured according to ISO 14855-1 "Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide." Preferably, the mouthpiece or filter element exhibits at least 90% biodegradability after 6 months as measured according to ISO 14855-1. Preferably, the or each longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element(s) has a "ready biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test).

[0028] Longitudinally extending core The longitudinally extending core may be formed from paper (e.g., uncoated paper, coated paper, siliconized paper, e.g., Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36, and / or Greenbutts) and / or other biodegradable material that is laterally gathered into a rod form and held in place (e.g., by a wrapper, e.g., by a core wrapper). The longitudinally extending core may be formed from paper (e.g., uncoated paper, coated paper, siliconized paper, e.g., Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36, and / or Greenbutts) and / or other biodegradable material that is 250-350 mm, e.g., 251-350 mm, e.g., 280-320 mm, e.g., 300 mm wide, that is laterally gathered into a rod form and held in place (e.g., by a wrapper, e.g., by a core wrapper). It is understood that the longitudinally extending core can have a wrapper (e.g., a core wrapper) that holds the filtration material in shape (e.g., in the form of a core, e.g., a rod or plug). This wrapper (e.g., a core wrapper) is separate from, for example, the first longitudinally extending tubular element, the second longitudinally extending tubular element, and the wrapper (e.g., a filter wrapper) engaged around the longitudinally extending core. It is understood that when there is a wrapper (e.g., a core wrapper) for the longitudinally extending core, the wrapper (e.g., a filter wrapper) engaged around the first longitudinally extending tubular element, the second longitudinally extending tubular element, and the longitudinally extending core is wrapped around the wrapper (e.g., a core wrapper) of the longitudinally extending core and the longitudinally extending core itself.

[0029] The longitudinally-extending core of the first aspect of the present invention is preferably as described below for the "second longitudinally-extending core" of the second to fourth aspects of the present invention.

[0030] Second to fourth aspects of the invention According to the present invention, in a second aspect, there is provided a filter (or mouthpiece) (e.g., for a smoking article such as a cigarette, a heated tobacco product, an HNB product, or an HTP), comprising: a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element; and a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core comprising a first filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material, the first longitudinally extending core having a pressure drop of 0.1 to 1 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.31 to 0.7 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.5 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core between the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material including paper and / or other biodegradable material; and a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and a filter wrap engaged around the tubular element; A filter (or mouthpiece) is provided in which the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprises a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material, a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, and a wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, packing layer, and wrapper are of the same length.

[0031] The filter (or mouthpiece) of this embodiment may further comprise an additive release container (e.g., a capsule, e.g., a frangible capsule, e.g., a (e.g., frangible) capsule containing a smoke or vapor additive) enclosed within the second filtering material.

[0032] Thus, according to a third aspect, the present invention provides a filter (or mouthpiece) (e.g., for a smoking article such as a cigarette, a heated tobacco product, an HNB product, or an HTP), comprising: a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element; and a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core comprising a first filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material, the first longitudinally extending core having a pressure drop of 0.1 to 1 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.31 to 0.7 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.5 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core between the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core comprising a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material, and an additive release container (e.g., a capsule, e.g., a frangible capsule, e.g., a (e.g., frangible) capsule containing a smoke or vapor additive) enclosed within the second filtration material; a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and a filter wrap engaged around the tubular element; A filter (or mouthpiece) is provided in which the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprises a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material, a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, and a wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, packing layer, and wrapper are of the same length.

[0033] The additive release container may be a capsule, such as a frangible capsule. The additive release container, which may be a capsule, such as a frangible capsule, may contain an additive. The additive may include a smoke modifying agent, such as a flavorant, and / or a liquid, solid, or other material, for example, to aid in smoke filtering. The flavorant may be, for example, menthol, spearmint, peppermint, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, lemon, chocolate, peach, strawberry, vanilla, etc. The amount of additive, e.g., flavorant, may be less than 35 mg per filter element. The additive release container, such as a capsule or frangible capsule, may be spherical. The additive release container (such as a capsule or frangible capsule) may have a width at its widest point of 2.0 to 4 mm, for example, 2.8 mm to 3.5 mm, for example, 2.8 mm or 3 mm.

[0034] Where an additive release container such as a frangible capsule is present, the capsule is preferably positioned such that the centre of the capsule is closer to the nearest end of the first longitudinally extending cylindrical core than to the nearest end of the longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element. For example, if the second longitudinally extending (e.g. substantially cylindrical) core is 12 mm long, the capsule may be positioned such that the centre of the capsule is 4.5 mm to 5.5 mm (e.g. 5 mm) from the nearest end of the first (e.g. tobacco end) longitudinally extending cylindrical core and 6.5 mm to 7.5 mm (e.g. 7 mm) from the nearest end of the (e.g. mouth end) longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element. This asymmetric positioning (e.g., closer to the tobacco end than the mouth end) may advantageously prevent shadowing of the capsule at the mouth end (i.e., preventing the capsule from being seen at the mouth end) and / or may also prevent the capsule from jumping to the tobacco end (i.e., preventing the capsule from escaping from the second core to the first core).

[0035] In other embodiments of the invention, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element is not present, and the filter wrap engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core and the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core extends beyond the end of the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, thereby defining a cavity at the end of the filter (or mouthpiece).

[0036] Thus, according to the present invention, in a fourth aspect, there is provided a filter (or mouthpiece) (e.g. for a smoking article such as a cigarette, a heated tobacco product, an HNB product, or an HTP), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core comprising a first filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material, the first longitudinally extending core having a pressure drop of 0.1 to 1 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.31 to 0.7 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.5 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material; a filter wrap engaged around a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core and a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core; The filter wrap extends beyond the end of the second longitudinally extending (eg, substantially cylindrical) core, thereby defining a cavity (or recess) at the end of the filter (or mouthpiece).

[0037] The first longitudinally extending core has a pressure drop of 0.1 to 1 mmWG per mm of length, for example, 0.31 to 0.7 mmWG per mm of length, for example, 0.5 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of length, for example, 0.53 to 0.57 mmWG per mm of length, for example, 0.55 mmWG per mm of length. Preferably, the first longitudinally extending core has a pressure drop of 0.5 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of length, for example, 0.53 to 0.57 mmWG per mm of length, for example, 0.55 mmWG per mm of length. The first longitudinally extending core may be formed from paper (e.g., uncoated paper, coated paper, siliconized paper, e.g., ZNP paper) and / or other biodegradable material, which is laterally gathered into a rod form and held in place (e.g., by a wrapper, e.g., the first core wrapper). The first longitudinally extending core may be formed from paper (e.g., uncoated paper, coated paper, siliconized paper, e.g., ZNP paper) and / or other biodegradable material, which is laterally gathered into a rod form and held in place (e.g., by a wrapper, e.g., the first core wrapper), having a width of 20 mm to 350 mm, such as 200 mm to 350 mm, for example, a width of 250 to 350 mm, for example, 251 to 350 mm, for example, 280 to 320 mm, for example, 300 mm.

[0038] As mentioned above, the first longitudinally extending core preferably has a pressure drop of 0.5 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of length, e.g., a pressure drop of 0.53 to 0.57 mmWG per mm of length, e.g., a pressure drop of 0.55 mmWG per mm of length. A second longitudinally extending core formed from paper having a pressure drop of 0.5 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of length and a width of 300 mm has a density of 0.269 g / cm. 3 Preferably, the density of the second longitudinally extending core is 0.20 g / cm 3 ~0.33g / cm 3 , e.g., 0.24 g / cm 3 ~0.30g / cm 3 , e.g., 0.25 g / cm 3 ~0.29g / cm3 , e.g., 0.26 g / cm 3 ~0.275g / cm 3 , e.g., 0.269 g / cm 3 is.

[0039] It is understood that the first longitudinally extending core can have a wrapper (e.g., first core wrapper) that holds the filtration material in shape (e.g., in the form of a core, e.g., a rod or plug). This wrapper (e.g., first core wrapper) is separate from, for example, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and the wrapper (e.g., filter wrapper) engaged around the tubular element. When a wrapper (e.g., first core wrapper) for the first longitudinally extending core is present, it is understood that the wrapper (e.g., filter wrapper) engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and the tubular element is wrapped around the wrapper (e.g., first core wrapper) of the first longitudinally extending core and the first longitudinally extending core itself.

[0040] The second longitudinally extending core may be formed from paper (e.g., uncoated paper, coated paper, siliconized paper, e.g., Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36, and / or Greenbutts) and / or other biodegradable material that is laterally gathered into a rod form and held in place (e.g., by a wrapper, e.g., by a second core wrapper). The second longitudinally extending core may be formed from paper (e.g., uncoated paper, coated paper, siliconized paper, e.g., Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36, and / or Greenbutts) and / or other biodegradable material that is laterally gathered into a rod form and held in place (e.g., by a wrapper, e.g., by a second core wrapper) having a width of 250 to 350 mm, e.g., 251 to 350 mm, e.g., 280 to 320 mm, e.g., 300 mm. It is understood that the second longitudinally extending core can have a wrapper (e.g., second core wrapper) that holds the filtration material in shape (e.g., in the form of a core, e.g., a rod or plug). This wrapper (e.g., second core wrapper) is separate from, for example, the wrapper (e.g., filter wrapper) engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and the tubular element. When there is a wrapper (e.g., second core wrapper) for the second longitudinally extending core, it is understood that the wrapper (e.g., filter wrapper) is engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core and the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and the tubular element is wrapped around the wrapper (e.g., second core wrapper) of the second longitudinally extending core and the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core itself.

[0041] The longitudinally extending tubular (eg annular) element (if present) is preferably as described above for the first aspect of the invention.

[0042] Applicant has surprisingly found that filters according to embodiments of the present invention combine biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery comparable to market products that use cellulose acetate.

[0043] The first filtration material may comprise paper and / or other readily biodegradable biodegradable materials. The second filtration material may comprise paper and / or other readily biodegradable biodegradable materials. Preferably, each of the first and second filtration materials comprises readily biodegradable paper and / or other readily biodegradable biodegradable materials.

[0044] As used herein, the term "biodegradable" refers to filtration materials and filters that are capable of exhibiting at least 90% biodegradability after 6 months under controlled composting conditions (see ISO 14855-1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide).

[0045] Preferably, the paper and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing materials) used in the filtration material of the filtration material(s) element of the filter of the present invention are "readily biodegradable," having improved biodegradability compared to cellulose acetate. Thus, the present invention provides a filter with improved biodegradability, and is therefore more environmentally friendly and more compliant with EU legislation.

[0046] As used herein, the phrase "readily biodegradable" refers to the ability of the filtration material and filter to rapidly disintegrate and completely biodegrade when immersed in water. Preferably, the filter (and the filtration material used therein) has a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art. The phrase "readily biodegradable" is understood herein to mean a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability.

[0047] The paper and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration materials) are preferably readily biodegradable. The paper and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration materials) can be composed of any paper (in any form) conventionally used in filters or filter elements. The paper can be, for example, various grades of filter paper, aperture paper, crepe paper, airlaid paper, or machine-glazed paper. The fibers of the paper and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration materials) can be natural fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, sisal, jute, abaca, cotton, coconut fiber, bamboo fiber, starch (e.g., from corn), or tobacco) or any roll material. The paper can be woven or nonwoven, and can be in the form of a coherent web of paper, or a longitudinally corrugated and / or fibrillated web of paper, for example, laterally collected and held in the form of a plug. The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration 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 filtration material) and a second paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration material). The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration material) may be in the form of a blend of different paper materials and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration materials). The paper filtration material may have the same or similar structure as papers sold under the trademarks Myria® or Puracel® (manufactured by Essentra plc).

[0048] The first filtration material may include paper and / or other biodegradable materials that are readily biodegradable. The first filtration material may include paper and / or other biodegradable materials, as described above. In some embodiments, the first filtration material includes uncoated paper, coated paper, and / or siliconized paper.

[0049] The second filtration material may include paper and / or other readily biodegradable materials. The second filtration material may include paper and / or other readily biodegradable materials, such as those described in the paragraph above. In some embodiments, the second filtration material includes Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36, and / or Greenbutts.

[0050] Preferably, the first filtration material comprises paper having a basis weight of 20 gsm to 200 gsm. For example, the first filtration material may be paper having a basis weight of 40 gsm to 180 gsm, such as 60 gsm to 160 gsm, for example, 80 gsm to 140 gsm, for example, 100 gsm to 120 gsm, for example, 20 gsm to 60 gsm, for example, 30 gsm to 40 gsm.

[0051] Preferably, the second filtration material comprises paper having a basis weight of 20 gsm to 200 gsm. For example, the second filtration material may be paper having a basis weight of 40 gsm to 180 gsm, such as 60 gsm to 160 gsm, for example, 80 gsm to 140 gsm, for example, 100 gsm to 120 gsm, for example, 20 gsm to 60 gsm, for example, 30 gsm to 40 gsm.

[0052] The filter of the present invention may be cylindrical, having a circumference of 12 to 30 mm (e.g., 15 to 28 mm), more preferably 17 to 25 mm (e.g., 18 to 25 mm, e.g., 20 to 24 mm, e.g., 22 to 24 mm, e.g., 23 mm, e.g., 22 mm, e.g., 22.45 mm).

[0053] The wrappers (e.g., filter wrappers) engaged around the first and second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) cores and the tubular elements may be paper (e.g., plug wrap), preferably paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 20 to 160 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 24 to 150 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 150 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 140 gsm. Preferably, the wrappers (e.g., filter wrappers) engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and the tubular elements are preferably biodegradable, more preferably readily biodegradable.

[0054] The wrapper for the first longitudinally extending core (e.g., first core wrapper), if present, and / or the wrapper for the second longitudinally extending core (e.g., second core wrapper), if present, may be paper (e.g., plug wrap). The paper may be paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 20 to 160 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 24 to 150 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 150 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 140 gsm. Preferably, the wrapper for the first longitudinally extending core (e.g., first core wrapper), if present, and the wrapper for the second longitudinally extending core (e.g., second core wrapper), if present, are biodegradable, more preferably readily biodegradable. The wrapper for the first longitudinally extending core (eg, the first core wrapper) and the wrapper for the second longitudinally extending core (eg, the second core wrapper) can be made from the same material or from different materials.

[0055] The filter of the present invention may have a length of 10 to 50 mm (for example, 20 to 35 mm). Preferably, the filter of the present invention has a length of 15 to 35 mm, for example, 20 mm to 30 mm, for example, 27 mm.

[0056] The first longitudinally extending core may be 3 to 11 mm in length, for example 7 to 10 mm in length, for example 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm, for example 8 mm in length.

[0057] The second longitudinally extending core may be 8 to 16 mm in length, such as 10 to 15 mm in length, for example 12 mm.

[0058] The longitudinally extending tubular (eg annular) element (if present) may be 5 to 16 mm, such as 6 to 8 mm, for example 7 mm in length.

[0059] The cavity or recess at the end of the filter defined by the wrapper may be from 3 to 16 mm, such as from 4 to 8 mm, for example 5 mm, in length.

[0060] Fifth and Sixth Aspects of the Invention - Additive-Containing Aspects According to the present invention, in a fifth aspect, there is provided a filter (or mouthpiece) (e.g., for a smoking article such as a cigarette, a heated tobacco product, an HNB product, or an HTP), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the first filtration material being paper and / or other biodegradable material, having a particulate additive disposed therein, and a first core wrapper engaged around the first filtration material; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material; a filter wrapper engaged about the first longitudinally extending core and the second longitudinally extending core; A filter (or mouthpiece) is provided in which the filter wrapper extends beyond the end of the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, thereby defining a cavity or recess at the end of the filter (or mouthpiece).

[0061] According to the present invention, in a sixth aspect, there is provided a filter (or mouthpiece) (e.g., for a smoking article such as a cigarette, a heated tobacco product, an HNB product, or an HTP), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the first filtration material being paper and / or other biodegradable material, having a particulate additive disposed therein, and a first core wrapper engaged around the first filtration material; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material; a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of a second longitudinally extending core distal from the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprising: a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material; a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length; and a tubular element wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, packing layer, and tubular element wrapper are of the same length; A filter (or mouthpiece) is provided that includes a first longitudinally extending core, a second longitudinally extending core, and a filter wrap engaged about the longitudinally extending tubular element.

[0062] In the fifth and sixth embodiments, the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) may be 50 to 80 mmHg, such as 55 to 75 mmHg, for example 64 to 74 mmHg.

[0063] In the fifth and sixth embodiments, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core preferably comprises an embossed paper filtration material and / or other embossed biodegradable filtration material having the particulate additive embedded therein.

[0064] The embossed paper filter material and / or other embossed biodegradable filter material is biodegradable and has improved biodegradability compared to cellulose acetate. Thus, the present invention provides a multi-segment filter with improved biodegradability, which is therefore more environmentally friendly and more compliant with EU legislation. The term "biodegradable" refers to a filter material, filter segment, or multi-segment filter that can exhibit at least 90% biodegradability after six months under controlled composting conditions (see ISO 14855-1, "Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions—Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide"). Preferably, the embossed paper filter material and / or other embossed biodegradable filter material is biodegradable and "easily biodegradable." The phrase "readily biodegradable" refers to the ability of a filtration material, filter segment, or multi-segment filter to rapidly degrade and completely biodegrade when immersed in water. Preferably, the embossed paper filtration material and / or embossed other biodegradable filtration material has a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art. The phrase "readily biodegradable" is understood herein to mean a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability.

[0065] The (embossed) paper filter material and / or the (embossed) other biodegradable filter material of the first and / or second filter segments may be paper (in any form) conventionally used in filters for smoking articles. The paper may be, for example, standard paper, nonwoven paper, airlaid paper, carbon-impregnated paper (i.e., for higher additive loading), or cellulose / lyocell / viscose-based paper. The paper may also be nonwoven paper made from non-plastic plant-based fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch, or wood pulp), or a blend of these materials.

[0066] A first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core may include an embossed paper filtration material and / or an embossed other biodegradable filtration material (with a particulate additive embedded therein) with a first core wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) engaged about the core. This wrapper (e.g., first core wrapper) is separate from, for example, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and any wrappers (e.g., filter wrappers) engaged about the other elements, if present. It will be understood that when there is a wrapper (e.g., first core wrapper) for a first longitudinally extending core, the wrapper (e.g., filter wrapper) engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and, if present, other elements, are wound around the wrapper of the first longitudinally extending core (e.g., first core wrapper) and the first longitudinally extending core itself.

[0067] In one example, a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core of embossed paper filtration material and / or embossed other biodegradable filtration material (with particulate additives embedded therein) is gathered into the form of a rod and secured in place by a first core wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the rod (e.g., by an overlapping and laminating seam, as is well known in the art).

[0068] The first core wrapper may be a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 25 to 160 gsm, such as a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 40 to 120 gsm, such as a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 50 to 100 gsm, such as a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 60 to 80 gsm, such as a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 gsm.

[0069] The first core wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) may be non-porous, or the wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) may be breathable or air permeable, with an air permeability of 0 to 32,000 Coresta units.

[0070] The particulate additive may be activated carbon (e.g., activated carbon granules), zeolite, ion exchange resin (e.g., weakly basic anion exchange resin), sepiolite (e.g., sepiolite granules), silica gel, alumina, molecular sieves, carbonaceous polymer resins, and diatomaceous earth. The particulate additive may be a mixture of two or more additives.

[0071] The inclusion of a particulate additive (e.g., activated carbon) in the filter or filter segments of a multi-segment filter can remove (i.e., adsorb) gas phase components in the smoke or vapor from a smoking article, thereby improving the filtration performance of the filter.

[0072] The particulate additive can have a mesh size ranging from 12 to 90. Preferably, the particulate additive is a 30 / 70 mesh size or a 40 / 60 mesh size. It will be readily understood that mesh size is defined as the number of openings in one square inch of the screen. It will further be understood that a 30 / 70 mesh size refers to particles smaller than 30 mesh and larger than 70 mesh, and a 40 / 60 mesh size refers to particles smaller than 40 mesh and larger than 60 mesh. Applicants have found that a 30 / 70 mesh size particulate additive is particularly suitable for application to paper filtration materials and / or other biodegradable filtration materials, while also providing desirable adsorption properties (i.e., adsorbing gas phase components).

[0073] The particulate additive may be embedded in the embossed paper filtration material and / or other embossed biodegradable filtration material. In one example, the particulate additive may be embedded in the embossed paper filtration material and / or other embossed biodegradable filtration material without the use of adhesives and / or binders and / or polymers.

[0074] Applicants have found that, for example, rather than impregnating a particulate additive into paper pulp or using carbon-impregnated paper, higher additive loadings, and therefore improved filtration performance, can be achieved by embedding a particulate additive (e.g., activated carbon) into paper and / or other biodegradable filtration materials. Furthermore, Applicants have found that embedding a particulate additive can prevent particles from being released and falling out of place during use of a multi-segment filter (e.g., within a smoking article), thus providing a more enjoyable experience for the smoker.

[0075] The particulate additive may include flavorings such as menthol, peppermint, fruit, berry, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, etc. In one example, the additive may be sepiolite granules to which a menthol flavoring has been applied.

[0076] The second longitudinally extending core of the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention is preferably as described above for the "second longitudinally extending core" of the second to fourth aspects of the present invention.

[0077] The longitudinally extending tubular (eg annular) element (if present) is preferably as described above for the first aspect of the invention.

[0078] Applicant has surprisingly found that filters according to these aspects of the invention combine biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery comparable to market products that use cellulose acetate.

[0079] The filter of the present invention may have a length of 10 to 50 mm (for example, 20 to 35 mm). Preferably, the filter of the present invention has a length of 15 to 35 mm, for example, 20 mm to 30 mm, for example, 27 mm.

[0080] The first longitudinally extending core may be 3 to 15 mm in length, such as 7 to 12 mm, for example 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm, for example 8 or 10 mm in length.

[0081] The second longitudinally extending core may be 8 to 16 mm in length, such as 10 to 15 mm in length, for example 12 mm.

[0082] The longitudinally extending tubular (eg annular) element (if present) may be 5 to 16 mm, such as 6 to 8 mm, for example 7 mm in length.

[0083] The cavity or recess at the end of the filter defined by the wrapper may be from 3 to 16 mm, such as from 4 to 8 mm, for example 5 mm, in length.

[0084] Seventh and Eighth Aspects of the Invention—Hybrid Additive-Containing Aspects According to the present invention, in a seventh aspect, there is provided a filter (or mouthpiece) (e.g. for a smoking article such as a cigarette, a heated tobacco product, an HNB product, or an HTP), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the first filtration material being cellulose acetate tow, having a particulate additive disposed therein, and a first core wrapper engaged about the first filtration material; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is cellulose acetate tow; a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of a second longitudinally extending core distal from the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprising: a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material; a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length; and a tubular element wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, packing layer, and tubular element wrapper are of the same length; A filter (or mouthpiece) is provided that includes a first longitudinally extending core, a second longitudinally extending core, and a filter wrap engaged about the longitudinally extending tubular element.

[0085] The longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element of this aspect of the invention is preferably as described above for the first aspect of the invention. The first longitudinally extending core and the second longitudinally extending core are made by methods well known in the art, for example, the first core corresponds to the relevant portion of the "active acetate" filter available from www.essentra.com and the second core corresponds to the "monoacetate" filter available from www.essentra.com.

[0086] In a seventh embodiment, the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) may be 80-110 mmHg, such as 90-100 mmHg, for example 97 mmHg.

[0087] According to the present invention, in an eighth aspect, there is provided a filter (or mouthpiece) (e.g., for a smoking article such as a cigarette, a heated tobacco product, an HNB product, or an HTP), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the first filtration material being paper and / or other biodegradable material, having a particulate additive disposed therein, and a first core wrapper engaged around the first filtration material; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material; a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the second longitudinally extending core distal from the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprising a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of plasticized cellulose acetate; and A filter (or mouthpiece) is provided that includes a first longitudinally extending core, a second longitudinally extending core, and a filter wrap engaged about the longitudinally extending tubular element.

[0088] In an eighth embodiment, the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) may be 50 to 80 mmHg, such as 55 to 75 mmHg, for example 73 mmHg.

[0089] In an eighth embodiment, a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core preferably comprises an embossed paper filtration material and / or other embossed biodegradable filtration material having a particulate additive embedded therein.

[0090] The embossed paper filter material and / or other embossed biodegradable filter material is biodegradable and has improved biodegradability compared to cellulose acetate. Thus, the present invention provides a multi-segment filter with improved biodegradability, which is therefore more environmentally friendly and more compliant with EU legislation. The term "biodegradable" refers to a filter material, filter segment, or multi-segment filter that can exhibit at least 90% biodegradability after six months under controlled composting conditions (see ISO 14855-1, "Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions—Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide"). Preferably, the embossed paper filter material and / or other embossed biodegradable filter material is biodegradable and "easily biodegradable." The phrase "readily biodegradable" refers to the ability of a filtration material, filter segment, or multi-segment filter to rapidly degrade and completely biodegrade when immersed in water. Preferably, the embossed paper filtration material and / or embossed other biodegradable filtration material has a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art. The phrase "readily biodegradable" is understood herein to mean a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability.

[0091] The (embossed) paper filter material and / or the (embossed) other biodegradable filter material of the first and / or second filter segments may be paper (in any form) conventionally used in filters for smoking articles. The paper may be, for example, standard paper, nonwoven paper, airlaid paper, carbon-impregnated paper (i.e., for higher additive loading), or cellulose / lyocell / viscose-based paper. The paper may also be nonwoven paper made from non-plastic plant-based fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch, or wood pulp), or a blend of these materials.

[0092] A first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core may include an embossed paper filtration material and / or an embossed other biodegradable filtration material (with a particulate additive embedded therein) with a first core wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) engaged about the core. This wrapper (e.g., first core wrapper) is separate from, for example, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and any wrappers (e.g., filter wrappers) engaged about the other elements, if present. It will be understood that when there is a wrapper (e.g., first core wrapper) for a first longitudinally extending core, the wrapper (e.g., filter wrapper) engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and, if present, other elements, are wound around the wrapper of the first longitudinally extending core (e.g., first core wrapper) and the first longitudinally extending core itself.

[0093] In one example, a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) embossed paper filtration material and / or embossed other biodegradable filtration material (with particulate additives embedded therein) is gathered into the form of a rod and secured in place by a first core wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the rod (e.g., by an overlapping and laminating seam, as is well known in the art).

[0094] The first core wrapper may be a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 25 to 160 gsm, for example a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 40 to 120 gsm, for example a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 50 to 100 gsm, for example a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 60 to 80 gsm, for example a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 gsm or 78 gsm.

[0095] The first core wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) may be non-porous, or the wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) may be breathable or air permeable, with an air permeability of 0 to 32,000 Coresta units.

[0096] The particulate additive may be activated carbon (e.g., activated carbon granules), zeolite, ion exchange resin (e.g., weakly basic anion exchange resin), sepiolite (e.g., sepiolite granules), silica gel, alumina, molecular sieves, carbonaceous polymer resins, and diatomaceous earth. The particulate additive may be a mixture of two or more additives.

[0097] The inclusion of a particulate additive (e.g., activated carbon) in the filter or filter segments of a multi-segment filter can remove (i.e., adsorb) gas phase components in the smoke or vapor from a smoking article, thereby improving the filtration performance of the filter.

[0098] The particulate additive can have a mesh size ranging from 12 to 90. Preferably, the particulate additive is a 30 / 70 mesh size or a 40 / 60 mesh size. It will be readily understood that mesh size is defined as the number of openings in one square inch of the screen. It will further be understood that a 30 / 70 mesh size refers to particles smaller than 30 mesh and larger than 70 mesh, and a 40 / 60 mesh size refers to particles smaller than 40 mesh and larger than 60 mesh. Applicants have found that a 30 / 70 mesh size particulate additive is particularly suitable for application to paper filtration materials and / or other biodegradable filtration materials, while also providing desirable adsorption properties (i.e., adsorbing gas phase components).

[0099] The particulate additive may be embedded in the embossed paper filtration material and / or other embossed biodegradable filtration material. In one example, the particulate additive may be embedded in the embossed paper filtration material and / or other embossed biodegradable filtration material without the use of adhesives and / or binders and / or polymers.

[0100] Applicants have found that, for example, rather than impregnating a particulate additive into paper pulp or using carbon-impregnated paper, higher additive loadings, and therefore improved filtration performance, can be achieved by embedding a particulate additive (e.g., activated carbon) into paper and / or other biodegradable filtration materials. Furthermore, Applicants have found that embedding a particulate additive can prevent particles from being released and falling out of place during use of a multi-segment filter (e.g., within a smoking article), thus providing a more enjoyable experience for the smoker.

[0101] The particulate additive may include flavorings such as menthol, peppermint, fruit, berry, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, etc. In one example, the additive may be sepiolite granules to which a menthol flavoring has been applied.

[0102] The second longitudinally extending core of the eighth aspect of the present invention is preferably as described above for the "second longitudinally extending core" of the second to fourth aspects of the present invention.

[0103] The longitudinally extending tubular (eg, annular) element of the eighth embodiment of the present invention is formed from cellulose acetate by methods well known in the art for manufacturing hollow cellulose acetate tube filters.

[0104] Applicant has surprisingly found that filters according to these aspects of the invention combine biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery that is comparable to products on the market that use cellulose acetate for all components.

[0105] The filter of the present invention may have a length of 10 to 50 mm (for example, 20 to 35 mm). Preferably, the filter of the present invention has a length of 15 to 35 mm, for example, 20 mm to 30 mm, for example, 27 mm.

[0106] The first longitudinally extending core may be 3 to 15 mm in length, such as 4 to 12 mm in length, such as 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm in length, such as 10 mm.

[0107] The second longitudinally extending core may be 8 to 16 mm in length, such as 10 to 15 mm in length, for example 10 mm.

[0108] The longitudinally extending tubular (eg annular) element may be 5 to 16 mm in length, such as 6 to 12 mm in length, for example 7 mm.

[0109] Ninth and tenth aspects of the invention According to a ninth and tenth aspect of the present invention there is provided a filter (or mouthpiece) comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the filtration material being one of paper, a biodegradable material, and cellulose acetate; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core abutting the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending core comprising a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material, and having a pressure drop of 0.1 to 1 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.2 to 0.8 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.4 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length; a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element abutting the second longitudinally extending core and spaced from the first longitudinally extending core, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprising: a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material; a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length; and a wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along the entire (e.g., longitudinal) length of the packing layer, wherein the hollow tube, packing layer, and wrapper are of the same length; A filter (or mouthpiece) is provided that includes a first longitudinally extending core, a second longitudinally extending core, and a filter wrap engaged about the tubular element.

[0110] In a ninth aspect of the present invention, the filtering material of the first longitudinally extending core is paper. The components used in this aspect are biodegradable and have improved biodegradability compared to cellulose acetate. Thus, the present invention provides a mouthpiece or filter element with improved biodegradability, which is more environmentally friendly and more compliant with EU legislation.

[0111] In a tenth aspect of the present invention, the filtration material of the first longitudinally extending core is cellulose acetate.

[0112] The term "biodegradable" refers to a filter or mouthpiece (and its components such as filter wrapper, paper hollow tube, filtration material, etc.) that is capable of exhibiting at least 90% biodegradability after 6 months under controlled composting conditions (see ISO 14855-1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide).

[0113] Preferably, the filter or mouthpiece of the present invention (or its components, such as the filter wrapper, hollow paper tube, filtration material, etc.) is "readily biodegradable." The phrase "readily biodegradable" refers to the ability of the filter or mouthpiece (or its components, such as the filter wrapper, hollow paper tube, filtration material, etc.) to rapidly disintegrate and completely biodegrade when immersed in water. Preferably, the filter or mouthpiece (or its components, such as the filter wrapper, hollow paper tube, filtration material, etc.) has a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability when measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art. The phrase "readily biodegradable" is understood herein to mean a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability.

[0114] The applicant has found that a filter or mouthpiece according to the ninth aspect of the invention provides excellent filtration properties and performance whilst being biodegradable. A filter or mouthpiece according to the tenth aspect of the invention provides excellent filtration properties and performance whilst being more biodegradable than filters / mouthpieces which do not contain a paper component.

[0115] Preferably, the length of the filter or mouthpiece is 5 to 50 mm, for example, 5 to 50 mm, for example, 10 to 40 mm, for example, 25 to 38 mm, for example, 30 to 35 mm, for example, 33 mm. Preferably, the circumference or perimeter of the mouthpiece or filter element is 14 to 30 mm, for example, 16 to 25 mm, for example, 24 to 25 mm. Preferably, the first (e.g., oral end or buccal end) longitudinally extending core (e.g., substantially cylindrical) is 5 to 16 mm (e.g., 7 mm) long. Preferably, the second (e.g., non-oral end or tobacco end) longitudinally extending core (e.g., substantially cylindrical) is 5 to 24 mm (e.g., 18 mm) long. Preferably, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element is 5 to 10 mm (e.g., 8 mm) long.

[0116] Longitudinally extending core The first longitudinally extending core and the second longitudinally extending core may be formed from paper (e.g., uncoated paper, coated paper, siliconized paper, e.g., Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36 and / or Greenbutts) and / or other biodegradable materials, which are laterally gathered into a rod form and held in place (e.g., by a wrapper, e.g., by a core wrapper). The first longitudinally extending core and the second longitudinally extending core may be formed from paper (e.g., uncoated paper, coated paper, siliconized paper, e.g., Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36, and / or Greenbutts) and / or airlaid nonwoven material and / or other biodegradable material, have a width of 150 to 350 mm, e.g., 250 to 350 mm, e.g., 280 to 320 mm, e.g., 300 mm, and are gathered laterally into a rod form and held in place (e.g., by a wrapper, e.g., by a first core wrapper, e.g., by a second core wrapper). The first longitudinally extending core may be formed from cellulose acetate, as is well known in the art.

[0117] It is understood that the first longitudinally extending core and the second longitudinally extending core can each have a wrapper (e.g., a first core wrapper, e.g., a second core wrapper) that holds the filtration material in shape (e.g., in the form of a core, e.g., in the form of a rod or plug). This wrapper (e.g., a first core wrapper, e.g., a second core wrapper) is separate from the wrapper (e.g., a filter wrapper) engaged around, for example, the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending core, and the longitudinally extending tubular element. It is understood that when there is a wrapper (e.g., a first core wrapper) for the longitudinally extending core, the wrapper (e.g., a filter wrapper) engaged around the longitudinally extending tubular element and the longitudinally extending core is wound around the wrapper (e.g., a first core wrapper, e.g., a second core wrapper) of the longitudinally extending core and the longitudinally extending core itself.

[0118] longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element A longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprises a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material, a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, and a wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, packing layer, and wrapper are of the same length.

[0119] Preferably, the cross-section of the longitudinally extending tubular (eg, annular) element is uniform (eg, uniform axial cross-section).

[0120] Preferably, the cross section is annular, meaning that the cross section of the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element has an inner or inner periphery and an outer or outer periphery. Preferably, the inner or inner periphery is circular, meaning that the hollow tube is substantially cylindrical. Preferably, the outer or outer periphery is circular, meaning that the or each longitudinally extending tubular element is substantially cylindrical in shape. This can be seen, for example, in FIG. 1 . However, the inner or inner periphery and the outer or outer periphery may be any shape. For example, the outer or outer periphery may be circular or elliptical in shape, and the inner or inner periphery may be circular, semicircular (D-shaped), square, triangular, star-shaped, trefoil-shaped, pentagonal, or gear-shaped in cross section, or in the shape of a logo or other pattern.

[0121] Preferably, the circumference or perimeter of the hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material is from 4 to 30 mm, such as from 14 to 30 mm, for example from 15 to 20 mm.

[0122] The hollow tube can comprise paper. Preferably, the paper of the hollow tube is plug wrap having a basis weight of 60 to 220 gsm, e.g., plug wrap having a basis weight of 90 to 140 gsm, e.g., plug wrap having a basis weight of 100 to 120 gsm, e.g., plug wrap having a basis weight of 100 gsm. Applicants have found that the use of plug wrap having a basis weight of 60 to 220 gsm provides a suitably rigid hollow tube that can support a filler layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material and maintain its tubular shape. Advantageously, plug wrap having a basis weight of 60 to 220 gsm is also biodegradable.

[0123] The packing layer including the paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length. In other words, the packing layer including the paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material surrounds the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, and thus there is substantially no underlap or overlap / extension beyond the entire (e.g., longitudinal) length of the hollow tube. Preferably, the packing layer including the paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube has a width or thickness (t) of 0.6 to 2.0 mm, e.g., 0.8 to 1.8 mm, e.g., 1.0 to 1.6 mm, e.g., 1.3 mm. This can be seen, for example, in FIG. 1 .

[0124] The term "width or thickness" as used herein is readily understood to mean the shortest distance from any point on the circumference of a hollow tube (e.g., when the hollow tube is substantially cylindrical) to the outer periphery or circumference of a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material. However, it will be understood that there may be more than one value for width or thickness as long as the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is not uniformly (e.g., circularly) fitted around the hollow tube. Furthermore, it will be understood that there may be more than one value for width or thickness if the cross-section (i.e., the inner periphery or circumference) of the hollow tube is semicircular (D-shaped), square, triangular, star-shaped, trefoil-shaped, pentagonal, or gear-shaped, or in the shape of a logo or other pattern. The term "width or thickness" as used herein is readily understood to mean the shortest distance from any point on the circumference of a hollow tube to the outer periphery or circumference of a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material.

[0125] The paper filter material and / or other biodegradable filter material can be paper (in any form) conventionally used in mouthpieces or filter elements. The paper can be, for example, filter paper, nonwoven paper, airlaid paper, or cellulose / lyocell / viscose-based paper. The paper can also be nonwoven paper made from non-plastic plant-based fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch, or wood pulp) or a blend of these materials. Preferably, the other biodegradable filter material does not contain cellulose acetate. Preferably, the filler layer does not contain cellulose acetate.

[0126] The paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material may be in the form of a blend of different paper and / or other biodegradable filtration materials. The paper may be coated with a hydrophobic coating or material.

[0127] Applicants have found that the use of nonwoven paper (e.g., made from non-plastic plant-based fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch, or wood pulp)) and / or airlaid paper is particularly suitable for the filler layer because it is flexible, easy to manufacture into a layer that is engaged around a hollow tube, has excellent filtration properties and performance, and is also biodegradable. Furthermore, Applicants have found that the use of nonwoven paper (e.g., made from non-plastic plant-based fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch, or wood pulp)) and / or airlaid paper provides a unique visual final appearance that is appealing to consumers and may help combat counterfeiting.

[0128] The packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material may be comprised of multiple (ie, two or more) sheets or layers of paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material.

[0129] The filler layer including the paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material may also include carbon (e.g., activated carbon granules). The paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material may be impregnated or embedded with carbon.

[0130] Preferably, the wrapper engaged around the filler layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 40 to 150 gsm, such as a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 60 to 140 gsm, such as a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 130 gsm, such as a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 80 to 120 gsm, for example a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 100 gsm.

[0131] Applicants have found that the use of a 40-150 gsm paper (e.g., plug wrap) wrapper engaged around a filler layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is a suitable outer wrap and can provide a stiffness (i.e., hardness) similar to that of a cellulose acetate-based tube (e.g., hollow acetate tube), thereby providing a mouthpiece or filter element with a desirable stiffness (i.e., hardness). Advantageously, the 40-150 gsm paper (e.g., plug wrap) wrapper is biodegradable.

[0132] The wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer containing the paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material may be non-porous, or alternatively, the wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer containing the paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material may be breathable or air permeable, having an air permeability of 0 to 32,000 Coresta units.

[0133] The wrapper engaged around the packing layer including paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is engaged around the packing layer including paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material along the entire (e.g., longitudinal) length of the packing layer. In other words, the wrapper engaged around the packing layer including paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material surrounds the layer including paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material along the entire (e.g., longitudinal) length of the packing layer, such that there is substantially no underlap / overlap or extension beyond the packing layer.

[0134] The longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element may be biodegradable and may have a biodegradability of greater than 90% as measured according to ISO 14855-1 "Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide." Preferably, the mouthpiece or filter element exhibits at least 90% biodegradability after 6 months as measured according to ISO 14855-1. Preferably, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element has a "ready biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test).

[0135] Applicants have surprisingly found that filters according to embodiments of the present invention combine improved biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery comparable to market products that use cellulose acetate.

[0136] The first filtration material may comprise paper and / or other readily biodegradable biodegradable materials. The second filtration material may comprise paper and / or other readily biodegradable biodegradable materials. Preferably, each of the first and second filtration materials comprises paper and / or other readily biodegradable biodegradable materials.

[0137] The terms "biodegradable" and "readily biodegradable" are defined elsewhere herein.

[0138] The paper and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration materials) are preferably readily biodegradable. The paper and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration materials) can be composed of any paper (in any form) conventionally used in filters or filter elements. The paper can be, for example, various grades of filter paper, aperture paper, crepe paper, airlaid paper, or machine-glazed paper. The fibers of the paper and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration materials) can be natural fibers (e.g., flax, hemp, sisal, jute, abaca, cotton, coconut fiber, bamboo fiber, starch (e.g., from corn), or tobacco) or any roll material. The paper can be woven or nonwoven, and can be in the form of a coherent web of paper, or a longitudinally corrugated and / or fibrillated web of paper, for example, laterally collected and held in the form of a plug. The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration 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 filtration material) and a second paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration material). The paper and / or other biodegradable material (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration material) may be in the form of a blend of different paper materials and / or other biodegradable materials (e.g., non-cellulose acetate-containing filtration materials). The paper filtration material may have the same or similar structure as papers sold under the trade names Myria® or Puracel® (Filtrona, formerly Essentra plc).

[0139] The first filtration material may include paper and / or other readily biodegradable materials. As described above, the first filtration material may include paper and / or other readily biodegradable materials. In some examples, the first filtration material includes uncoated paper, coated paper, siliconized paper, Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36, and / or Greenbutts.

[0140] The second filtration material may include paper and / or other readily biodegradable materials. The second filtration material may include paper and / or other readily biodegradable materials, such as those described in the paragraph above. In some examples, the second filtration material includes uncoated paper, coated paper, siliconized paper, Puracel FM26, Puracel FM36, and / or Greenbutts.

[0141] Preferably, the first filtration material comprises paper having a basis weight of 20 gsm to 200 gsm. For example, the first filtration material may be paper having a basis weight of 40 gsm to 180 gsm, such as 60 gsm to 160 gsm, for example, 80 gsm to 140 gsm, for example, 100 gsm to 120 gsm, for example, 20 gsm to 60 gsm, for example, 30 gsm to 40 gsm.

[0142] Preferably, the second filtration material comprises paper having a basis weight of 20 gsm to 200 gsm. For example, the second filtration material may be paper having a basis weight of 40 gsm to 180 gsm, such as 60 gsm to 160 gsm, for example, 80 gsm to 140 gsm, for example, 100 gsm to 120 gsm, for example, 20 gsm to 60 gsm, for example, 30 gsm to 40 gsm.

[0143] The filter of the present invention may be cylindrical, having a circumference of 12 to 30 mm (e.g., 15 to 28 mm), more preferably 17 to 25 mm (e.g., 18 to 25 mm, e.g., 20 to 24 mm, e.g., 22 to 24 mm, e.g., 23 mm, e.g., 22 mm, e.g., 22.45 mm).

[0144] The core wrapper (e.g., filter wrapper) engaged around the first and second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core and tubular element may be paper (e.g., plug wrap), preferably a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 20 to 160 gsm, for example, a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 24 to 150 gsm, for example, a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 150 gsm, for example, a paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 140 gsm. Preferably, the wrappers (e.g., filter wrapper) engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and the tubular element are preferably biodegradable, more preferably readily biodegradable.

[0145] The wrapper for the first longitudinally extending core, if present (e.g., first core wrapper), and / or the wrapper for the second longitudinally extending core, if present (e.g., second core wrapper), may be paper (e.g., plug wrap). The paper may be paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 20 to 160 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 24 to 150 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 150 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 140 gsm. Preferably, the wrapper for the first longitudinally extending core, if present (e.g., first core wrapper), and / or the wrapper for the second longitudinally extending core, if present (e.g., second core wrapper), are biodegradable, more preferably readily biodegradable. The wrapper for the first longitudinally extending core (eg, the first core wrapper) and the wrapper for the second longitudinally extending core (eg, the second core wrapper) can be made from the same material or from different materials.

[0146] The filter of the present invention may have a length of 10 to 50 mm (e.g., 20 to 35 mm). Preferably, the length of the filter of the present invention is 5 to 50 mm (e.g., 10 to 40 mm, e.g., 25 to 38 mm, e.g., 30 to 35 mm, e.g., 33 mm).

[0147] The first longitudinally extending core may be 3 to 11 mm in length, such as 5 to 10 mm in length, such as 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm in length, such as 7 mm

[0148] The second longitudinally extending core may be 8 to 24 mm in length, such as 10 to 20 mm, for example 18 mm in length.

[0149] The longitudinally extending tubular (eg annular) element may be 5 to 16 mm in length, such as 6 to 12 mm in length, for example 8 mm.

[0150] Preferably, the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) is 80 to 110 mmWg, for example, 90 to 100 mmWg. Preferably, the pressure drop across the filter is 97 mmWg.

[0151] Smoke or steam modifiers Any filter or mouthpiece according to any embodiment of the present invention may include a smoke or vapor modifier that may modify or enhance the consumer experience. The smoke or vapor modifier may impart additional flavor or aroma to the vapor passing through the mouthpiece or filter, or may suppress a particular flavor or aroma. The smoke or vapor modifier may be disposed on or within a hollow tube, a filler layer including paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material, or a wrapper. The smoke or vapor modifier may also be a liquid additive (e.g., a flavor-enhancing additive). The flavor-enhancing additive may be any known in the art, such as an additive that reduces "paper taste" (e.g., an additive with a suitable carrier, such as propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, menthol with other oils, peppermint, fruit, berry, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, etc.).

[0152] The inclusion of one or more flavor-enhancing additives can overcome the perception of "paper taste" and provide a smoking article (e.g., a cigarette, e.g., a heated tobacco product, e.g., an HNB product or an HTP) with sensory characteristics similar to smoking articles filtered with cellulose acetate.

[0153] General Considerations It will be understood that filters or filter elements according to all aspects of the present invention may be manufactured by methods and machines well known in the art.

[0154] The filter wrapper may be paper or other biodegradable material. The filter wrapper may be paper (e.g., plug wrap), preferably paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 20 to 160 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 24 to 150 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 150 gsm, for example, paper (e.g., plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 140 gsm. Preferably, the filter wrapper is biodegradable, more preferably readily biodegradable.

[0155] The following embodiments and drawings refer to and illustrate a filter or mouthpiece that is generally cylindrical. It is understood that the present invention and claims encompass filters and mouthpieces that are not circular in cross section, such as filters or mouthpieces with elliptical cross sections, elongated elliptical cross sections, etc. Thus, any filter (or mouthpiece) according to any aspect of the present invention may have a circular cross section. Furthermore, any filter (or mouthpiece) according to any aspect of the present invention may have an elliptical or elongated elliptical cross section.

[0156] According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a smoking article (e.g., a cigarette, e.g., a heated tobacco product, e.g., an HNB product or HTP) comprising a filter or mouthpiece according to any aspect of the present invention.

[0157] The filter or mouthpiece of any aspect of the present invention may be suitable for use with any type of tobacco blend.

[0158] In smoking articles according to the present invention, a filter or mouthpiece according to any aspect of the present invention may be joined to a wrapped plug of tobacco (e.g., a modified wrapped plug of tobacco, as known in the art) with one end of the filter or mouthpiece facing the tobacco rod. The filter or mouthpiece of the present invention may be joined to a wrapped tobacco plug by ring tipping (i.e., an outer wrapper (e.g., tipping paper) that just engages around the adjacent ends of the wrapped filter and tobacco plug, leaving much of the filter wrap exposed). The filter or mouthpiece of the present invention may be joined to a wrapped tobacco plug by full tipping overlap (i.e., an outer wrapper (e.g., tipping paper) that engages around the entire length of the wrapped filter and the adjacent ends of the tobacco plug). The wrapper (e.g., filter wrapper) may be ventilated, for example, by laser perforation. Ventilation may be applied to the wrapper (e.g., filter wrapper) before or after the filter or mouthpiece is joined to the wrapped tobacco plug.

[0159] A filter or mouthpiece according to any embodiment of the invention (or smoking article according to the invention (e.g., cigarette, e.g., heated tobacco product, e.g., HNB product or HTP)) may further comprise one or more separate additional segments, which may be a (e.g., cylindrical) plug of tobacco smoke filtering material (e.g., paper), a (e.g., cylindrical) rod of tobacco (e.g., tobacco of any form (including reconstituted tobacco)), a hollow (e.g., paper) tube, a capsule-containing filter, a carbon-containing filter, a CPS filter, a tube filter, an acetate filter, a paper filter, a menthol-containing filter, etc.

[0160] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a filter as described herein and as hereinafter explained and claimed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0161] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a filter according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a filter according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a filter according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a filter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a filter according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a filter according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of a hybrid filter according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of a hybrid filter according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a filter according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

[0162] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a filter 100 having a length of 27 mm and a circumference of 24.00 mm. Filter 100 comprises a first longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 105 and a second longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 110, with a longitudinally extending (substantially cylindrical) core 115 between first longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element 105 and second longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 110. A filter wrapper 120 is engaged around first longitudinally extending tubular element 105, second longitudinally extending tubular element 110, and longitudinally extending core 115.

[0163] The first longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 105 comprises a longitudinally extending hollow tube 106 of paper having a basis weight of 160 gsm, a length of 7.5 mm, and a circumference of 16 mm, a filler layer 107 comprising an airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material having a width / thickness of approximately 1.3 mm engaged around the entire length of the hollow tube 106, and a plug wrap 108 having a basis weight of 78 gsm engaged around the entire length of the filler layer 107 comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material. As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the hollow tube 106, the filler layer 107 comprising airlaid nonwoven material, and the wrapper 108 are the same length (7.5 mm).

[0164] A longitudinally extending (substantially cylindrical) core 110 abuts one end of the first longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 105. The longitudinally extending (substantially cylindrical) core 110 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 12 mm. The longitudinally extending cylindrical core 110 is made of a sheet of Puracel FM36 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM 36 g / m 2 It is formed from a plug 111 of first filtration material in the form of SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc) which is gathered transversely into a plug and held in place by a core wrapper 112 of non-porous plug wrap (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd, Mudanjiang, China) weighing 45 gsm.

[0165] The second longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 115 abuts the end of the longitudinally extending (substantially cylindrical) core 110 opposite the end abutting the first longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 105. The second longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 115 comprises a longitudinally extending hollow tube 116 of paper having a basis weight of 160 gsm, a length of 7.5 mm, and a circumference of 16 mm, a filler layer 117 comprising an airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material having a width / thickness of approximately 1.3 mm engaged around the entire length of the hollow tube 116, and a plug wrap 118 having a basis weight of 78 gsm engaged around the entire length of the filler layer 117 comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material. As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the hollow tube 116, the filler layer 117 comprising airlaid nonwoven material, and the wrapper 118 are the same length (7.5 mm).

[0166] 45g / m 2 A filter wrapper 120 of rigid plug wrap (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China) weighing 102 kJ / kg is engaged around the first longitudinally extending tubular element 105, the second longitudinally extending tubular element 110, and the longitudinally extending core 115. The ends of the filter wrapper 120 are flush with the ends of the first longitudinally extending tubular element 105 and the second longitudinally extending tubular element 110. The filter wrapper 120 has overlapping longitudinal edges coated with adhesive, which provides an overlapping and glued seam (not shown) that holds the further wrapper 120 around the first longitudinally extending tubular element 105, the second longitudinally extending tubular element 110, and the longitudinally extending core 115, and (optionally) further adhesive for anchor lines (not shown) to hold the first longitudinally extending tubular element 105, the second longitudinally extending tubular element 110, and the longitudinally extending core 115 in place.

[0167] The first longitudinally extending tubular element 105 and the second longitudinally extending tubular element 110 are formed by gathering sheets of paper having a basis weight of 160 gsm and fastening them together at overlapping seams to form longitudinally extending hollow tubes 106, 116; longitudinally advancing four sheets of airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material having a width of 70 mm; separating the four longitudinally advancing sheets of airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material with a cone separator; and wrapping the four longitudinally advancing separated sheets of airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material around the longitudinally extending hollow tubes 106, 116. The continuous rod may be made using techniques known in the art by a method including: gathering a sheet to form packing layers 107, 117 comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material engaged around hollow tubes 106, 116; gathering plug wrap 108, 118 having a basis weight of 78 gsm around the packing layers comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material and securing them at overlapping and laminated seams; and cutting the continuous rod at 7.5 mm intervals to form individual first longitudinally extending tubular elements 105 and second longitudinally extending tubular elements 110.

[0168] The components of the filter of FIG. 1 are all made of paper materials and are all "readily biodegradable," meaning that the filter 100 (and the materials therein) are capable of rapidly disintegrating and completely biodegrading when immersed in water, such that the filter 100 (and the materials therein) have a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art.

[0169] Applicants have surprisingly found that filters such as filter 100 combine biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery comparable to marketed products that use cellulose acetate (see Example 1). Additionally, applicants have found that the filters of the present invention are adaptable to provide customizable designs to match desired smoke chemical delivery profiles.

[0170] 2 shows a schematic diagram of a filter 200 having a length of 27 mm and a circumference of 24.00 mm. The filter 200 includes a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 205 at the mouth end, a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 210 at the tobacco end, and a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 215 between the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 210. A filter wrapper 220 is engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 210, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 215, and the tubular element 205.

[0171] The longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 205 comprises a longitudinally extending hollow tube 206 of paper having a basis weight of 160 gsm, a length of 7.0 mm, and a circumference of 16 mm, a packing layer 207 comprising an airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material having a width / thickness of approximately 1.3 mm engaged around the entire length of the hollow tube 206, and a plug wrap 208 having a basis weight of 78 gsm engaged around the entire length of the packing layer 207 comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material. As can be seen in Figure 2, the hollow tube 206, the packing layer 207 comprising airlaid nonwoven material, and the wrapper 208 are all the same length (7.0 mm). The longitudinally extending tubular element 205 can be made using techniques known in the art, for example, by the methods described above for the annular element of the filter of Figure 1.

[0172] The filter 200 also includes a first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 210 at the tobacco end of the filter. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 210 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 8 mm. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 210 includes a plug 211 of first filtration material in the form of a 300 mm wide sheet of ZNP paper (obtained from PT Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ) of West Java, Indonesia), which is gathered transversely into a rod and held in place with a first core wrapper 212 of 78 gsm non-porous plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd. of Mudanjiang, China). The first longitudinally extending core has a pressure drop of 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length.

[0173] The filter 200 also includes a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 215 between the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element 205 and the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 210. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 215 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 12 mm. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 215 is made of a sheet of Puracel FM36 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM 36 g / m 2It is formed from a plug 216 of first filtration material in the form of SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc) which is gathered transversely into a plug form and held in place with a second core wrapper 217 of non-porous plug wrap weighing 45 gsm (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd, Mudanjiang, China).

[0174] 45g / m 2 An additional filter wrapper 220 of rigid plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China) weighing 1 / 2 lb is engaged around first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 210, second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 215, and tubular element 205. Filter wrapper 220 has overlapping longitudinal edges with adhesive applied, which provides an overlapping and glued seam (not shown) that holds additional wrapper 220 around wrapped cores 210 and 215 and annular element 205, and optionally additional adhesive in anchor lines (not shown) to hold wrapped cores 210 and 215 and annular element 205 in place.

[0175] The components of the filter of FIG. 2 are all made of paper materials and are all "readily biodegradable," meaning that the filter 200 (and the materials therein) are capable of rapidly disintegrating and completely biodegrading when immersed in water, such that the filter 200 (and the materials therein) have a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art.

[0176] Applicants have surprisingly found that filters such as filter 200 combine biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery comparable to marketed products that use cellulose acetate (Example 1). Additionally, applicants have found that the filters of the present invention are adaptable to provide customizable designs to match desired smoke chemical delivery profiles.

[0177] 3 shows a schematic diagram of a filter 300 having a length of 27 mm and a circumference of 24.00 mm. The filter 300 includes a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 305 at the mouth end, a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 310 at the tobacco end, and a second capsule-containing longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 315 between the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 310. A filter wrapper 320 is engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 310, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 315, and the tubular element 305.

[0178] Longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 305 comprises a longitudinally extending hollow tube 306 of paper having a basis weight of 160 gsm, a length of 7.0 mm, and a circumference of 16 mm; a packing layer 307 comprising an airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material having a width / thickness of approximately 1.3 mm engaged around the entire length of hollow tube 306; and a plug wrap 308 having a basis weight of 78 gsm engaged around the entire length of packing layer 307 comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material. As seen in Figure 3, hollow tube 306, packing layer 307 comprising airlaid nonwoven material, and wrapper 308 are all the same length (7.0 mm). Longitudinally extending tubular element 305 can be made using techniques known in the art, for example, by the methods described above for the annular element of the filter of Figure 1.

[0179] The filter 300 also includes a first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 310. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 310 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 8 mm. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 310 includes a plug 311 of first filtration material in the form of a 300 mm wide sheet of ZNP paper (obtained from PT Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ) of West Java, Indonesia), which is gathered transversely into a rod and held in place with a first core wrapper 312 of 78 gsm non-porous plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd. of Mudanjiang, China). The first longitudinally extending core has a pressure drop of 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length.

[0180] The filter 300 also includes a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 315 between the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element 305 and the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 310. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 315 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 12 mm. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 315 is made of a sheet of Puracel FM26 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM 26 g / m 2The first filter material 316 is formed from a plug of first filtration material 316 in the form of SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc), which is gathered transversely into a plug and held in place by a second core wrapper 317 of 45 gsm non-porous coated paper plug wrap (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China). Embedded within the plug of first filtration material 316 is an additive release reservoir in the form of a 2.8 mm diameter frangible flavor (e.g., menthol)-containing capsule 318. Such capsules are well known in the art. The capsule 318 is positioned so that its center is closer to the nearest end of the first (tobacco-end) longitudinally extending cylindrical core 310 than to the nearest end of the longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 305. Thus, in this example, capsule 318 is positioned such that its center is located 5 mm from the nearest end of first (tobacco-end) longitudinally extending cylindrical core 310 and 7 mm from the nearest end of longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 305. The asymmetric location closer to the tobacco end than the mouth end advantageously prevents capsule shadowing at the mouth end (i.e., preventing the capsule from being seen at the mouth end), while also preventing capsule jumping to the tobacco end (i.e., preventing the capsule from escaping from second core 315 to first core 310). For example, the capsules may be wrapped in a sheet of Puracel FM26 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM26 g / m 2 paper) so that they are gathered together laterally into a plug configuration before being wrapped in first core wrapper 317. 2 Methods for producing capsules containing filters by inserting or dropping them into SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc) are well known in the art.

[0181] 45g / m 2An additional filter wrapper 320 of rigid plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China) weighing 1 / 2 lb is engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 310, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 315, and the tubular element 305. The filter wrapper 320 has overlapping longitudinal edges with adhesive applied to it, which provides an overlapping and glued seam (not shown) that holds the additional wrapper 320 around the wrapped cores 310 and 315 and the annular element 305, and optionally additional adhesive in anchor lines (not shown) to hold the wrapped cores 310 and 315 and the annular element 305 in place.

[0182] The components of the filter in Figure 3 (except for the capsule) are all made of paper materials and are all "readily biodegradable," meaning that the filter 300 (and the materials therein) are capable of rapidly disintegrating and completely biodegrading when immersed in water, such that the filter 300 (and the materials therein) have a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art. Capsules having a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test) are also well known in the art.

[0183] Applicant has surprisingly found that filters such as filter 300 combine biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery comparable to market products that use cellulose acetate (Example 2).

[0184] 4 shows a schematic diagram of a filter 400 having a length of 25 mm and a circumference of 24.00 mm. The filter 400 includes a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 410 at the tobacco end and a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 415 adjacent to (e.g., abutting) one end of the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 410. A filter wrapper 420 is engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 410 and the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 415 and extends beyond the end of the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 415 opposite the core 410, thereby defining a cavity or recess 421 at the mouth end of the filter (or mouthpiece).

[0185] The filter 400 includes a first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 410 at the tobacco end of the filter. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 410 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 8 mm. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 410 includes a plug 411 of first filtration material in the form of a 300 mm wide sheet of ZNP paper (obtained from PT Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ) of West Java, Indonesia), which is gathered transversely into a rod and held in place with a first core wrapper 412 of 78 gsm non-porous plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd. of Mudanjiang, China). The first longitudinally extending core has a pressure drop of 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length.

[0186] The filter 400 also includes a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 415 adjacent (e.g., abutting) one end (non-tobacco end) of the first longitudinally extending core 410. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 415 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 12 mm. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 415 is made of a sheet of Puracel FM36 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM 36 g / m 2It is formed from a plug 416 of first filtration material in the form of SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc) which is gathered transversely into a plug and held in place with a second core wrapper 417 of non-porous plug wrap (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd, Mudanjiang, China) weighing 45 gsm.

[0187] 100g / m 2 An additional filter wrapper 420 of rigid plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China) weighing 1 / 2 lb is engaged around first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 410 and second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 415 and extends longitudinally an additional 5 mm beyond the end of second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 415 opposite core 410, thereby defining a 5 mm long cavity or recess 421 at the mouth end of the filter (or mouthpiece). Filter wrapper 420 has overlapping longitudinal edges coated with adhesive, which provide an overlapping and glued seam (not shown) that holds additional wrapper 420 around wrapped cores 410 and 415, and optionally additional adhesive in anchor lines (not shown) to hold wrapped cores 410 and 415 in place.

[0188] The components of the filter of FIG. 4 are all made of paper materials and are all "readily biodegradable," meaning that the filter 400 (and the materials therein) are capable of rapidly disintegrating and completely biodegrading when immersed in water, such that the filter 400 (and the materials therein) have a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art.

[0189] Applicants have surprisingly found that filters such as filter 400 combine biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery comparable to marketed products that use cellulose acetate (Example 3). Additionally, applicants have found that the filters of the present invention are adaptable to provide customizable designs to match desired smoke chemical delivery profiles.

[0190] 5 shows a schematic diagram of a filter 500 having a length of 27 mm and a circumference of 24.00 mm. The filter 500 includes a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 510 at the tobacco end and a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 515 adjacent to (e.g., abutting) one end of the first longitudinally extending core 510. A filter wrapper 520 is engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 510 and the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 515 and extends beyond the end of the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 515 opposite the core 510, thereby defining a cavity or recess 521 at the mouth end of the filter (or mouthpiece).

[0191] The filter 500 includes a first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 510 at the tobacco end of the filter. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 510 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 10 mm. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 510 is made of a 300 mm wide embossed paper (Puracel FM36 paper (300 mm of Puracel 511® FM36 g / m)) into which activated carbon granules are embedded at a loading of 4.9 mg activated carbon / mm. 2The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 510 includes a plug 511 of first filtration material in the form of a sheet of SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc), which is gathered transversely into a rod and held in place with a first core wrapper 512 of 78 gsm weight non-porous plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China). The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 510 may be made by methods well known in the art, for example, embossed paper applied thereto by one or more rollers, which may have activated carbon embedded therein, and then gathered into a rod and secured in place (e.g., by an overlapping seam as known in the art) with a first core wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the rod.

[0192] The filter 500 also includes a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 515 adjacent (e.g., abutting) one end (non-tobacco end) of the first longitudinally extending core 510. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 515 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 12 mm. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 515 is made of a sheet of Puracel FM36 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM 36 g / m 2 It is formed from a plug 516 of first filtration material in the form of SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc) which is gathered transversely into a plug and held in place with a second core wrapper 517 of non-porous plug wrap (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd, Mudanjiang, China) weighing 45 gsm.

[0193] 78g / m 2An additional filter wrapper 520 of rigid plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China) weighing 1 / 2 lb is engaged around first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 510 and second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 515 and extends longitudinally an additional 5 mm beyond the end of second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 515 opposite core 510, thereby defining a 5 mm long cavity or recess 521 at the mouth end of the filter (or mouthpiece). Filter wrapper 520 has overlapping longitudinal edges coated with adhesive, which provide an overlapping and glued seam (not shown) that holds additional wrapper 520 around wrapped cores 510 and 515, and optionally additional adhesive in anchor lines (not shown) to hold wrapped cores 510 and 515 in place.

[0194] The components of the filter of Figure 5 are selected so that the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) is 50-80 mmHg, for example 55-75 mmHg. In this example, the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) is 64 mmHg.

[0195] The components of the filter of FIG. 5 are all made of paper materials and are all "readily biodegradable," meaning that the filter 500 (and the materials therein) are capable of rapidly disintegrating and completely biodegrading when immersed in water, such that the filter 500 (and the materials therein) have a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art.

[0196] Applicants have surprisingly found that filters such as filter 500 combine biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery comparable to marketed products that use cellulose acetate (Example 4). Additionally, applicants have found that the filters of the present invention are adaptable to provide customizable designs to match desired smoke chemical delivery profiles.

[0197] 6 shows a schematic diagram of a filter 600 having a length of 27 mm and a circumference of 24.00 mm. The filter 600 includes a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 610 at the tobacco end, a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 615 adjacent to (e.g., abutting) one end of the first longitudinally extending core 610, and a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 605 at the mouth end. A filter wrapper 620 is engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 610, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 615, and the tubular (annular) element 605.

[0198] The filter 600 includes a first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 610 at the tobacco end of the filter. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 610 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 8 mm. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 610 is made of a 300 mm wide sheet of embossed paper (Puracel® FM36 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM36 g / m)) into which activated carbon granules are embedded at a loading of 4.9 mg activated carbon / mm. 2The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 610 includes a plug 611 of first filtration material in the form of a sheet of SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc), which is gathered transversely into a rod and held in place with a first core wrapper 612 of 78 gsm weight non-porous plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China). The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 610 is made by methods well known in the art, for example, embossed paper applied thereto by one or more rollers, which may have activated carbon embedded therein, and then gathered into a rod and secured in place (e.g., by an overlapping seam as known in the art) with a first core wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the rod.

[0199] The filter 600 also includes a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 615 adjacent (e.g., abutting) one end (non-tobacco end) of the first longitudinally extending core 610. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 615 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 12 mm. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 615 is made of a sheet of Puracel FM36 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM 36 g / m 2 It is formed from a plug 616 of first filtration material in the form of SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc) which is gathered transversely into a plug and held in place with a second core wrapper 617 of non-porous plug wrap weighing 45 gsm (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd, Mudanjiang, China).

[0200] At the mouth end, filter 600 includes a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 605 comprising a longitudinally extending hollow tube 606 of paper having a basis weight of 160 gsm, a length of 7.0 mm, and a circumference of 16 mm; a packing layer 607 comprising an airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material having a width / thickness of approximately 1.3 mm engaged around the entire length of hollow tube 606; and a plug wrap 608 having a basis weight of 78 gsm engaged around the entire length of packing layer 607 comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material. As seen in Figure 6, hollow tube 606, packing layer 607 comprising airlaid nonwoven material, and wrapper 608 are the same length (7.0 mm). Longitudinally extending tubular element 605 can be made using techniques known in the art, for example, by the methods described above for the annular element of the filter of Figure 1. It will be appreciated that element 605 is adjacent (e.g., abuts) an end of second longitudinally extending core 615 distal from first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 610.

[0201] 100g / m 2 An additional filter wrapper 620 of rigid plug wrap weighing 1 / 2 lb (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd. of Mudanjiang, China) is engaged around first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 610, second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 615, and longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 605. Filter wrapper 620 has overlapping longitudinal edges with adhesive applied, which provides an overlapping and glued seam (not shown) that holds additional wrapper 620 around wrapped cores 610 and 615 and element 605, and optionally additional adhesive in anchor lines (not shown) to hold wrapped cores 610 and 615 and element 605 in place.

[0202] The components of the filter of Figure 6 are selected so that the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) is 50-80 mmHg, for example 55-75 mmHg. In this example, the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) is 70 mmHg.

[0203] The components of the filter in FIG. 6 are all made of paper materials and are all "readily biodegradable," meaning that the filter 600 (and the materials therein) are capable of rapidly disintegrating and completely biodegrading when immersed in water, such that the filter 600 (and the materials therein) have a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art.

[0204] Applicants have surprisingly found that filters such as filter 600 combine biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery comparable to marketed products that use cellulose acetate (Example 5). Additionally, applicants have found that the filters of the present invention are adaptable to provide customizable designs to match desired smoke chemical delivery profiles.

[0205] 7 shows a schematic diagram of a filter 700 having a length of 27 mm and a circumference of 24.00 mm. The filter 700 includes a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 710 at the tobacco end, a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 715 adjacent to (e.g., abutting) one end of the first longitudinally extending core 710, and a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 705 at the mouth end. A filter wrapper 720 is engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 710, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 715, and the tubular (annular) element 705.

[0206] The filter 700 includes a first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 710 at the tobacco end of the filter. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 710 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 10 mm. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 710 contains a plug 711 of first filtration material in the form of plasticized cellulose acetate tow embedded with activated carbon granules at a loading of 4.9 mg of activated carbon / mm, gathered transversely into a rod and held in place by a first core wrapper 712 of non-porous plug wrap weighing 78 gsm (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China). The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 710 is manufactured by methods known in the art for manufacturing so-called "activated acetate" filters, available from www.essentra.com, for example, plasticized cellulose acetate tow may be applied thereto by one or more rollers, having activated carbon embedded therein, and then gathered into the form of a rod and secured in place (e.g., by an overlapping seam as known in the art) with a first core wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the rod.

[0207] The filter 700 also includes a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 715 adjacent to (e.g., abutting) one end (non-tobacco end) of the first longitudinally extending core 710. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 715 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 10 mm. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 715 is formed from a plug 716 of a first filtration material in the form of plasticized cellulose acetate tow, which is gathered transversely into a plug and held in place with a second core wrapper 717 of non-porous plug wrap weighing 45 gsm (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China). The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 715 is made by methods known in the art for manufacturing so-called "monoacetate" filters, available from www.essentra.com.

[0208] At the mouth end, filter 700 includes a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 705 comprising a longitudinally extending hollow tube 706 of paper having a basis weight of 160 gsm, a length of 7.0 mm, and a circumference of 16 mm, a packing layer 707 comprising an airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material having a width / thickness of approximately 1.3 mm engaged around the entire length of hollow tube 706, and a plug wrap 708 having a basis weight of 78 gsm engaged around the entire length of packing layer 707 comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material. As seen in Figure 7, hollow tube 706, packing layer 707 comprising airlaid nonwoven material, and wrapper 708 are the same length (7.0 mm). Longitudinally extending tubular element 705 can be made using techniques known in the art, for example, by the methods described above for the annular element of the filter of Figure 1. It will be appreciated that element 705 is adjacent (e.g., abuts) an end of second longitudinally extending core 715 distal from first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 710.

[0209] 100g / m 2 An additional filter wrapper 720 of rigid plug wrap weight (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd. of Mudanjiang, China) is engaged around first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 710, second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 715, and longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 705. Filter wrapper 720 has overlapping longitudinal edges with adhesive applied, which provides an overlapping and glued seam (not shown) that holds additional wrapper 720 around wrapped cores 710 and 715 and element 705, and optionally additional adhesive in anchor lines (not shown) to hold wrapped cores 710 and 715 and element 705 in place.

[0210] The components of the filter of Figure 7 are selected so that the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) is 80-110 mmHg, for example 90-100 mmHg. In this example, the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) is 97 mmHg.

[0211] Applicants have surprisingly found that filters such as filter 700 combine improved biodegradability with smoke chemical delivery and pressure drop comparable to marketed products that use all cellulose acetate components (Example 6). Additionally, Applicants have found that the filters of the present invention are adaptable to provide customizable designs to match desired smoke chemical delivery profiles.

[0212] 8 shows a schematic diagram of a filter 800 having a length of 27 mm and a circumference of 24.00 mm. Filter 800 includes a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 810 at the tobacco end, a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 815 adjacent to (e.g., abutting) one end of first longitudinally extending core 810, and a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 805 at the mouth end. A filter wrapper 820 is engaged around first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 810, second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 815, and tubular (annular) element 805.

[0213] The filter 800 includes a first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 810 at the tobacco end of the filter. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 810 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 10 mm. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 810 is made of a 300 mm wide strip of embossed paper (Puracel® FM36 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM36 g / m)) into which activated carbon granules are embedded at a loading of 4.9 mg activated carbon / mm. 2The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 810 includes a plug 811 of first filtration material in the form of a sheet of SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc), which is gathered transversely into a rod and held in place with a first core wrapper 812 of non-porous plug wrap weighing 78 gsm (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China). The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 810 is made by methods well known in the art, for example, embossed paper applied thereto by one or more rollers, which may have activated carbon embedded therein, and then gathered into a rod and secured in place (e.g., by an overlapping seam as known in the art) with a first core wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper, e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the rod.

[0214] The filter 800 also includes a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 815 adjacent to (e.g., abutting) one end (non-tobacco end) of the first longitudinally extending core 810. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 815 has a circumference of 24.00 mm and a length of 10 mm. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 815 is made of a sheet of Puracel FM36 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM 36 g / m 2 It is formed from a plug 816 of first filtration material in the form of SWM (manufactured by Essentra plc) which is gathered transversely into a plug and held in place with a second core wrapper 817 of non-porous plug wrap (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd, Mudanjiang, China) weighing 45 gsm.

[0215] At the oral end, filter 800 includes a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 805 comprising a longitudinally extending hollow annular tube 806 having a length of 7.0 mm, an outer circumference of 16 mm, and a wall thickness of 1.2 mm. Longitudinal extending hollow annular tube 806 is made of plasticized cellulose acetate by methods well known in the art for manufacturing hollow cellulose acetate tubular filter elements. It will be understood that element 805 abuts (e.g., abuts) the end of second longitudinally extending core 815 distal from first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 810.

[0216] 100g / m 2 Further filter wrapper 820, of rigid plug wrap weight (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd., Mudanjiang, China), is engaged around first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 810, second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 815, and longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 805. Filter wrapper 820 has overlapping longitudinal edges with adhesive applied, which provides an overlapping and laminating seam (not shown) that holds further wrapper 820 around wrapped cores 810 and 815 and element 805, and optionally further adhesive in anchor lines (not shown) to hold wrapped cores 810 and 815 and element 805 in place.

[0217] The components of the filter of Figure 8 are selected so that the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) is 50-80 mmHg, for example 55-75 mmHg. In this example, the pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) is 73 mmHg.

[0218] Applicants have surprisingly found that filters such as filter 800 combine improved biodegradability with smoke chemical (particularly nicotine) delivery comparable to marketed products that use all cellulose acetate components (Example 7). Additionally, Applicants have found that the filters of the present invention are adaptable to provide customizable designs to match desired smoke chemical delivery profiles.

[0219] Example 1 - Filter of Figures 1 and 2 1 , a 27 mm long filter according to the present invention was illustrated, which included a first longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 105 (7.5 mm long (paper tube / nonwoven paper filler / paper plug wrap)), a second longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 110 (7.5 mm long (paper tube / nonwoven paper filler / paper plug wrap)), and a 20 mm long (FM36 paper) longitudinally extending core 115 between the first longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element 105 and the second longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element 110. This filter was attached to a tobacco wrap (standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide a test filter cigarette, designated Test Example HPH111535.

[0220] A filter according to the invention, as illustrated in Figure 2, was 27 mm long and included a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 205 (7.0 mm long (paper tube / nonwoven paper filler / paper plug wrap)), a first longitudinally extending core 210 8 mm long (ZNP paper), and a second longitudinally extending core 215 12 mm long (FM36 paper) between the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element 205 and the first longitudinally extending core 210. This filter was attached to a tobacco wrap (standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide a test filter cigarette, designated Test Example HPG111511.

[0221] The reference filter cigarette had a double filter (a 7 mm acetate tube abutting a 20 mm unwrapped acetate plug) attached to a tobacco jacket (standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide the test filter cigarette (SDW869999RO).

[0222] All items were tested using the same tobacco and ISO standards (ISO 4387:2019 Tar; ISO 8454:2019 CO; ISO 10315:2021 Nicotine). The collected mass yields of tar, nicotine, and CO for the HPH111535 and HPG111511 cigarettes (each containing a filter according to the invention) and the reference cigarette were measured by methods known in the art (ISO 3308:2012 Routine analytical cigarette-smoking machine-Definitions and standard conditions; ISO 4387:2019 Tar; ISO 8454:2019 CO; ISO 10315:2021 Nicotine). The results are shown in Table 1.

[0223] [Table 1]

[0224] Table 1 shows that filters according to the present invention can provide smoke delivery performance comparable to conventional cellulose acetate filters (the benchmark), while also providing improved biodegradability (e.g., because they do not contain a cellulose acetate component).

[0225] Example 2 - Capsule filter of Figure 3 A filter according to the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 3, was 27 mm long and included a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 305 (7.0 mm long (paper tube / nonwoven paper filler / paper plug wrap)), a first longitudinally extending core 310 8 mm long (ZNP paper), and a second longitudinally extending core 315 12 mm long (FM26 paper with a capsule therein) between the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element 305 and the first longitudinally extending core 310. This filter was attached to a tobacco wrap (standard cigarette) by methods known in the art to provide a test filter cigarette, designated Test Example HCG111468.

[0226] The reference filter cigarette had a double filter (a 7 mm acetate tube abutting a 20 mm wrapping acetate plug with an embedded capsule) attached to a tobacco jacket (standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide the test filter cigarette (TCD1101611).

[0227] A further reference filter cigarette had a double filter (a 7 mm acetate tube abutting a 20 mm paper plug with an embedded capsule) attached to a tobacco jacket (standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide the test filter cigarette (SAM111310).

[0228] All items were tested using the same tobacco and ISO standards (ISO 4387:2019 Tar; ISO 8454:2019 CO; ISO 10315:2021 Nicotine). The collected mass yields of tar, nicotine, and CO for the HCG111468 cigarettes (each containing a filter according to the present invention) and the reference cigarettes were measured by methods known in the art (ISO 3308:2012 Routine analytical cigarette-smoking machine-Definitions and standard conditions; ISO 4387:2019 Tar; ISO 8454:2019 CO; ISO 10315:2021 Nicotine). The results are shown in Table 2.

[0229] [Table 2]

[0230] Table 2 shows that filters according to the invention can provide smoke delivery performance comparable to conventional cellulose acetate filters (reference TCD1101611), while also providing improved biodegradability (e.g., because they do not contain the cellulose acetate component). The table also shows that simply replacing the cellulose acetate with paper is not effective because such filters have poorer nicotine retention (reference SAM111310 is a paper version of TCD1101611).

[0231] Example 3 - Recessed filter of FIG. A filter according to the invention, illustrated with reference to Figure 4, was 25 mm long and included an 8 mm long first tobacco end longitudinally extending core 410 (ZNP paper), a 12 mm long second longitudinally extending core 415 (FM36 paper), and a 5 mm long mouth end recess, and was attached to a tobacco wrap (standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide a test filter cigarette, designated Test Example PRW111469.

[0232] The reference recessed filter cigarette had a filter (a 20 mm unwrapped acetate plug with a 5 mm recess) attached to a tobacco wrapper (a standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide the filter cigarette (DRW810632A) for testing.

[0233] The collected mass yields of tar, nicotine, and CO for the PRW01 cigarette (each containing a filter according to the invention) and the reference cigarette were measured by methods known in the art (ISO 3308:2012 Routine analytical cigarette-smoking machine-Definitions and standard conditions; ISO 4387:2019 Tar; ISO 8454:2019 CO; ISO 10315:2021 Nicotine). The results are shown in Table 3.

[0234] [Table 3]

[0235] Table 3 shows that filters according to the present invention can provide smoke delivery performance comparable to conventional cellulose acetate filters (reference DRW810632), while also providing improved biodegradability (e.g., because they do not contain a cellulose acetate component).

[0236] Example 4 - Recessed filter with additive of Figure 5 A filter according to the invention, illustrated with reference to Figure 5, was 27 mm long and included a first tobacco end longitudinally extending core 510 (embossed paper with embedded additive) 10 mm long, a second longitudinally extending core 515 (FM36 paper) 12 mm long, and a mouth end recess 5 mm long, and was attached to a tobacco wrap (standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide a test filter cigarette, designated Test Example PRB111586.

[0237] The reference recessed filter cigarette had a filter (a 10 mm cellulose acetate element with activated carbon at the tobacco end abutting a 12 mm unwrapped acetate plug and a 5 mm recess at the mouth end) attached to a tobacco jacket (standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide the test filter cigarette (DRB810632).

[0238] The collected mass yields of tar, nicotine, and CO for the PRB01 cigarettes (each containing a filter according to the invention) and the reference cigarettes were measured by methods known in the art (ISO 3308:2012 Routine analytical cigarette-smoking machine-Definitions and standard conditions; ISO 4387:2019 Tar; ISO 8454:2019 CO; ISO 10315:2021 Nicotine). The results are shown in Table 4.

[0239] [Table 4]

[0240] Table 4 shows that filters according to the present invention can provide smoke delivery performance comparable to conventional cellulose acetate filters (reference DRW421540A), while also providing improved biodegradability (e.g., because they do not contain a cellulose acetate component).

[0241] Example 5 - Triple filter with additive of Figure 6 A filter according to the invention, illustrated with reference to Figure 6, is 27 mm long and comprises a first tobacco end longitudinally extending core 610 (embossed paper with embedded additive) 8 mm long, a second longitudinally extending core 615 (FM36 paper) 12 mm long, and a tubular (annular) element 605 at the mouth end 7 mm long, which was attached to a tobacco wrapper (standard cigarette) by methods known in the art to provide a test filter cigarette, designated Test Example HPB111560.

[0242] The reference recessed filter cigarette had a filter (a 10 mm cellulose acetate element with activated carbon at the tobacco end abutted by a 12 mm unwrapped acetate plug and a 7 mm acetate tube at the mouth end) attached to a tobacco jacket (a standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide the test filter cigarette (HTC859046).

[0243] The collected mass yields of tar, nicotine, and CO for the HPB111560 cigarettes (each containing a filter according to the invention) and the reference cigarettes were measured by methods known in the art (ISO 3308:2012 Routine analytical cigarette-smoking machine-Definitions and standard conditions; ISO 4387:2019 Tar; ISO 8454:2019 CO; ISO 10315:2021 Nicotine). The results are shown in Table 5.

[0244] [Table 5]

[0245] Table 5 shows that filters according to the present invention can provide smoke delivery performance comparable to conventional cellulose acetate filters (standard HTC859046), while also providing improved biodegradability (e.g., because they do not contain a cellulose acetate component).

[0246] Example 6 - Triple filter with additive of Figure 7 A filter according to the invention, illustrated with reference to Figure 7, is 27 mm long and comprises a first tobacco-end longitudinally extending core 710 (additional cellulose acetate with embedded additives) 10 mm long, a second longitudinally extending core 715 (cellulose acetate) 10 mm long, and a tubular (annular) element 705 at the mouth end 7 mm long, and this filter was attached to a tobacco wrap (standard cigarette) by methods known in the art to provide a test filter cigarette, designated Test Example HPA111635.

[0247] The reference recessed filter cigarette had a filter (a 10 mm cellulose acetate element with activated carbon at the tobacco end abutted by a 10 mm unwrapped acetate plug and a 7 mm acetate tube at the mouth end) attached to a tobacco jacket (a standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide the test filter cigarette (HTC859046).

[0248] The collected mass yields of tar, nicotine, and CO for the HPA111635 cigarettes (each containing a filter according to the invention) and the reference cigarettes were measured by methods known in the art (ISO 3308:2012 Routine analytical cigarette-smoking machine-Definitions and standard conditions; ISO 4387:2019 Tar; ISO 8454:2019 CO; ISO 10315:2021 Nicotine). The results are shown in Table 6.

[0249] [Table 6]

[0250] Table 6 shows that filters according to the present invention can provide smoke delivery performance comparable to conventional cellulose acetate filters (standard HTC859046), while also including components with improved biodegradability.

[0251] Example 7 - Triple filter with additive of Figure 8 A filter according to the invention, illustrated with reference to Figure 8, was 27 mm long and included a 10 mm long first tobacco end longitudinally extending core 810 (embossed paper with embedded additive), a 10 mm long second longitudinally extending core 815 (FM36 paper), and a 7 mm long tubular (annular) cellulose acetate element 805 at the mouth end, which was attached to a tobacco wrapper (standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide a test filter cigarette, designated Test Example HAP111636.

[0252] The reference recessed filter cigarette had a filter (a 10 mm cellulose acetate element with activated carbon at the tobacco end, abutting a 10 mm unwrapped acetate plug, and with a 7 mm acetate tube at the mouth end) attached to a tobacco jacket (standard cigarette) by methods well known in the art to provide the test filter cigarette (HTC859046).

[0253] The collected mass yields of tar, nicotine, and CO for cigarette HAP111636 (each containing a filter according to the invention) and the reference cigarette were measured by methods known in the art (ISO 3308:2012 Routine analytical cigarette-smoking machine-Definitions and standard conditions; ISO 4387:2019 Tar; ISO 8454:2019 CO; ISO 10315:2021 Nicotine). The results are shown in Table 7.

[0254] [Table 7]

[0255] Table 7 shows that filters according to the present invention can provide smoke delivery performance comparable to conventional cellulose acetate filters (standard HTC859046), while also including components with improved biodegradability.

[0256] 9 shows a schematic diagram of a filter 9100 having a length of 33 mm and a circumference of 24 mm. The filter 9100 includes a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 9105 at the mouth end, a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 9110 abutting the first longitudinally extending core 9105, and a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element 9115 at the tobacco end abutting the second longitudinally extending core 9110 and spaced longitudinally from the first longitudinally extending core 9105 by the length of the second longitudinally extending core 9110. A filter wrapper 9120 is engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 9105, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 9110, and the tubular element 9115.

[0257] The filter 9100 includes a first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 9105 having a circumference of 24 mm and a length of 7 mm at the mouth end of the filter 9100. The first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 9105 contains a plug 9125 of first filtration material in the form of a sheet of Puracel® FM36 paper (300 mm of Puracel® FM36 g / m2 SWM from Essentra plc), which is gathered transversely into a plug and held in place with a first core wrapper 9130 of non-porous plug wrap weighing 45 gsm (obtained from Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd, Mudanjiang, China).

[0258] The filter 9100 also includes a second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 9110 abutting the end of the first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 9105 that is not the mouth end of the filter 9100. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 9110 has a circumference of 24 mm and a length of 18 mm. The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 9110 includes a plug 9135 of first filtration material in the form of a 300 mm wide sheet of ZNP paper (obtained from PT Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ) of West Java, Indonesia), gathered transversely into a rod and held in place with a second core wrapper 9140 of 78 gsm non-porous plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd. of Mudanjiang, China). The second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 9110 has a pressure drop of 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length.

[0259] The filter 9100 also includes a longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 9115 at the tobacco end that abuts the end of the second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 9110. The longitudinally extending tubular (annular) element 9115 is spaced from the first longitudinally extending cylindrical core 9105 by the length of the second longitudinally extending cylindrical core 9110. The longitudinally extending tubular element 9115 comprises a longitudinally extending hollow tube 9145 of paper having a basis weight of 160 gsm, a length of 8 mm, and a circumference of 16 mm, a filler layer 9150 comprising an airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material having a width / thickness of approximately 1.3 mm engaged around the entire length of the hollow tube 9145, and a plug wrap 9155 having a basis weight of 78 gsm engaged around the entire length of the filler layer 9150 comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the hollow tube 9145, the filler layer 9150 comprising the airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material, and the wrapper 9155 are the same length (8 mm).

[0260] The longitudinally extending tubular element 9115 comprises the steps of gathering together sheets of paper having a basis weight of 160 gsm and securing them together at overlapping seams to form a longitudinally extending hollow tube 9145, longitudinally advancing four sheets of airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material having a width of 70 mm, separating the four longitudinally advancing sheets of airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material by a cone separator, and wrapping the four longitudinally advancing separated sheets of airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material around the longitudinally extending hollow tube 9145. The continuous rod may be made using techniques known in the art by a method including: gathering a sheet of material to form a packing layer 9150 comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material engaged around a hollow tube 9145; gathering a plug wrap 9155 having a basis weight of 78 gsm around the packing layer comprising airlaid nonwoven paper filtration material and securing it at an overlapping and glued seam; and cutting the continuous rod at 8.5 mm intervals to form individual longitudinally extending tubular elements 9115.

[0261] 45g / m 2 An additional filter wrapper 9120 of rigid plug wrap (manufactured by Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper Co., Ltd. of Mudanjiang, China) weighing 1 / 2 lb is engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 9105, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core 9110, and the tubular element 9115. The filter wrapper 9120 has overlapping longitudinal edges with adhesive applied to it, which provides an overlapping and glued seam (not shown) that holds the filter wrapper 9120 around the wrapped cores 9105 and 9110 and the annular element 9115, and optionally additional adhesive in anchor lines (not shown) to hold the wrapped cores 9105 and 9110 and the annular element 9115 in place.

[0262] The components of the filter in FIG. 9 are all made of paper materials and are all "readily biodegradable," meaning that the filter 9100 (and the materials therein) are capable of rapidly disintegrating and completely biodegrading when immersed in water, such that the filter 9100 (and the materials therein) have a "readily biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test), which is well known in the art.

[0263] Applicants have surprisingly found that filters such as filter 9100 combine biodegradability ("readily biodegradable") with smoke chemical delivery comparable to market products that use cellulose acetate. Additionally, applicants have found that the filters of the present invention are adaptable to provide customizable designs to match desired smoke chemical delivery profiles.

[0264] It will be appreciated that, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core comprises a first filtration material in the form of cellulose acetate, as is well known in the art. Other components are similar to FIG. 9. Applicants have surprisingly found that the filter according to the tenth aspect of the present invention combines an expected smoke chemical delivery comparable to that of commercially available products with improved biodegradability over commercially available products, since more of the components are biodegradable. Furthermore, Applicants have found that the filter of the tenth aspect of the present invention is adaptable to provide a customizable design to match a desired smoke chemical delivery profile.

Claims

1. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a first longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and a second longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element; a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core between the first longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the second longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element, the core comprising a filtration material including paper and / or other biodegradable material; and a filter wrapper engaged about the first longitudinally extending tubular element, the second longitudinally extending tubular element, and the longitudinally extending core; The first longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the second longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element each include a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material, a packing layer including paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, and a wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, the packing layer, and the wrapper are the same length.

2. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element; and a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core comprising a first filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material, said first longitudinally extending core having a pressure drop of 0.1 to 1 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.31 to 0.7 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.5 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core between the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material including paper and / or other biodegradable material; and a filter wrap engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and the tubular element; The longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprises a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material, a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, and a wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, the packing layer, and the wrapper are of the same length.

3. 3. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 2, further comprising an additive release container (e.g., a capsule, e.g., a frangible capsule, e.g., a (e.g., frangible) capsule containing a smoke or vapor additive) enclosed within the second filtering material.

4. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element; and a first longitudinally extending core (e.g., substantially cylindrical) comprising a first filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material, said first longitudinally extending core having a pressure drop of 0.1 to 1 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.31 to 0.7 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.5 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core between the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element and the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core comprising a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material, and an additive release container (e.g., a capsule, e.g., a frangible capsule, e.g., a (e.g., frangible) capsule containing a smoke or vapor additive) enclosed within the second filtration material; a filter wrap engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, and the tubular element; The longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprises a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material, a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, and a wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, the packing layer, and the wrapper are of the same length.

5. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core comprising a first filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material, said first longitudinally extending core having a pressure drop of 0.1 to 1 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.31 to 0.7 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.5 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material; a filter wrap engaged around the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core and the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core; A filter (or mouthpiece) wherein the filter wrap extends beyond an end of a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, thereby defining a cavity at an end of the filter (or mouthpiece).

6. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the first filtration material being paper and / or other biodegradable material, having a particulate additive disposed therein, and a first core wrapper engaged around the first filtration material; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material; a filter wrap engaged about the first longitudinally extending core and the second longitudinally extending core; The filter (or mouthpiece), wherein the filter wrap extends beyond an end of the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, thereby defining a cavity at an end of the filter (or mouthpiece).

7. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the first filtration material being paper and / or other biodegradable material, having a particulate additive disposed therein, and a first core wrapper engaged around the first filtration material; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material; a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the second longitudinally extending core distal from the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprising: a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material; a packing layer engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, the packing layer being paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material; and a tubular element wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, the hollow tube, the packing layer, and the tubular element wrapper being the same length; a filter wrapper engaged around the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending core, and the longitudinally extending tubular element.

8. 8. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 6 or 7, wherein the first filtering material comprises an embossed paper filtering material and / or an embossed other biodegradable filtering material having a particulate additive embedded therein.

9. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any preceding claim, having a circumference of between 4 and 25 mm, such as between 5 and 20 mm, for example between 6 and 18 mm, for example between 8 and 10 mm.

10. 8. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 1 to 4 or 7, wherein the paper of the hollow tube is a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 80 to 160 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 90 to 140 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 100 to 120 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 100 gsm.

11. 11. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 1 to 4, 7 or 10, wherein the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube has a width or thickness of 0.6 to 2.0 mm, for example 0.8 to 1.8 mm, for example 1.0 to 1.6 mm, for example 1.3 mm.

12. 12. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 1 to 4, 7, 10, or 11, wherein the packing layer comprising paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material is made up of multiple (i.e., two or more) sheets or layers of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material.

13. 13. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 1 to 4, 7 or 10 to 12, wherein the tubular element wrapper engaged around the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 50 to 150 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 60 to 140 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 130 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 80 to 120 gsm, for example a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 100 gsm.

14. 14. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 1 to 4, 7, or 10 to 13, wherein the tubular element wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is non-porous.

15. 7. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to claim 5 or 6, having a pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) of 50 to 80 mmHg, for example 55 to 75 mmHg.

16. 16. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the or each paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is filter paper, nonwoven paper, airlaid paper, or a cellulose / lyocell / viscose based paper.

17. 17. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material is a non-woven paper made from non-plastic plant-based fibres (e.g. flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch or wood pulp) or blends of these materials.

18. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any preceding claim, wherein the filter wrapper comprises paper or other biodegradable material.

19. 19. The filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, which has a biodegradability of more than 90% when measured according to ISO 14855-1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide.

20. 20. The filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 1 to 19, having a "ready biodegradable" level of biodegradability when measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test).

21. 21. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any preceding claim, having a length of 5 to 50 mm, such as 10 to 30 mm, for example 8 to 24 mm, for example 15 to 20 mm, for example 18 mm.

22. A smoking article (e.g., a cigarette, e.g., a heated tobacco product, e.g., an HNB product or an HTP) comprising the mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 1 to 21, or a filter comprising the mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the filter is joined to a wrapped tobacco rod with one end facing the tobacco rod.

23. A multi-segment filter comprising a mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 1 to 21 and one or more separate further segments.

24. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the first filtration material being cellulose acetate tow, having a particulate additive disposed therein, and a first core wrapper engaged about the first filtration material; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is cellulose acetate tow; a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the second longitudinally extending core distal from the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprising: a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material; a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length; and a tubular element wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, the packing layer, and the tubular element wrapper are of the same length; a filter wrapper engaged around the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending core, and the longitudinally extending tubular element.

25. 25. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 24, wherein the paper of the hollow tube is a paper (e.g. plug wrap) with a basis weight of 80 to 160 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) with a basis weight of 90 to 140 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) with a basis weight of 100 to 120 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) with a basis weight of 100 gsm.

26. 26. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 25, wherein the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube has a width or thickness of 0.6 to 2.0 mm, such as 0.8 to 1.8 mm, for example 1.0 to 1.6 mm, for example 1.3 mm.

27. 27. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 25 or 26, wherein the packing layer comprising paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material is made up of multiple (i.e., two or more) sheets or layers of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material.

28. 28. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the tubular element wrapper engaged around the packing layer comprising paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material is a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 50 to 150 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 60 to 140 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 130 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 80 to 120 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 100 gsm.

29. 29. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 24 to 28, wherein the tubular element wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is non-porous.

30. 30. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 24 to 29, having a pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) of 80 to 110mmHg, for example 97mmHg.

31. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the first filtration material being paper and / or other biodegradable material, having a particulate additive disposed therein, and a first core wrapper engaged around the first filtration material; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material; a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the second longitudinally extending core distal from the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprising a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of plasticized cellulose acetate; a filter wrapper engaged around the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending core, and the longitudinally extending tubular element.

32. 32. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 31 , wherein the first filtration material comprises an embossed paper filtration material and / or an embossed other biodegradable filtration material having a particulate additive embedded therein.

33. 33. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 31 or 32, wherein the or each paper and / or other biodegradable filter material is filter paper, nonwoven paper, airlaid paper, or cellulose / lyocell / viscose based paper.

34. 34. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the or each paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material is a non-woven paper made from non-plastic plant-based fibres (e.g. flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch or wood pulp) or blends of these materials.

35. 35. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 31 to 34, having a pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) of 50 to 80mmHg, for example 55 to 75mmHg, for example 73mmHg.

36. 36. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 24 to 35, having a circumference of between 4 and 25mm, such as between 5 and 20mm, for example between 6 and 18mm, for example between 8 and 10mm.

37. 37. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 24 to 36 having a length of 5 to 50mm, such as 10 to 30mm, for example 8 to 24mm, for example 15 to 20mm, for example 18mm.

38. 9. A filter (or mouthpiece) substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 7 or Figure 8.

39. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 24 to 38, wherein the filter wrapper comprises paper or other biodegradable material.

40. 40. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 24 to 39, wherein at least one component is more than 90% biodegradable when measured according to ISO 14855-1 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide.

41. 41. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 24 to 40, wherein at least one component has a "ready biodegradable" level of biodegradability as measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test).

42. A smoking article (e.g., a cigarette, e.g., a heated tobacco product, e.g., an HNB product or an HTP), comprising a filter comprising the mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 24 to 41, or the mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 1 to 41, wherein the filter is joined to a wrapped tobacco rod with one end facing the tobacco rod.

43. A multi-segment filter comprising a mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 24 to 41 and one or more separate further segments.

44. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the filtration material being one of paper, a biodegradable material, and cellulose acetate; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core abutting the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending core comprising a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material, and having a pressure drop of 0.1 to 1 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.2 to 0.8 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.4 to 0.6 mmWG per mm of its length, for example, 0.55 mmWG per mm of its length; a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element abutting the second longitudinally extending core and spaced from the first longitudinally extending core, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprising: a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material; a packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length; and a wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, wherein the hollow tube, the packing layer, and the wrapper are of the same length; a filter wrapper engaged around the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending core, and the tubular element.

45. 45. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 44, wherein the first filtering material is paper.

46. 45. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 44, wherein the first filtering material is cellulose acetate.

47. 47. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 44 to 46, having a length of 5 to 50mm, such as 10 to 40mm, for example 25 to 38mm, for example 30 to 35mm, for example 33mm.

48. 48. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 44 to 47, wherein the circumference of the filter is between 4 and 30mm, such as between 14 and 28mm, for example between 16 and 26mm, for example 24mm.

49. 49. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 44 to 48, wherein the paper of the hollow tube is a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 60 to 220 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 90 to 140 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 100 to 120 gsm, for example a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 100 gsm.

50. 50. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 49, wherein the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material engaged around the hollow tube has a width or thickness of 0.6 to 2.0 mm, such as 0.8 to 1.8 mm, for example 1.0 to 1.6 mm, for example 1.3 mm.

51. 51. The filter (or mouthpiece) of claim 49 or 50, wherein the packing layer comprising paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material is made up of multiple (i.e., two or more) sheets or layers of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material.

52. 52. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 44 to 51, wherein the tubular element wrapper engaged around the packing layer comprising paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material is a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 40 to 150 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 60 to 140 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 70 to 130 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 80 to 120 gsm, such as a paper (e.g. plug wrap) having a basis weight of 100 gsm.

53. 53. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 44 to 52, wherein the tubular element wrapper (e.g. plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer comprising paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is non-porous.

54. 54. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 44 to 53, having a pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) of 80 to 110 mmWg, for example 97 mmWg.

55. 55. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 44 to 54, wherein the or each paper filtration material and / or other biodegradable filtration material is filter paper, nonwoven paper, airlaid paper, or a cellulose / lyocell / viscose based paper.

56. 56. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 44 to 55, wherein the or each paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material is a non-woven paper made from non-plastic plant-based fibres (e.g. flax, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, coconut, bamboo, starch or wood pulp) or blends of these materials.

57. 57. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 44 to 56, wherein the filter wrapper comprises paper or other biodegradable material.

58. 58. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 44 to 57, which has a biodegradability of more than 90% when measured according to ISO 14855-1 "Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide."

59. 59. The filter (or mouthpiece) of any one of claims 44 to 58, having a "ready biodegradable" level of biodegradability when measured according to the OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability" method (modified Sturm test).

60. A smoking article (e.g., a cigarette, e.g., a heated tobacco product, e.g., an HNB product or an HTP), comprising a filter comprising the mouthpiece or filter of any one of claims 44 to 59, or the mouthpiece or filter of any one of claims 1 to 59, and wherein the filter is joined to a wrapped tobacco rod with one end facing the tobacco rod.

61. A multi-segment filter comprising a mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 44 to 60 and one or more separate further segments.

62. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the first filtration material being paper and / or other biodegradable material, having a particulate additive disposed therein, and a first core wrapper engaged around the first filtration material; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is paper and / or other biodegradable material; a filter wrap engaged about the first longitudinally extending core and the second longitudinally extending core; the filter wrap extends beyond an end of a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, thereby defining a cavity at an end of the filter (or mouthpiece); The filter (or mouthpiece) has a pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) of 50 to 80 mmHg, for example 55 to 75 mmHg.

63. A filter (or mouthpiece), comprising: a first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a first filtration material, the first filtration material being cellulose acetate tow, having a particulate additive disposed therein, and a first core wrapper engaged about the first filtration material; a second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core including a second filtration material that is cellulose acetate tow; a longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element adjacent (e.g., abutting) an end of the second longitudinally extending core distal from the first longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) core, the longitudinally extending tubular (e.g., annular) element comprising: a longitudinally extending (e.g., substantially cylindrical) hollow tube of paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material; a packing layer engaged around the hollow tube along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, the packing layer being paper and / or other biodegradable filtration material; and a tubular element wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) engaged around the packing layer along its entire (e.g., longitudinal) length, the hollow tube, the packing layer, and the tubular element wrapper being the same length; a filter wrap engaged about the first longitudinally extending core, the second longitudinally extending core, and the longitudinally extending tubular element; The filter (or mouthpiece) has a pressure drop across the filter (or mouthpiece) of 80-100 mmHg, for example 97 mmHg.

64. 64. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 1 to 21, 24 to 41, 44 to 59, 62 or 63, having a circular cross section.

65. 64. A filter (or mouthpiece) according to any one of claims 1 to 21, 24 to 41, 44 to 59, 62 or 63, having an oval or elongated oval cross section.

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