Chitosan-Pulp Cigarette Filter for Smoke Reduction and Biodegradability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cellulose acetate filters are poorly biodegradable and insufficient in reducing hazardous smoke components, and mixing chitosan with synthetic polymer fibers results in uneven distribution and reduced reaction area of amine functional groups.

Innovation Solution

A tobacco filter is manufactured by uniformly mixing chitosan fibers with pulp fibers in a paper sheet, maintaining a high reaction area for amine functional groups without additional adhesive processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If cellulose acetate filters are used to reduce smoke components, then filtration performance is improved, but biodegradability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke component reductionVSAvoidbiodegradability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the filter by using cellulose fiber with specific properties (alpha-cellulose content of 70-90%, degree of polymerization of 100-500) and controlling the pore size (0.5-5 μm) to achieve both effective smoke component reduction and improved biodegradability compared to conventional cellulose acetate filters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite filter structure combining cellulose fiber matrix with chitosan-coated particles, where the cellulose provides biodegradability and the chitosan-coated particles provide enhanced filtration of smoke components through their amine functional groups

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If chitosan is mixed with synthetic polymer fibers to improve biodegradability, then biodegradability is improved, but uniformity of chitosan distribution deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebiodegradabilityVSAvoiduniformity of chitosan distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses water-soluble adhesives as intermediaries to uniformly distribute chitosan particles on cellulose fibers during the wet-laying process, ensuring homogeneous distribution without requiring synthetic polymer carriers that would compromise biodegradability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent controls the particle size of chitosan (1-10 μm) and the adhesive content (0.1-5 wt%) to achieve uniform distribution of chitosan throughout the filter structure while maintaining biodegradability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If adhesive components are used to bind chitosan fiber to maintain structure, then structural stability is improved, but reaction area of amine functional groups deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidreaction area of amine functional groups
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a porous filter structure with controlled pore size (0.5-5 μm) that allows smoke to penetrate deeply into the filter matrix, maximizing the exposed surface area of amine functional groups while using minimal adhesive (0.1-5 wt%) to maintain structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies adhesive components locally and sparingly (0.1-5 wt%) only where necessary to bind the fibrous matrix structure, rather than uniformly coating all surfaces, thereby preserving the reaction area of amine functional groups on chitosan particles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The filter effectively reduces hazardous smoke components by enhancing biodegradability and maintaining a high reaction area for amine functional groups, improving filtration performance and air permeability.

Implementation Method 1

the reaction area of an amine functional group on the surface of the chitosan fiber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction with amine functional groups: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

a tobacco filter including a paper sheet, wherein the paper sheet includes a pulp fiber and a chitosan fiber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4706414A1Cigarette filter and smoking article comprising same
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 KT&G CO LTD
  • EP4706414A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4706414A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4706414A1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

Disclosed is a cigarette filter for reducing harmful smoke components. Provided according to one aspect is a cigarette filter comprising a paper sheet, wherein the paper sheet comprises pulp fibers and chitosan fibers, and the pulp fibers comprise at least one of single fibers and mixed fibers with a coarseness of 13 mg/100 m or more.