Cigarette Filter with Cellulose Triacetate Particles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Cigarette filters with cellulose acetate fiber tows selectively remove semivolatile components from mainstream smoke, affecting smoking taste, and existing filters do not effectively manage the permeability of these components.

Innovation Solution

A cigarette filter comprising a cellulose acetate fiber tow with dispersed cellulose triacetate particles having an average acetyl substitution degree of 2.8 to 3.0 and a BET specific surface area less than 5 m2/g, accounting for 1.5 to 30% by volume, which controls the filtration rate of semivolatile components without significant adsorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a cellulose acetate fiber tow filter is used to remove harmful components from cigarette smoke, then tar removal efficiency is improved, but semivolatile component permeability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetar removal efficiencyVSAvoidsemivolatile component permeability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines cellulose acetate fiber tow with cellulose triacetate particles to create a composite filter material. The cellulose triacetate particles with high acetyl substitution degree (2.8-3.0) and low BET specific surface area (<5 m²/g) modify the overall filtration characteristics, reducing semivolatile component adsorption while maintaining tar removal capability through the synergistic effect of the composite structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the filter material by selecting cellulose triacetate particles with specific acetyl substitution degree (2.8-3.0) and BET specific surface area (<5 m²/g). These parameter changes result in reduced polarity and surface area, which decrease the adsorption affinity for semivolatile components while maintaining structural integrity for tar filtration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If cellulose triacetate particles with high acetyl substitution degree are added to control semivolatile component permeability, then semivolatile component removal is reduced, but filter hardness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesemivolatile component permeabilityVSAvoidfilter hardness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the acetyl substitution degree parameter to 2.8-3.0 and BET specific surface area to <5 m²/g, achieving a balance where semivolatile component permeability is improved while the structural parameters maintain sufficient filter hardness. This precise parameter control prevents excessive softening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cellulose triacetate particles are dispersed within the cellulose acetate fiber tow matrix, creating local regions with modified properties. The particles themselves have low polarity and small surface area, creating localized zones that resist semivolatile adsorption while the surrounding fiber matrix maintains overall structural hardness and integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If cellulose triacetate particles are dispersed in the fiber tow to modify filtration characteristics, then semivolatile component permeability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesemivolatile component permeabilityVSAvoidparticle dispersion uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs local quality by dispersing cellulose triacetate particles within the fiber tow matrix rather than requiring uniform distribution throughout. This allows regions with particle aggregates to coexist with regions of lower concentration, maintaining overall filtration performance while reducing manufacturing precision requirements for particle distribution

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 the removal of semivolatile components, maintaining their presence in mainstream smoke and enhancing the smoking flavor, while ensuring suitable draw resistance and hardness without the need for excessive triacetin as a plasticizer.

Implementation Method 1

cellulose triacetate particles dispersed in the tow and having an average acetyl substitution degree of 2.8 to 3.0, wherein the cellulose triacetate particles do not contain any additives and have a BET specific surface area of less than 5 m2/g

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

The cigarette filter of the present invention does not significantly remove the semivolatile component in cigarette mainstream smoke

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP2789249B8Cigarette filter and cigarette
Publication Date: 2018.12.26 JAPAN TOBACCO INC

AI summary

A cigarette filter comprises a filter plug (121) that includes a filter material containing a cellulose acetate fiber tow (122), and filtration rate control particles (124) dispersed in the tow and selected from cellulose particles, cellulose triacetate particles and a mixture thereof. A cigarette comprises the cigarette filter.