Cigarette Filter Coarse Particle Adsorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cigarette filters fail to selectively and efficiently remove phenol compounds while maintaining palatable components like nicotine or tar, often resulting in reduced filter hardness and increased air resistance, and are prone to particulate dispersion issues.
Innovation Solution
A cigarette filter comprising a cellulose ester tow with cellulose acetate particles of specific sizes dispersed within, using a plasticizer like triacetin to enhance adsorption capacity and prevent particle elimination, achieving high hardness and moderate air resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If activated carbon is added to a cellulose acetate tow to adsorb phenol compounds, then phenol removal capacity is improved, but filter hardness decreases and air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter of the adsorption substance from conventional fine powder to coarse particles (0.1-2.0mm diameter), which fundamentally alters the relationship between adsorption capacity and mechanical properties. The coarse particles provide sufficient adsorption surface area while maintaining filter hardness and reducing air resistance compared to fine powder additives
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where coarse adsorption substance particles are embedded within the cellulose acetate tow matrix. This composite approach allows the adsorption particles to function independently while the tow provides structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between adsorption capacity and filter hardness
2Object-affected harmful factors
If activated carbon is added to a cellulose acetate tow to adsorb phenol compounds, then phenol removal capacity is improved, but air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter of the adsorption substance to coarse particles (0.1-2.0mm diameter), which reduces air resistance compared to fine powder. The larger particle size creates fewer obstruction points and reduces turbulence in the airflow path while maintaining adequate adsorption capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent distributes coarse adsorption particles locally within the cellulose acetate tow structure rather than using a uniform fine powder mixture. This localized distribution optimizes the balance between adsorption function and airflow characteristics, reducing overall air resistance
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a large amount of activated carbon is added to increase phenol removal, then phenol adsorption capacity is improved, but particle elimination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter to coarse particles (0.1-2.0mm diameter) which are mechanically stable and resistant to fragmentation. This size parameter prevents particle elimination during handling and smoking while providing sufficient adsorption surface area
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds coarse adsorption particles within the cellulose acetate tow matrix, creating a composite structure where the tow binds the particles together. This composite approach prevents particle elimination while allowing large amounts of adsorption substance to be incorporated
4Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional fine powder adsorption substance is used, then adsorption capacity per unit weight is high, but filter hardness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter from fine powder to coarse particles (0.1-2.0mm diameter). This parameter change reverses the conventional relationship where finer particles provide more adsorption surface area, as the coarse particles in this application provide sufficient surface area while maintaining structural integrity and filter hardness
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 phenol content by at least 10% while maintaining nicotine and tar permeability, with improved hardness and reduced air resistance, allowing for a larger amount of adsorption substance without increasing pressure drop.
Implementation Method 1
physical adsorption, typically using an activated carbon, removes not only the harmful substance but also a palatable component in cigarette smoke
Implementation Method 2
the resulting tow is sprinkled with a charcoal, and then the charcoal is attached to the tow with a plasticizer such as triacetin
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A cigarette filter is prepared by dispersing a cellulose acetate particle in a cellulose ester tow (10). The cellulose acetate particle has the following particle size: not less than 90% by weight of the cellulose acetate particle pass through a sieve having an aperture size of 1.7 mm and fail to pass through a sieve having an aperture size of 0.10 mm, and these sieves are in accordance with JIS Z8801-1 2006. The cigarette filter of the present invention may further contain a plasticizer (particularly, an acetin compound) in a ratio of 1 to 10 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the cellulose ester tow, and the cellulose acetate particle may be fixed to cellulose ester tow with the plasticizer. The cellulose ester tow may comprise a cellulose acetate tow. The cigarette filter selectively and efficiently removes a phenol compound (e.g. , phenol and cresol) while maintaining a palatable component (e.g., nicotine and tar).