Folded Charcoal Filter Paper for VOC Adsorption and Flavor Preservation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional charcoal filters fail to effectively reduce volatile organic compounds (VOC), tar, and nicotine in cigarette smoke while maintaining flavor and taste, due to limitations in adsorptivity, production complexity, and high costs.

Innovation Solution

A charcoal filter made from folded charcoal-containing paper with externally added charcoal, which improves VOC adsorptivity and filtration performance, and is produced using a low-cost, easy-to-implement process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large amount of charcoal is used in the filter, then VOC adsorptivity is improved, but taste and flavor are diluted due to adsorption of flavor components

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVOC adsorptivityVSAvoiddilution of taste and flavor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is divided into multiple functional segments: a charcoal-containing paper section for VOC adsorption and a flavor-releasing section to maintain taste and flavor. This segmentation allows each segment to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between VOC reduction and flavor preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the filter are given different properties: the charcoal-containing paper section has high adsorptivity for VOCs, while the flavor-releasing section is designed to preserve and release flavor components. This local differentiation of quality allows the filter to simultaneously achieve VOC reduction and flavor maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If acetate fiber is used as filter base material with triacetin plasticizer, then filter flexibility is improved, but VOC adsorptivity of charcoal is deteriorated due to poisoning by triacetin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter flexibilityVSAvoidVOC adsorptivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful triacetin plasticizer is extracted/removed from the system by using alternative materials. The filter uses cellulose-based paper with different plasticizers or no plasticizer, eliminating the source of charcoal poisoning while maintaining filter flexibility through material selection and structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses disposable filter materials that do not require long-term chemical stability with plasticizers. The cellulose-based paper is designed for single-use, eliminating the need for triacetin plasticizer that would otherwise poison the charcoal over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If cavity-filled charcoal filter is used to maximize charcoal filling, then VOC adsorptivity is improved, but production complexity increases due to uneven filling and need for lids

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVOC adsorptivityVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses charcoal-containing paper with a porous structure that allows uniform distribution of charcoal particles throughout the paper matrix. This porous structure eliminates the need for complex cavity-filling processes and lids, as the charcoal is uniformly distributed during paper formation, simplifying production while maintaining high VOC adsorptivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

4Reliability

If filter length is increased to improve VOC reduction, then VOC adsorptivity is improved, but filter ventilation resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVOC adsorptivityVSAvoidventilation resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes key parameters of the filter material: using charcoal-containing paper with optimized charcoal particle size, distribution, and concentration. These parameter changes enable high VOC adsorptivity in a shorter filter length by increasing the effective adsorption surface area per unit length, thereby maintaining ventilation resistance at acceptable levels while achieving improved VOC reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 achieves enhanced VOC adsorption and filtration efficiency, allowing for a shorter filter length and improved smoking taste and flavor, while maintaining VOC adsorptivity and allowing for flexible cigarette design.

Implementation Method 1

ability of decreasing VOC is improved by using charcoal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

a high performance of filtering tar and nicotine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2550878B1Charcoal filter and cigarette
Publication Date: 2015.05.13 JAPAN TOBACCO INC
  • EP2550878B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2550878B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2550878B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A charcoal filter characterized by comprising a folded charcoal-containing paper on a surface of which charcoal is externally added.