Lyocell Cigarette Filter Tow Crimping for Biodegradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cigarette filters made from cellulose acetate are not biodegradable enough, taking a long time to decompose and posing environmental hazards, and existing biodegradable alternatives struggle to balance degradation rate, absorption profile, and tobacco flavor characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A method for manufacturing a lyocell material for cigarette filters involving spinning a cellulose pulp and N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide aqueous solution, followed by coagulation, water-washing, oil-treating, and crimping using a stuffer box with controlled steam and pressure to produce a crimped tow with 15-30 crimps per inch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If cellulose acetate is used for cigarette filters, then the filter structure is maintained for one to two years, but the biodegradation time is excessively long and environmental harm occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using lyocell fibers with specific degree of polymerization (DPw: 600-1700) and controlling substitution degree (DS: 1.0-3.0), transforming the material from conventional cellulose acetate to a biodegradable lyocell-based composition that maintains structural stability during use but degrades rapidly in the environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite filter material combining lyocell fibers with specific plasticizers and additives in controlled ratios, forming a composite structure that achieves both structural integrity during service and accelerated biodegradation after disposal, resolving the contradiction between stability and degradation time
2Loss of time
If biodegradable polymer composites are used, then biodegradation rate increases, but the absorption profile and tobacco flavor characteristics become unacceptable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes critical parameters including degree of polymerization (DPw: 600-1700), substitution degree (DS: 1.0-3.0), and plasticizer content ratios to achieve the perfect balance where the material degrades rapidly while maintaining acceptable absorption characteristics and tobacco flavor properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional characteristics to different aspects of the filter material - the lyocell fiber structure provides rapid biodegradation while the controlled plasticizer distribution and fiber morphology maintain the necessary absorption profile and flavor characteristics, achieving local optimization of conflicting properties
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 method results in a highly biodegradable lyocell material that is eco-friendly and suitable for cigarette filters, degrading quickly and maintaining desired properties for absorption and flavor.
Implementation Method 1
spinning a lyocell spinning dope comprising a cellulose pulp and an N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) aqueous solution
Implementation Method 2
coagulating the lyocell spinning dope spun in (S1), thus obtaining lyocell multifilaments
Implementation Method 3
crimping the lyocell multifilaments oil-treated in (S4), thus obtaining a crimped tow
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a lyocell material for a cigarette filter, wherein the lyocell material which is biodegradable and eco-friendly can be manufactured by crimping lyocell multifilaments to thus obtain a crimped tow.