Tar Extract Preparation from Discarded Cigarette Butts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Discarded cigarette butts, rich in tar with both aromatic and harmful components, contribute to environmental pollution and are not effectively utilized in existing extraction methods, which fail to isolate the aromatic components efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The method involves subcritical fluid extraction and molecular distillation of discarded cigarette butts to obtain a tar extract with aromatic characteristics, using solvents like n-butane and ethanol, and optimizing conditions for pressure, temperature, and time to separate and concentrate the aromatic components while removing harmful substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional extraction methods are used on discarded cigarette butts, then the extraction process is simple, but the aromatic components cannot be efficiently isolated and harmful substances remain
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process is divided into multiple sequential stages: subcritical fluid extraction to obtain crude extract, molecular distillation to separate aromatic components from harmful substances, and concentration to achieve the desired product strength. This segmentation allows each stage to target specific separation objectives, achieving high purification precision through progressive refinement rather than attempting single-step extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by transitioning from subcritical fluid conditions (below critical temperature and pressure) to molecular distillation conditions (high vacuum, elevated temperature). This parameter transformation enables selective vaporization of aromatic components while leaving heavier harmful substances behind, achieving efficient separation based on volatility differences without requiring overly complex equipment.
2Manufacturing precision
If subcritical fluid extraction and molecular distillation are used, then aromatic components are effectively separated, but the process complexity and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction principles by using subcritical fluid (such as supercritical CO2) to selectively dissolve and extract aromatic components from the cigarette butt matrix. The subcritical fluid penetrates the solid material, solubilizes target compounds, and then releases them upon pressure reduction. This is followed by molecular distillation that further extracts and separates aromatic substances based on their volatility, effectively taking out desired components while leaving contaminants behind.
Solution Approach 2:
The subcritical fluid acts as an intermediary medium that facilitates the transfer of aromatic components from the solid cigarette butt material to the liquid phase, and subsequently to the vapor phase during molecular distillation. This intermediary enables selective transport of target compounds without direct contact between the solid matrix and the final product, simplifying the overall separation process while maintaining high precision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If discarded cigarette butts are utilized as raw material, then environmental pollution is reduced, but the presence of harmful substances complicates the extraction process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful tar substances trapped in discarded cigarette butts into a beneficial aromatic extract. By applying subcritical fluid extraction followed by molecular distillation, the process selectively isolates aromatic components (such as terpenes, phenols, and other volatile organic compounds) from the harmful constituents (nicotine, carcinogens, and heavy metals). The harmful substances remain in the residue and are disposed of safely, while the aromatic fraction is purified and applied to cigarettes to enhance flavor and aroma, thus transforming waste pollution into a value-added product.
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
This process enhances the aroma, smoke, and taste characteristics of cigarettes, effectively utilizing discarded cigarette butts and reducing environmental pollution by increasing the usage of inferior tobacco leaves in middle- or low-end cigarettes.
Implementation Method 1
subcritical fluid extraction is a new extraction and separation technique developed after supercritical fluid extraction. By using a subcritical fluid as an extraction solvent, the extraction is carried out under closed, oxygen-free, low-pressure and low-temperature conditions
Implementation Method 2
carrying out vacuum filtration on the extraction solution, and carrying out vacuum distillation on the filtrate to obtain a concentrated extractum
Implementation Method 3
carrying out vacuum filtration on the extraction solution, and carrying out vacuum distillation on the filtrate to obtain a concentrated extractum
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method for preparing a tar extract with aromatic characteristics from a discarded cigarette butt. The method includes the following steps: (1) adding the discarded cigarette butt to an extraction solvent, and carrying out subcritical fluid extraction to obtain an extraction solution; (2) carrying out vacuum filtration on the extraction solution, and carrying out vacuum distillation on the filtrate to obtain a concentrated extractum; and (3) carrying out molecular distillation on the concentrated extractum, and collecting a light fraction of the molecular distillation to obtain the tar extract with aromatic characteristics. Through the subcritical fluid extraction and separation by the molecular distillation to prepare the tar extract, harmful substances in the tar are removed, and the aroma components are retained. The tar extract is applied to a cigarette to improve the aroma, smoke and taste characteristics of the cigarette, thereby providing an efficient path for widening the application scope of inferior tobacco leaves and increasing the usage amount of the inferior tobacco leaves in middle- or low-end cigarettes. By optimizing the conditions of the subcritical fluid extraction and separation by the molecular distillation, the tar extract is prepared from the cigarette butt at a higher extraction yield.