JPH11243939A - Filter for tobacco product - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a filter for tobacco product, sufficiently dispersible and degradable with such an amount of water as that of rain water, by making the filter include a filter main body prepared by forming a specific wet nonwoven fabric sheet into a filter rod shape. SOLUTION: This filter for tobacco product has a filter main body obtained by forming a wet nonwoven fabric sheet comprising preferably 5-10% of cellulose ester staple, pulp fiber or binder fiber containing preferably 5-60 wt.% of a water-insoluble carboxymethyl cellulose treated with one or more alkali treatment agents selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and an ammonium carbonate and hydrogencarbonate into a filter rod shape. Preferably, the binder fiber is a polyvinyl alcohol fiber.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a filter for tobacco products such as cigarettes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Most cigarette products on the market today include a cigarette column section made of a wrapped cigarette and a filter section made up of a filter body wrapped in a roll of thin paper. The filter unit is attached to one end of the tobacco column unit by chip paper. The filter body is usually constituted by a fiber bundle in which a fibrous filter material is bound by a binder, and as the fibrous filter material, pulp,
Cellulose fibers such as cellulose acetate are used.

When such a cigarette with a filter is placed in an outdoor environment, papers are peeled off due to moisture, rainwater, snowmelt, etc. in the environment, and the cigarette and the filter body are exposed. In this case, the paper and tobacco shreds develop and come into contact with the soil and can be degraded by microorganisms in the soil. However, since the filter body is a material in which the fibrous material is bound by the binder, it cannot be developed by rainwater or the like, and even if the filter body is a material that can be decomposed by soil microorganisms, the entire filter body is sufficiently affected by the action of soil microorganisms. In many cases, the filter main body remains intact even after a portion other than the filter main body is decomposed by soil microorganisms without being provided.

In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-78738 discloses that a water-soluble paper material mainly made of wood pulp or the like is wound into a columnar shape, and is covered with a non-breathable paper material. A cigarette filter is disclosed in JP-A-6-3195.
No. 12 discloses a filter for cigarette smoke in which a specific polyvinyl alcohol-based resin is used as a binder and a cellulosic material is bound, and JP-A-7-166 discloses
A smoke-absorbing material filter rod made of water-disintegrating paper is disclosed, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-120517 discloses a filter material for cigarette smoke containing a specific fibrillated fibrous cellulose ester, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-126484. Discloses a sheet-shaped tobacco filter material having a papermaking structure composed of non-crimped cellulose ester staple fibers and beaten pulp. JP-A-8-126485 discloses a cellulose ester staple having a modified cross section. A sheet-shaped tobacco filter material having a papermaking structure containing fibers is disclosed. JP-A-8-140654 discloses a filter material for tobacco smoke containing cellulose fibers or powder coated on the surface with cellulose ester.

[0005] However, these cigarette filters according to the prior art cannot be dispersed sufficiently with a water amount of about the amount of rainwater, or are insufficient in hardness, so that they are inferior in suitability for a tobacco production machine or incense tobacco. There is a disadvantage that the taste is impaired.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention relates to a tobacco product which can be sufficiently dispersed and disintegrated even with a water amount of rainwater, has a sufficient filter hardness, and does not impair the flavor of tobacco. It is an object to provide a filter.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a wet nonwoven fabric sheet containing water-insoluble carboxymethylcellulose fibers (hereinafter referred to as CMC fibers) treated with an alkali treatment agent into a filter rod shape. A filter for a tobacco product, comprising a molded filter body.

In the present invention, the wet nonwoven fabric preferably further contains at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of cellulose ester staple fibers, pulp fibers and binder fibers.

In the present invention, the alkali treating agent preferably comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of carbonates and bicarbonates of alkali metals or ammonium. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The alkali treating agent is sodium hydrogen carbonate, and the CMC fibers are treated by immersing or applying the CMC fibers in an aqueous solution containing the sodium hydrogen carbonate.

[0010] In the present invention, the wet nonwoven fabric contains either cellulose acetate fibers or pulp fibers and binder fibers in addition to the CMC fibers treated with the alkali treating agent, and the CMC treated with the alkali treating agent. It is preferable that the fibers contain 5 to 60% by weight of the fibers and the binder fibers 5 to 10% by weight, and the binder fibers are preferably polyvinyl alcohol fibers.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail. The filter for a tobacco product of the present invention has a filter body in which a nonwoven fabric sheet obtained by wet-making a wet nonwoven fabric material containing carboxymethylcellulose fibers treated with an alkali treating agent into a sheet is formed into a filter rod shape.

The wet nonwoven fabric constituting the filter body of the present invention further comprises at least one kind of fiber selected from the group consisting of cellulose ester staple fiber, pulp fiber and binder fiber, especially cellulose ester fiber and binder fiber. Is preferred.

The alkali-treated CMC fiber used characteristically in the present invention is such that when the filter of the present invention is placed in an outdoor environment and subjected to rainwater or the like, the filter easily swells due to the rainwater or the like, and It weakens the bonding force between fibers in the main body and promotes dispersion and shape collapse of the filter main body. There is no particular limitation on the length and diameter of the CMC fiber.

In the present invention, examples of the alkali treating agent used to improve the swellability of CMC fibers include alkali metal (sodium, potassium, etc.) or ammonium carbonates and hydrogen carbonates. In the present invention, sodium hydrogen carbonate (baking soda) is preferably used. The alkali treatment of the CMC fiber is carried out by adding an alkali to the complete stock of the nonwoven fabric raw material before the papermaking and then forming the paper, or by applying the aqueous solution to the nonwoven sheet by spraying or dipping after the papermaking. It can be carried out. When the alkali treating agent is used as an aqueous solution, its concentration is preferably equal to or higher than the neutralization equivalent obtained by converting the CMC fiber in the stock into the free acid. CM
The treatment of the C fiber with the alkali treatment agent is performed by immersing the CMC fiber in an aqueous solution of the alkali treatment agent or by immersing the aqueous solution in
It can also be performed by applying to MC fibers.

The cellulose ester fiber preferably contained in the wet nonwoven fabric constituting the filter body of the present invention is a fiber which does not impair the taste of tobacco among various fibers, and is used as a short fiber in the wet nonwoven fabric of the present invention. By including the same, the filter is given more excellent hardness to suitability for a tobacco production machine. Such cellulose ester short fibers can be made from cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, and cellulose nitrate, and cellulose acetate short fibers are particularly preferred. The length of the cellulose ester staple fiber is usually 0.1.
The diameter is 1 mm to 10 mm, and the diameter is not particularly limited, but is usually 0.1 to 100 μm.

The wet nonwoven fabric of the present invention may contain fibers other than cellulose ester and pulp which can be decomposed by soil microorganisms such as rayon. In the filter body of the present invention, it is preferable to use fibers for the binder. As the binder fiber, it is possible to maintain the shape of the nonwoven fabric sheet by combining the cellulose ester staple fiber and the CMC fiber, and the binding force is easily weakened by rainwater or the like. Among them, polyvinyl alcohol fiber is preferably used. Is done.

In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, a filter is used to obtain a filter which is sufficiently collapsed and dispersed in a water amount of about rainwater, and which has excellent hardness for a tobacco production machine without impairing the taste of tobacco. The main body (wet nonwoven fabric) is made of cellulose ester staple fiber and alkali-treated C
Containing MC fiber and binder fiber, generally CMC
If the fiber content is small, sufficient dispersibility cannot be obtained, and if the fiber content is large, the filter winding suitability tends to be poor. When the amount of the binder fiber is small, the shape of the nonwoven fabric cannot be maintained. When the amount of the binder fiber is large, suitability at the time of papermaking is poor, and sufficient dispersibility tends not to be obtained. The cellulose ester staple fiber, the alkali-treated CMC fiber, and the binder fiber are preferably 35 to 85% by weight, 5 to 60% by weight, and 5 to 10% by weight, respectively, more preferably 55 to 85% by weight, respectively. 85
% By weight, 5 to 40% by weight, and 5 to 10% by weight are contained in the filter body (wet nonwoven fabric). Regarding the filter hardness, the filter of the present invention has a depth of indentation after applying a load of 300 g for 10 seconds from 0.78 mm to 0.1 mm.
It can show 98 mm, about the same as the control, and has sufficient suitability in tobacco production machines.

Now, in order to manufacture the filter body of the present invention, a general wet papermaking method can be adopted. For example, cellulose ester staple fiber, CMC fiber,
And the binder fiber is dispersed in water to obtain a complete stock. An alkali for improving the swellability of the CMC fiber can be added to the complete stock. This complete stock is made by a normal paper machine to obtain a wet nonwoven sheet on a paper making net, which is dewatered and dried. By this drying, the binder fibers bind other fibers. In addition, when the alkali treatment agent is not contained in the complete stock, an aqueous solution of the alkali treatment agent is sprayed on the wet nonwoven sheet obtained by papermaking, or the alkali treatment agent is applied by dipping, and then similarly. dry.

Further, according to the present invention, even when pulp fibers are used instead of cellulose ester short fibers, a wet nonwoven fabric having the same characteristics as described above can be obtained.
The dry nonwoven fabric sheet obtained as described above can be formed into a rod shape by any ordinary suitable method to obtain the filter body of the present invention. For example,
JP-A-6-327457, JP-A-9-29457
The rod-shaped filter main body can be formed by a method similar to the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-64. FIG. 1 shows a filter manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the filter of the present invention, which is similar to the filter manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 of JP-A-6-327457. The filter manufacturing apparatus includes an adding section 10 for adding an additive (eg, activated carbon) 12 to a strip-shaped filter material (wet nonwoven fabric sheet of the present invention) 11 as needed, and a filter material 11 having passed through the adding section 10. It is provided with a molding part 20 which is formed into a cylindrical shape so as to enclose the additive 12, and the filter material 11 molded in the molding part 20 is further provided.
Is provided with a winding tube section 30 around which the web 31 is wound.

The filter material 11 supplied to the apparatus
Enters the forming unit 20 after receiving the supply of the additive 12 from the additive hopper 13 via the additive roll 14 in the adding unit 10. In the molding section 20, the filter material 11
In the trumpet guide 1 with grooves, as the filter material 11 advances, the filter material 11 is raised on both sides by the inner peripheral surface of a through hole (not shown) provided in the trumpet guide 1. It is gradually lifted up by contact at a speed and gradually rounded, and finally rounded so as to wrap the additives and the like, and exits the trumpet guide 1. The rolled filter material is formed while being sent by compressed air in the transfer jet 21, passes through the guide 22, and is formed into a predetermined diameter by the tongue 23. In the winding tube section 30, the adhesive supply device 33
The adhesive is supplied to the end portion of the web 31 from the web, and the web 31 is held by the garniture tape 32 and wound around the rolled filter material from the forming section 20. Usually, the paper roll is preferably water-soluble or water-soluble, and the filter material wound up by the paper roll is
Then, after being formed into a continuous rod shape, it is cut into a predetermined length.

The filter thus obtained can be attached to the tobacco shaft using ordinary chip paper. This tip paper is preferably water-soluble or water-soluble.

[0022]

The present invention will be described below with reference to examples. Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 2 A nonwoven fabric sheet was produced by a wet papermaking method using each fiber shown in Table 1 below (Table 1 shows a filter made of cellulose acetate fiber tow and wood pulp. Fiber filters are shown as Controls 1 and 2). In the complete stock in Examples 1 to 5, sodium bicarbonate was added to 9-1 to 1 according to the CMC fiber content in each stock.
It was previously added at a concentration of 5% by weight.

[0023]

[Table 1]

3 cm × 3 from the obtained dried nonwoven fabric sheet
cm test pieces were cut out. Each test piece was water 20
It was placed in a 200 mL beaker containing 0 mL (milliliter) and stirred at a rotation speed of 600 rpm using a 3 cm long magnetic stirrer. The time required for the test piece to disintegrate visually to 1/3 of the initial area was measured (water disintegration method).

Further, the above-mentioned dried non-woven fabric sheet is wound with a water-disintegratable wrapping paper and formed into a rod shape, which is 100 m in length.
m to obtain a filter plug. Table 2 below
The filter plug weight shown in (1) indicates the weight of the filter plug cut into 25 mm, which is the length for attaching the filter plug to a normal cigarette.

Each filter plug was placed on a 10 mm mesh (sample dish 40 mm in diameter). To this every minute 2.
After spraying 5 mL (vs. the sample dish) of water onto the filter plug for 6 minutes, the solution was sprayed under an atmosphere at a temperature of 40 ° C. and a relative humidity of 60%.
Example 1 Cycle of irradiating 90 W / m light for 30 minutes
-4, Comparative Examples 1, 2 and Control 1 were repeated 360 times, and Example 5 and Control were repeated 120 times, and the weight loss rate was measured (weather meter method).

Further, in order to measure the hardness of each filter plug, a load of 300 g was applied to each filter plug, and the depth of indentation was measured after 10 seconds. In addition, the filter body wound with the above-mentioned wrapping paper is attached to a normal cigarette with water-disintegrating tip paper, the cigarette with the filter is smoked, and the butts (standard smoking condition length) are placed on the soil. Examples 1 to 4, Comparative Examples 1 and 2
The state change was observed after 6 months for the control article 1 and after 3 months for the example 5 and the control article 2 for the control article 2 (outdoor exposure test). Table 2 shows the above results.

[0028]

[Table 2]

From the results shown in Table 2, it can be seen that the filter of the present invention can be formed into a non-woven fabric containing either cellulose acetate fibers or pulp fibers by adding alkali-treated CMC fibers to a sufficient amount of rainwater. It turns out that it collapses and the filter hardness is sufficient. In addition, when the cigarette provided with the filter of the present invention was smoked, the flavor was inferior to the control product 1 in all cases.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Provided is a filter which, when placed in an outdoor environment, sufficiently disintegrates and disperses in shape even with a water amount of about the amount of rainwater, has a hardness excellent in suitability for a tobacco manufacturing machine, and does not impair the flavor of tobacco. Since the fibers constituting the filter of the present invention can be decomposed by soil microorganisms, such a shape collapse sufficiently exerts the biodegradability inherent to each fiber.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for producing a filter of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Trumpet guide with a groove 10 ... Addition part 11 ... Filter material (nonwoven fabric sheet) 12 ... Additive 13 ... Additive hopper 14 ... Additive roll 20 ... Molding part 21 ... Transfer jet 22 ... Guide 23 ... Tong 30 ... Winding tube Part 31: roll paper 32: garniture tape 33: adhesive supply device

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Naoto Hamaya 1-17-7 Yokokawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Inside Japan Tobacco Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A filter for a tobacco product comprising a filter body obtained by forming a wet nonwoven sheet containing water-insoluble carboxymethylcellulose fibers treated with an alkali treating agent into a filter rod shape. 2. The wet nonwoven fabric further comprises at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of cellulose ester staple fibers, pulp fibers, and binder fibers.
A filter for a tobacco product as described. 3. The filter for a tobacco product according to claim 1, wherein the alkali treating agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of alkali metal or ammonium carbonates and bicarbonates. . 4. The water-insoluble carboxymethylcellulose fiber is treated by immersing or coating the water-insoluble carboxymethylcellulose fiber with an aqueous solution containing the sodium hydrogencarbonate as the alkali treating agent. Item 7. A filter for a tobacco product according to item 1 or 2. 5. A wet nonwoven fabric comprising, in addition to a water-insoluble carboxymethylcellulose fiber treated with an alkali treating agent, one of cellulose acetate fibers or pulp fibers and a binder fiber, the water-insoluble fabric treated with the alkali treating agent is used. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the filter contains carboxymethylcellulose fiber at a ratio of 5 to 60% by weight and the binder fiber at a ratio of 5 to 10% by weight. 6. The filter for a tobacco product according to claim 2, wherein the binder fiber is a polyvinyl alcohol fiber.