OA11414A

OA11414A - Biodegradable filter for cigarettes.

Info

Publication number: OA11414A
Application number: OA1200000150A
Authority: OA
Inventors: Paul Georg Henning
Original assignee: Reemtsma H F & Ph
Priority date: 1997-11-21
Filing date: 2000-05-19
Publication date: 2004-04-20
Also published as: CZ20001829A3; CN1283965A; DK1032283T3; EA200000549A1; HK1034880A1; NO20002516L; HU225287B1; TW533062B; ES2182382T3; NO309354B1; PT1032283E; YU30900A; YU49407B; EA001997B1; ID25459A; TR200001454T2; DE59805850D1; HUP0100392A3; HUP0100392A2; JP2001523479A

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter cigarette comprising a biodegradable filter and a tobacco strand surrounded by cigarette paper, a non-woven air-laid cellulose filter with a normal retention capacity and a filter ventilation area extending in a peripheral direction. The inventive filter cigarette has the following combination of features: the filter has a condensate retention capacity of 40-60 %; the non-woven cellulose is non-crimped, the nicotine/tobacco strand condensate yield ratio lies between 0,6 and 0,9 (nicotine *10/condensate), the apparent density of the tobacco mixture of the tobacco strand ranges from 200 to 250mg/ml, the tobacco strand drag is between 45 and 65 mmwWS when measured in an enclosed form, air permeability of the cigarette paper is 20-50 CORESTA units and the filter ventilation degree is 15-50 %.

Description

1 41 4 t -

Biodégradable Filter for Cigarettes

The invention relates to a biodégradable filter accordingto the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such filter cigarettes hâve been described many times inthe past. However,- a disadvantage of ail previously 5 described filter cigarettes with biodégradable filters isthe clear effect on the taste of the smoke which isexerted by the different described materials and whichhas always led to a cigarette which was manufactured withmaterial other than the usual cellulose acetate being 10. rejected by smokers. A further disadvantage, particularlyof filters manufactured from biodégradable cellulose, wasalso the clearly visible différence in the appearance ofthe filter end. In the past, this has meant thatbiodégradable filters hâve not been able to be accepted 15 as monofilters on acetate filter markets.

The object of the invention is therefore to produce afilter cigarette of the kind stated that provides an"acetate-typical" taste impression and an "acetate-typical" optical appearance whilst retaining the 20 advantages of the known filter cigarette.

According to the invention, this object is achieved bythe features given in the characterizing portion of claim 1.

Suitable versions are defined by the features of the 25 dépendent daims.

The advantages achieved with the invention rest on thesélection of a spécial cellulose material and on thedesign of a filter cigarette structure matched thereto z 011414 with adaptation of the essential parameters, namely therétention performance of the filter, the strand yieldratio nicotine/condensate of the tobacco strand, thepacking density of the tobacco mixture of the tobacco 5 strand, the air permeability of the cigarette paper andfinally the degree of filter ventilation in the directionof an overall structure that optimizes the tasteimpression on the one hand and the optical attractivenesson the other. The nicotine yield of the filter cigarette <,q is up to a maximum of 1 mg and the condensate yield from6 mg to 12 mg.

The sought-after degree of ventilation of 15 to 50 % canbe established by the corresponding design of theventilation zone in the covering wrapper and wrapping.

According to a preferred embodiment, the ventilation zoneof the filter is composed of one or two sériés of holeswhich is at least 10 mm away from the mouth-side end; theholes can either be manufactured by laser irradiation ormechanically on the finished cigarette, and should be as 2q small as possible and not very visible, good resultsbeing reached with 15 to 25 holes in two ventilationrows.

Surprisingly, it has been shown that the acetate-typicaltaste impression and the acetate-typical optical 25 attractiveness can only be attained if the filter ismanufactured from a cellulose material processed by meansof the so-called "air-laid" process to a tangled fleece,and this is further processed "uncrimped" to give thefinished filter. In the process, a suitable combination 30 of area weight, thickness and width of air-laid fleececan be established according to the desired filter drawrésistance and thus the degree of rétention. 3

In the air-laid process such as. described in, forexample, the US-PS 4,375,447, for example, the preparedcellulose fibres are not suspended in water as in thestandard paper manufacturing process, passed for sheet 5 forming to a permeable sieve on which the cellulosefibres, conditioned by their beating and fibrillation,cross-link with each other mechanically, but are passedmaximally separated into a stream of air that transportsthem onto a permeable continuous sieve and stacks them 10 randomly on the latter. This yields an almost cottonwool-like voluminous fleece which thus does not demonstrateany mechanical strength or fibre linkage. A mechanicalbond and thus the necessary mechanical strength which isrequired for further processing is obtained by adding a 15 binder such as, e.g., polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylacetate, polymer starch, dextrin or latex. The degree ofthe density (g/cm3) and thus of the voluminosity orthickness is set by subséquent calendering. The areaweight (g/m2) is controlled via the sieve velocity or theintroduction of fibre into the stream of air.

The invention is explained in more detail in thefollowing with reference to embodiments:

The filter cigarette has a tobacco strand surrounded by acigarette paper and a filter joined to the tobacco 25 strand. The packing density of the tobacco blend liesbetween 200 and 250 mg/ml. The of the strand drawrésistance lies between 45 and. 65 mm water columnpressure gauge, measured closed.

The cigarette paper has a low to medium air permeabilityin the range from 15 to 50 Coresta units. Thenicotine*10/condensate strand yield ratio of the tobaccoblend should lie between 0.6 and 0.9. * 011414

The"" filter consists of the folded-together ’uncrimped"air-laid fleece folded together and is surrounded by aporous wrapping paper. A zone-porous covering papersurrounds the wrapping paper and serves to secure theg filter to the tobacco strand. The air permeability of theporous zone of the covering paper is selected such thatthe desired degree of filter ventilation results in conjunction with the wrapping paper lying beneath it.

Tests with such a filter hâve, led, in combination with g the specified tobacco strand hâve lead to a condensateyield of 6 to 12 mg and a nicotine yield of at most 1 mg.Tests with experienced long-term smokers showed that suchcigarettes could not be distinguished from cigarettes ' manufactured conventionally with acetate filters.

Claims

5 01 HH Patent Claims

1. Filter cigarette with a biodégradable filter with: a) a tobacco strand surrounded by a cigarettepaper; b) a filter manufactured from cellulose fleece 5 manufactured using the "air-laid" process with "normal" degree of rétention; and with c) a filter ventilation zone running incircumferential direction; characterized by the combination of the10 following features: d) the filter has a degree of condensaterétention of 40 to 60 %; e) the cellulose fleece is "uncrimped"; f) the strand yield ratio nicotine/condensateof the tobacco strand lies between 0.6 and 0.9(nicotine*10/condensate); g) the packing density of the tobacco blend ofthe tobacco strand lies between 200 and 250mg/ml; ,Q h) the tobacco strand draw résistance lies between 45 and 65 mm water column pressuregauge, measured closed; i) the air permeability of the cigarette paperis 20 to 50 Coresta units; and j) the degree of filter ventilation is to 15 to50
2. Filter cigarette according to claim 1, characterizedin that the ventilation zone is formed by acombination of porous wrapping and covering papers 3 whichbegin at least 10 mm from the mouth-side end of the filter.
3. Filter cigarette according to claim 1, characterized 6 011414 in that the ventilation zone in the finishedcigarette is manufacturée! mechanically or by laserirradiation.
4. Filter cigarette according to claim 2, characterized 5 in that the ventilation zone is formed by one or two row(s) of ventilation apertures that is (are) atleast 10 mm from the mouth-side end of the filter.
5. Filter cigarette according to one of daims 1 to 4, characterized in that the Q filter consists of an "uncrimped" cellulose fleece with a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm.
6. Filter cigarette according to one of daims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filter is composed of an’uncrimped" cellulose fleece with a width of 10 to 15 15 cm.