EP1629736A1

EP1629736A1 - Catalytic cigarette filter

Info

Publication number: EP1629736A1
Application number: EP03758128A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Juan Guerrero Moles; Salvador Clemente Izquierdo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-21
Filing date: 2003-10-20
Publication date: 2006-03-01
Also published as: ES2206046A1; AU2003274146A1; WO2004034825A1; ES2206046B1

Abstract

This invention is a catalyst cigarette filter made up of two segments of cellulose paper and acetate fiber (1) and (3), separated by an intermediate cavity (2) which contains a chemical catalyst; this catalyst is based on a fixed binder bed and an oxidant and reducer compound with the chemical formula of Na,Ca,(Al ₂ Sl ₇ O ₁₈ )7H ₂ O K(Mg,Fe ²⁺ )(Al,Fe ³⁺ )(OH), obtained from natural mineral products formed in volcanic rock. The endothermic and hydrophilic nature of the catalyst, with its large porous surface results in oxidation-reduction reactions of the organic and toxin compounds of the inhaled tobacco smoke. Thus, different chemical substances are formed resulting in an exit smoke with zero tar and zero nicotine and a purified flavor.

Description

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a catalyst cigarette filter which reduces tar and nicotine levels in the smoke drawn into the smoker's mouth to zero.
This reduction comes about from a filter containing a chemical catalyst located in its central cavity; this filter consists of a fixed binder bed and a compound of oxides and reducers. The reduction is based on the metal oxides which are used as active elements and diverse microelements which favor oxidation-reduction reactions of the harmful substances present in tobacco smoke; these are suppressed by becoming transformed into other substances.

THE STATE OF PREVIOUS TECHNIQUES

Cigarette tobacco smoke is an aerosol in disperse gas or vapor droplets. At the high temperature in which a cigarette ignites (about 800° C) most of the organic compounds and toxins are in a gaseous or vaporous state from having gone through a thermal combustion reaction; this combustion also creates oxide compounds and other diverse chemical substances which are inhaled by the smoker. About 4,000 of these compounds and substances have been identified which, due to their effects on bodily tissues, can be classified as chemical asphyxiants, compound irritants and carcinogens.
Among the toxic substances in tobacco smoke three in particular stand out due to their ability to produce pathologies: nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. These substances easily enter into bodily fluids and are absorbed by the tissues.
Nicotine is the main ingredient in tobacco and is responsible for addiction to smoking. It is a colorless alkaloid that contains no oxygen and has no therapeutic use (quite to the contrary, it is used as an insecticide). 90% of nicotine is absorbed by the lungs when it originates from a lit cigarette. Each cigarette contains up to 3.5 grams of this substance. Nicotine is a stimulant that acts upon diverse parts of the body; it speeds up heart rate, increases the risk of coronary artery disease and stimulates the release of adrenaline which acts upon the nerve centers that control blood pressure, and leads to other pathologies. Its pharmacological effects includes electro-cortical activation and muscular relaxation causing negative cardiovascular and endocrine symptoms which in turn reinforce the need for its consumption.
Cigarette tar is a mixture of chemical products (hydrocarbons and carbon) which make up the solid portion of the smoke produced from the combustion. It is a black viscous substance. When it is inhaled with the smoke the tar is deposited on tissues that cover the mouth, throat and lung areas. Cigarette tar has a chemical composition that produces cancer. In actuality, it is the catalyst for most of the pathologies that tobacco produces.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, highly toxic gas which is given off when tobacco and cigarette paper are lit. When it is drawn into the lungs it displaces oxygen in erythrocytes and forms carboxy hemoglobin, a substance which is not suitable for transporting oxygen. The inhalation of large amounts of carbon monoxide will result in death by cerebral and tissue anoxia. High levels of carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen entry and lowers its adherence to hemoglobin, which increases arteriosclerosis and other pathologies. Recent work indicates that carbon monoxide is the greatest factor in contributing to heart attacks, sudden death, chronic respiratory pathologies and deaths in unborn babies.
It is therefore evident that one of the current public health problems in the world is brought on by tobacco. This being the case, all cigarette manufacturers, through very strict laws enacted by different governments, are required to reduce tobacco toxins. These toxins cause four million people to become ill and die each year worldwide.
According to direct contacts with European manufacturers of traditional cellulose and acetate fiber cigarette filters, there currently is only one filter on the market that uses a catalyst. This is an active carbon compound absorbent, although its performance is not very satisfactory due to rapid saturation.
Finally, in order to meet this need and provide an all-but-definitive solution to the health problem created by tobacco, a new catalyst for cigarette filters has been Developer; due to the chemical transformations that this catalyst produces, the level of tar and nicotine in the smoke that reaches the smoker's mouth is reduced to zero.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The catalyst cigarette filter invention is made up of two equal length parts made of cellulose paper and acetate fiber; one is located in the tip and the other in the part with the tobacco. These are separated by an intermediate cavity containing the chemical catalyst. The cavity consists of a fixed binder bed with a granolometry of 0.0 to 0.1 mm and a dosage of 250 to 300 mg of an oxidant and reducer compound. These are based on active metal oxides and diverse microelements, forming 100% of the volume of the filter bed. The specific chemical formula of the catalyst is the following:

Na, Ca,(Al₂Sl₇O₁₈)7H₂O K(Mg,Fe²⁺)(Al,Fe³⁺)(OH) (I)

And its composition is the following:

a) Metal oxides: 65.3% silicon oxide (SiO₂), 15.1% aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), 4.1% de potassium oxide (K₂O), 3.1% sodium oxide (Na₂O), 2.7% iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), 2.7% calcium oxide (CaO), 1.9% ferrous oxide (FeO), 1.5% magnesium oxide (MgO), 0.9% manganese oxide (MnO), 0.42% water (H₂O), 0.4% titanium oxide (TiO₂) y 0.12% phosphorous oxide (P₂O₅).
b) Microelements (ppm): Vanadium (V), gallium (Ga), scandium (Sc), strontium (Sr), lithium (Li), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo),
nickel (Ni), niobium (Nb), cobalt (Co), wolfram (W), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), tin (Sn), cesium (Ce), zirconium (Zr).
c) Microelements of rare soils (ppm): Cerium (Ce), lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), yttrium (Y), europium (Eu), lutetium (Lu), ytterbium (Yb) cadmium (Cd), holmium (Ho), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), radium (Ra), samarium (Sm), germanium (Ge) and erbium (Er).

All of these components of the chemical catalyst are present in each of its particles. All are of natural origin and are physiologically acceptable given that the compound is innocuous.
The formula I catalyst compound described above is endothermic and hydrophilic and has a large porous surface so that the updraft of inhaled tobacco smoke from the cigarettes drawn into contact with the filter bed surface is absorbed through precipitation, condensation and dehydration. This favors an oxidation-reduction chemical reaction between the organic compounds and toxins of the smoke and the formula I oxidant and reducer compound. As a result different types of chemicals are formed resulting in smoke exiting with zero tar and zero nicotine, and with a purified flavor.
The cigarette catalyst filter invention is conceived as an integral part of the body of the cigarette itself on the tip which is drawn upon or smoked. However, it can also be used as an integral part of wider tips and generally may be attached cigarettes and cigars.
The diagrams that accompany this brief will give a better understanding of the invention. Figure 1 shows the filter invention from a longitudinal angle displaying the intermediate cavity that contains the chemical catalyst. Figure 2 shows the three parts of the filter and the direction of smoke flow produced during intake.

MANUFACTURE OF THE INVENTION

The oxidant and reducer compound that occupies 100% of the filter bed volume (2) of the chemical catalyst (formula I) has been derived from natural mineral substances formed in volcanic rocks which contain a series of highly active free radicals. Some of these properties are endothermic and hydrophilic. These substances contain aluminum and highly crystallized and chemically stable hydrated silicates; their structures are highly porous and may incorporate atoms from any metal in differing proportions.
Because the catalyst is an endothermic and hydrophilic invention with a large porous surface, upon contact with the filter bed (2), and after passing through he first segment of paper or fiber (3), the updraft of the inhaled cigarette smoke is absorbed through precipitation, condensation and dehydration into the surface of the filter bed. This favors an oxidation-reduction chemical reaction between the organic compounds and smoke toxins and the formula I oxidant and reducer compound. As a result they absorb gases and vapors, capture compounds and screen molecules which form different chemicals of the former. the smoke then passes through the final fiber or paper part (1). Finally, the smoke leaves the filter and enters into the mouth of the smoker with zero tar and zero nicotine, and with a purified flavor.
The filter bed that occupies the central cavity (2) is the most important part of the invention. It acts as a catalyst of oxidation-reduction reactions of the organic compounds and toxins contained in the tobacco smoke. Among these substances are tar and nicotine. As in all redox reactions where there is a transfer of electrons some substances are oxidized and others reduced. Among these are harmful smoke compounds which become transformed into other compounds and are retained in the form of particles in the filter bed. The result is an exit smoke with zero tar and zero nicotine.
The quantitative and qualitative chemical tests of inhaled cigarette smoke that demonstrate the above-mentioned results are surprising when considering that the filter does more than just filter the smoke physically. The catalyst filter further acts through segments (1) and (3) of the usual material mainly through an oxidation-reduction chemical process on the harmful substances in the filter bed of the catalyst (2). These harmful substances are transformed into other substances and are retained. The findings, described below, are both simple and conclusive.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, ten cigarettes were smoked through an automatic smoking machine. Five of these cigarettes had conventional filters and the other five had the filter containing the catalyst invention. Each cigarette had identical smoke collecting tips.
When each of the 10 cigarettes had been smoked, the tips were removed. By simple observation, the effectiveness of the new catalyst was noticeable. While the conventional filters were blackened, those with the treated filter seemed as if they had not even been used. After removing the filters, they were weighed. Measuring the difference in mg between the filters with the catalyst and those without, as well as their weights before and after the test showed that there was complete retention of tar and nicotine.
The products used in preparing parts (1) and (3) which are on opposite sides of the cavity (2) of the catalyst are not related to the purpose of this invention; this is also the case for the shape and sizes of these products as well as any accessories that may be present, provided that they do not affect the functioning of the catalyst part of the invention.

Claims

The cigarette catalyst, composed of two parts of the same length made out of cellulose paper and acetate fiber, one in the tip part (1) and the other in the tobacco part (3), essentially characterized by the intermediate cavity (2) between said segments and contains a chemical catalizer. This catalizer is made up of a fixed binder bed having a granolometry of 0.0 to 0.1 mm and a dosage of 250 to 300 mg of an oxidant and reducer compound; this compound occupies 100% of bed's volume and has a chemical formula I as follows: Na,Ca,(Al ₂ Sl ₇ O ₁₈ )7H ₂ O K(Mg,Fe ²⁺ )(Al,Fe ³⁺ )(OH). It has the following composition:
a) Metal oxides: 65.3% silicon oxide (SiO₂), 15.1% aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), 4.1% de potassium oxide (K₂O), 3.1% sodium oxide (Na₂O), 2.7% iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), 2.7% calcium oxide (CaO), 1.9% ferrous oxide (FeO), 1.5% magnesium oxide (MgO), 0.9% manganese oxide (MnO), 0.42% water (H₂O), 0.4% titanium oxide (TiO₂) y 0.12% phosphorous oxide (P₂O₅).

b) Microelements (ppm): Vanadium (V), gallium (Ga), scandium (Sc), strontium (Sr), lithium (Li), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), niobium (Nb), cobalt (Co), wolfram (W), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), tin (Sn), cesium (Ce), zirconium (Zr).

c) Microelements of rare soils (ppm): Cerium (Ce), lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), yttrium (Y), europium (Eu), lutetium (Lu), ytterbium (Yb) cadmium (Cd), holmium (Ho), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), radium (Ra), samarium (Sm), germanium (Ge) y erbium (Er).
As indicated in the first claim, the catalyst cigarette filter is mentioned because of its endothermic and hydrophilic nature; it has a large porous surface and an oxidant-reduction effect from the formula I compound; these produce a thermal and oxidation-reduction reaction which transforms the organic compounds and toxins in the inhaled tobacco smoke into different types of chemical substances resulting in zero tar and zero nicotine.
Use of the catalyst cigarette filter, according to claims 1 and 2, forms an integral part of the cigarette in the tip.
Use of the catalyst cigarette filter, according to claims 1 and 2, as an integral part of any type of filters and may be generally attached to the tips cigarettes and cigars.
Use of catalyst cigarette filter, according to claims 1 and 2, as a component of systems or products which act as filters for cigarettes, according to claims 3 and 4.