EP2520184A1 - Process for recycling cigarette butts and the like - Google Patents
Process for recycling cigarette butts and the like Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2520184A1 EP2520184A1 EP11164437A EP11164437A EP2520184A1 EP 2520184 A1 EP2520184 A1 EP 2520184A1 EP 11164437 A EP11164437 A EP 11164437A EP 11164437 A EP11164437 A EP 11164437A EP 2520184 A1 EP2520184 A1 EP 2520184A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- butt
- cigarette
- filter
- butts
- tobacco
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
- A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
- A24C5/36—Removing papers or other parts from defective cigarettes
Abstract
It is provided a process for recycling cigarette butts and the like to enable reuse of a butt (1), comprising a filter (1 a) adapted to partly retain the harmful substances produced by said cigarette, residual tobacco (1c) and an envelope (1 b) adapted to partly surround said filter (1 a) and consisting in: a step (10) of removing at least said residual tobacco (1 c) from the butt (1) and a step (30) of washing the butt (1), at least partly removing the harmful substances from the butt (1) deprived of the residual tobacco (1 c).
Description
- The present invention relates to a process for recycling cigarette butts and the like, of the type pointed out in the preamble of the first claim.
- Therefore, the process is suitable for recycling the cigarette portion remaining at the end of a cigarette after use, which consists of the filter and an envelope and, in some cases, of a tobacco portion adapted to be removed before recycling. Smoke from a cigarette introduces more than 4000 chemical substances having an irritating, noxious, toxic, mutagenic and cancerogenic action into the surrounding environment. In particular, these substances enter the smoker's respiratory system.
- For the above reason, each cigarette is provided with a filter fastened to a cigarette end and adapted to at least partly retain the aforesaid chemical substances. In greater detail, when the cigarette is being smoked, the filter is adapted to be placed at least partly inside the smoker's mouth so that smoke is forced to pass through the filter before reaching the smoker's lungs.
- Therefore, part of these chemical substances remain in the filter and contaminate the unsmoked cigarette portion, usually referred to as cigarette butt. That is why in butts many contaminants or pollutants are present, among which nicotine, benzene, toxic gases, radioactive compounds (such as polonium 210) and cellulose acetate, i.e. the plastic material of which filter is made.
- Finally, the decomposition time of a cigarette butt varies from one to eight years; in fact, in spite of the fact that tobacco and paper dissolve in few months, the filter resists the bacterium enzymes for several years.
- The known art mentioned above has some important drawbacks.
- Cigarette butts, as pointed out by ENEA (A domestic agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development) are classified as dangerous waste for the environment. In fact, a recent research of the United States has proved that butts are part of the main waste suffocating the Mediterranean sea.
- Accordingly, it is an important problem to carry out recycling of the cigarette butts, preventing them from remaining dispersed in the environment for years.
- Under this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to conceive a process for recycling cigarette butts and the like capable of substantially obviating the mentioned drawbacks.
- Within the scope of this technical task it is an important aim of the invention to provided a process enabling the cigarette butts to be recycled allowing reuse of same.
- It is a further aim of the invention to create a simple and cheap process for recycling of cigarette butts.
- The technical task mentioned and the aims specified are achieved by a process for recycling cigarette butts and the like as claimed in the appended
Claim 1. Preferred embodiments are highlighted in the sub-claims. - The features and advantages of the invention are hereinafter clarified by the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
Fig. 1 shows a device adapted to put into practice the process according to the invention; -
Fig. 2 shows an element adapted to be processed by the aforesaid device; and -
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the process. - With reference to the drawings, the process for recycling cigarette butts and the like according to the invention is generally identified by
reference numeral 100. - This process is therefore adapted to enable reuse of the
cigarette butts 1, i.e. the cigarette portion remaining after the cigarette use.Butts 1, as shown inFig. 2 , include afilter 1a, which is employed for retaining at least part of the harmful substances produced by the cigarette, anenvelope 1b usually made of paper material and adapted to surround the whole cigarette, and aresidual tobacco portion 1c. In greater detail,process 100 is suitable to enable reuse offilters 1a, which are usually made of cellulose acetate, paper, cotton or mixed cotton and paper. -
Process 100 is preferably obtained through use of adevice 2 adapted to perform extraction of the harmful substances frombutt 1. In detail,device 2 comprises acontainer 2a defining an inner chamber adapted to house abasket 3 for receiving a plurality ofbutts 1, and at least onevessel 4 adapted to be brought into connection for fluid passage withbasket 3 through pipes or similar elements not shown in the figure. Preferably, as shown inFig. 1 , there are at least two vessels: thefirst vessel 4a containing water possibly with addition of a suitable detergent; and asecond vessel 4b containing hydrogen peroxide. - In particular, the detergent contained in
vessel 4a consists of 5% sodium hypochlorite, while thesecond vessel 4b contains 30% hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the second vessel can advantageously contain, in addition to hydrogen peroxide, colouring matter or dyes for colouringbutt 1, and/or perfumed substances such as sweet-smelling oils, adapted to enable the recycledbutt 1 to have a pleasant smell. - Finally,
device 2 preferably includes afluid actuating system 5 adapted to cause movement of said fluids, and amotor 6 for actuation ofbasket 3.Motor 6 drives saidbasket 3 in rotation relative tocontainer 2a ensuring both a high washing quality and an appropriate drying ofbutts 1 by centrifugation. - In detail, the actuating
system 5 allows the fluids contained invessels 4 to flow into the inner chamber ofcontainer 2a filling it at least partly, and to be then evacuated from said chamber during the final steps of therecycling process 1. In greater detail, the system can be therefore advantageously obtained by a pump and a series of pipes. - Finally,
device 2 can advantageously comprise afilling unit 7 adapted to storebutts 1 and enablebasket 3 to be filled. Thefilling unit 7 can therefore advantageously consist of a hopper, i.e. a container in the form of a truncated pyramid or cone turned upside down, provided with a hole at the bottom with a controlledopening allowing butts 1 to come out therethrough, so as to fillbasket 3. The invention, i.e.process 100 for cigarette butt and other product recycling consists in the following sequence of operations, shown inFig. 3 : a removingstep 10, aloading step 20, awashing step 30, a rinsingstep 40. - The removing
step 10 contemplates elimination of at leasttobacco 1c frombutt 1. Thereforetobacco 1c is removed and separated from the rest ofbutt 1 which, at this point, consists offilter 1 a andenvelope 1 b. Alternatively, during the removing step,envelope 1 b can be also removed together withtobacco 1 c, so that the filter alone is submitted to process 1. - This removing
step 10 preferably takes place by dipping the butts in hot water, i.e. at a temperature included between 30°C and 90°C, over a period of time preferably in the range of 3 to 30 hours. - At the end of this step,
butt 1 is introduced intounit 7. - In the following
loading step 20unit 7 is activated so that it fillsbasket 3 withbutts 1, saidbasket 3 being subsequently disposed insidecontainer 2a. Alternatively,unit 7 can advantageously fillbasket 3 when said basket is placed incontainer 2a. Whenstep 20 has been completed, thewashing step 30 is carried out. Thefluid actuating system 5 is activated and it allows the detergent, or substantially the clear water, contained invessel 4a to fill the inner chamber ofcontainer 2a at least partly. -
Motor 6sets basket 3 in rotation enabling the detergent to come into contact with allbutts 1 contained inbasket 3. In particular, the detergent is absorbed byfilter 1 a and byenvelope 1b, if present. - Then
motor 6 submitsbutts 1 to centrifugation, i.e. it sets the basket in rotation at such a speed that all detergent is ejected from eachbutt 1. In detail, said operation allows not only the detergent to be removed from said butt, but also a first portion of the polluting substances present infilter 1a to be taken out. This operation is made possible bysystem 5 extracting the detergent fromcontainer 2a and promoting removal of said detergent frombutt 1. -
Process 100 is then completed by a rinsingstep 40. During thisstep 40, the fluid actuatingsystem 5 introduces the fluid coming fromvessel 4b intocontainer 2a, which fluid is thus absorbed bybutt 1. The fluid, as previously described, is preferably made up of sweet-smelling oils and hydrogen peroxide, said hydrogen peroxide enabling the foreign substances still present in the butt to be removed, i.e. the residual harmful substances and the detergent possibly still present after the precedingwashing step 30. - Finally,
process 100 and therefore the rinsingstep 40 is completed by new activation ofmotor 1centrifuging basket 3 again, thereby causing said fluid to come out from the butt, which is therefore almost free from polluting substances. - The invention allows achievement of important advantages.
- In fact,
process 100 enablesbutt 1 to be recycled in a simple and cheap manner. In addition, the process, due to use of the particular detergent, allows almost the whole of the harmful substances present infilter 1c to be eliminated. - Therefore, a butt, at the end of the above described process, can be reused for manufacturing handkerchiefs and the like.
- Finally, it has been found that the liquid from
washing 30, in particular when washing is carried out with water alone, or also resulting from theremoval step 10 of the cigarette butts, contains nicotene and can therefore be utilised for eliminating deposits and oxidation from pipelines for oil and gas, in particular in case of petroleum and various hydrocarbons. - The invention is susceptible of variations falling within the inventive idea. All of the details can be replaced by equivalent elements and the materials, shapes and sizes can be of any nature and magnitude.
Claims (8)
- A process for recycling cigarette butts and the like to enable reuse of a butt (1) comprising a filter (1a) adapted to partly retain the harmful substances produced by said cigarette, residual tobacco (1c) and an envelope (1 b) adapted to partly surround said filter (1a) and said tobacco (1c), characterised in that it consists in: a step (10) of removing at least said residual tobacco (1 c) from said butt (1) and a step (30) of washing said butt (1), at least partly removing the harmful substances from said butt (1) deprived of said residual tobacco (1 c).
- A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said washing step (30) contemplates use of a detergent.
- A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein said detergent consists of 5% sodium hypochlorite.
- A process as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said washing step (30) takes place after said removing step (10).
- A process as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a rinsing step (40), taking place after said washing step (30), in which possible residual substances are removed from said butt (1).
- A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein said rinsing step (40) is carried out using a fluid including at least hydrogen peroxide.
- A process as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fluid includes sweet-smelling oils adapted to perfume said butt (1).
- A process as claimed in one or more of claims 6-7, wherein said fluid includes dyes adapted to colour said butt (1).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP11164437A EP2520184A1 (en) | 2011-05-02 | 2011-05-02 | Process for recycling cigarette butts and the like |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP11164437A EP2520184A1 (en) | 2011-05-02 | 2011-05-02 | Process for recycling cigarette butts and the like |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2520184A1 true EP2520184A1 (en) | 2012-11-07 |
Family
ID=44662855
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP11164437A Withdrawn EP2520184A1 (en) | 2011-05-02 | 2011-05-02 | Process for recycling cigarette butts and the like |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2520184A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR3066128A1 (en) * | 2017-05-15 | 2018-11-16 | Mego! | METHOD FOR ENHANCING CIGARETTE MEGOTS |
IT201900002915A1 (en) * | 2019-02-28 | 2020-08-28 | Marco Fimognari | METHOD FOR OBTAINING A THERMOPLASTIC RAW MATERIAL, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN OBJECT IN CELLULOSE ACETATE, AS WELL AS METHOD AND PLANT FOR OBTAINING A THERMOPLASTIC RAW MATERIAL FROM CIGARETTE BUTTONS |
WO2021136802A1 (en) * | 2019-12-31 | 2021-07-08 | Purifungi | Method for processing cigarette butts |
FR3107068A1 (en) * | 2020-02-06 | 2021-08-13 | Hugo Desplain | THERMAL INSULATION WITH CIGARETTE BUNKS |
IT202000003745A1 (en) | 2020-02-24 | 2021-08-24 | Consiglio Nazionale Ricerche | METHOD AND RELATED APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CIGARETTE BUTTS |
EP3892393A1 (en) * | 2020-04-10 | 2021-10-13 | Luca Crivellin | Method for recycling cigarette filters |
GR20210100730A (en) * | 2021-10-25 | 2023-05-10 | Κωνσταντινος Ανδρεα Ζαχαροπουλος | Cigarette filter cleaning method |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5504120A (en) * | 1994-03-18 | 1996-04-02 | Hoechst Celanese Corporation | Recycling cellulose esters from the waste from cigarette manufacture |
US5662773A (en) * | 1995-01-19 | 1997-09-02 | Eastman Chemical Company | Process for preparation of cellulose acetate filters for use in paper making |
WO2007035749A2 (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2007-03-29 | Blake Burich | Process and method for recycling cigarette butts |
-
2011
- 2011-05-02 EP EP11164437A patent/EP2520184A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5504120A (en) * | 1994-03-18 | 1996-04-02 | Hoechst Celanese Corporation | Recycling cellulose esters from the waste from cigarette manufacture |
US5662773A (en) * | 1995-01-19 | 1997-09-02 | Eastman Chemical Company | Process for preparation of cellulose acetate filters for use in paper making |
WO2007035749A2 (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2007-03-29 | Blake Burich | Process and method for recycling cigarette butts |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR3066128A1 (en) * | 2017-05-15 | 2018-11-16 | Mego! | METHOD FOR ENHANCING CIGARETTE MEGOTS |
IT201900002915A1 (en) * | 2019-02-28 | 2020-08-28 | Marco Fimognari | METHOD FOR OBTAINING A THERMOPLASTIC RAW MATERIAL, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN OBJECT IN CELLULOSE ACETATE, AS WELL AS METHOD AND PLANT FOR OBTAINING A THERMOPLASTIC RAW MATERIAL FROM CIGARETTE BUTTONS |
WO2020174316A1 (en) * | 2019-02-28 | 2020-09-03 | Fimognari Marco | Method and plant for obtaining thermoplastic raw material from cigarette filters, method to manufacture an object from the obtained raw material and to recycle cigarette butts |
WO2021136802A1 (en) * | 2019-12-31 | 2021-07-08 | Purifungi | Method for processing cigarette butts |
BE1027956B1 (en) * | 2019-12-31 | 2021-08-04 | Purifungi | CIGARETTE BUTT TREATMENT PROCESS |
FR3107068A1 (en) * | 2020-02-06 | 2021-08-13 | Hugo Desplain | THERMAL INSULATION WITH CIGARETTE BUNKS |
IT202000003745A1 (en) | 2020-02-24 | 2021-08-24 | Consiglio Nazionale Ricerche | METHOD AND RELATED APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CIGARETTE BUTTS |
WO2021170381A1 (en) | 2020-02-24 | 2021-09-02 | Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche | Method for treating cigarette butts |
EP3892393A1 (en) * | 2020-04-10 | 2021-10-13 | Luca Crivellin | Method for recycling cigarette filters |
GR20210100730A (en) * | 2021-10-25 | 2023-05-10 | Κωνσταντινος Ανδρεα Ζαχαροπουλος | Cigarette filter cleaning method |
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