JP6258872B2 - Cigarette smoke filter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to filters and filter elements for smoking articles such as cigarettes.

  It is widely desired to mitigate the problems associated with the environmental impact of cigarette butts. Most of the current cigarette filters are formed using conventional cellulose acetate filamentary tows. Its biodegradation rate is extremely slow. This causes problems such as when the butts are thrown away on the ground, the filter remains clearly identifiable over time. In addition, current cellulose acetate filters do not disperse when discarded in water channels, and remain in their characteristic size and shape after prolonged water immersion. This causes problems within the wastewater treatment plant. Within the plant, the used butts must be removed from the water stream during the process. Of course, many butts that were initially dumped on land will eventually flow into the wastewater treatment plant after being washed down into the sewer after rain. Accordingly, there is a need for a cigarette filter formed from an easily biodegradable material that disperses quickly when flooded. In addition, the filter material meets a number of other criteria, specifically those that are suitable for high speed processing into cigarette filters and features suitable for finished filters (eg, filtration efficiency, Must be subjectively feasible, economically feasible, and acceptable subjective properties (especially flavor and appearance) in the final cigarette.

  This is not a new problem and for decades researchers have attempted to find a suitable biodegradable cigarette filter material. A number of patent applications have been filed over this period for materials alleged to address these requirements, but none have yet gained prominent acceptance in the market. Therefore, there remains a need for an easily biodegradable tobacco smoke filter material that disintegrates very rapidly when flooded.

  According to the present invention, in the first aspect, the tobacco smoke filter or filter element includes a nonwoven fabric, the nonwoven fabric including a staple fiber sheet and a water-soluble binder, wherein the water-soluble binder is a staple fiber fiber. A tobacco smoke filter or filter element is provided that is uniformly coated on at least one side of the sheet.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a nonwoven fabric, the nonwoven fabric comprising staple fibers (eg, staple fiber sheets) and a water-soluble binder, wherein the water-soluble The binder is provided with a tobacco smoke filter or filter element that is applied to the staple fiber in aqueous form.

FIG. 1 is a plot showing the biodegradability of the “viscose 2” and “Tencel 2” filter rods of the present invention over time compared to the well-known cellulose acetate filter rod “CA”. .

  Nonwovens can be defined as sheet or web structures joined by mechanically, thermally, or chemically intertwining fibers (fibers) or filaments (and by forming perforations in the film). Nonwoven fabrics can be formed directly from separate fibers (or from molten plastic or plastic film). Here, the term “nonwoven fabric” clearly indicates that paper or base paper is not included.

  The nonwoven fabric is preferably a wet-laid (wet) nonwoven fabric. The basis weight of the nonwoven fabric may be 25-42 gsm, for example 27-40 gsm.

  The staple fiber is preferably made of a biodegradable material. The staple fiber may be a regenerated cellulose fiber such as viscose or tencel. Both of these are available from Lenzing AG. Other biodegradable fibers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), or cotton may be used. Low degradable or non-biodegradable fibers such as cellulose acetate fibers, cellulose ester fibers can also be used, but these are not preferred. The staple fibers are preferably not cellulose acetate fibers or cellulose ester fibers.

  Filter / filter elements and / or nonwovens and / or staple fibers are measured according to the OECD 301B “Ready Biodegradability” method (modified Sturm test) well known to those skilled in the art. Preferably it has a “degradability” level.

  The staple fiber may be a staple fiber having a cut length of 4 mm to 10 mm, for example 4 to 6 mm. The diameter of the staple fiber can be 1.7 dtex to 3.3 dtex. The staple fiber may have any cross-section (eg, circular, trilobal). It will be appreciated that staple fibers of any cut length and diameter can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention, as long as they are suitable for use in wet-laid nonwovens, and vary widely. A blend of fibers, fiber lengths, or fiber diameters may be used in the nonwoven.

  The amount of water-soluble binder may be 0.1% to 5%, such as 0.5 to 3%, such as 1%, expressed as a percentage of the solids level content in the finished nonwoven. The water-soluble binder may be carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), hydroxycellulose, polyethylene oxide, natural starch, modified starch, cationic starch, guar gum, or derivatives thereof. The binder can be applied by any known method suitable for applying a liquid binder, such as curtain coating, size press, mangle padding, spraying, and the like. It is preferable that a nonwoven fabric does not contain an alkali compound.

  Filters and elements of the present invention include a nonwoven fabric that includes (eg, shortcut biodegradable) staple fibers (eg, regenerated cellulose fibers) and a water-soluble binder. The water-soluble binder is preferably applied in aqueous form (to the fiber). The water-soluble binder is preferably applied in aqueous form (to the fiber) and subsequently dried.

  Certain nonwoven materials are preferably manufactured by a wet laid process. Nonwoven fabrics can be prepared by a variety of well-known manufacturing routes such as dry raid or card processing, spunbond, wet raid, air raid, and the like. Applicants have found that wet laid nonwovens are best suited to meet the stringent interchip pressure drop reproducibility criteria required for cigarette filters. This criterion is an essential requirement for a feasible tobacco smoke filter material (regardless of dispersion characteristics). The pressure loss is related to the weight of the nonwoven used per chip. The basis weight of paper and non-woven fabric is measured using standard methods that quantify the weight of an area of at least 20 × 25 cm. Since the amount used in a typical cigarette filter uses only about 10% of such an amount, data based on such large specimen weight variations meets the reproducibility criteria for cigarette filters. May be misleading regarding the suitability for By measuring the weight variation of a 2 cm × 30 cm nonwoven strip, Applicants have determined that a wet laid nonwoven is most suitable to meet the required weight variation requirement of about ± 1% or less.

  Wet laid nonwoven fabrics made from 100% staple fiber are extremely weak and do not have sufficient mechanical integrity to withstand processing on the filter making machine. Therefore, a binder is required to provide sufficient strength to the nonwoven fabric. Conventional wet laid nonwovens often incorporate thermoplastic binder fibers as part of the fiber finish. These binder fibers are then activated during the drying stage of nonwoven manufacture. However, the present applicant has found that the nonwoven fabric containing the binder fiber is not easily dispersed in cold water and is not suitable for the present application (see Comparative Example 3 below). Applicants have found that the use of a water-soluble binder (eg, liquid) with staple fibers allows for rapid dispersion in cold water.

  The nonwoven fabric was subjected to EDANA standard FG511.1 Tier 1 Dispersability Shake Flask Test (using 1.6, 3.15, 6.3 and 12.5 mm aperture screens). Later, 95% or more, for example, 96% or more of the nonwoven fabric may be a nonwoven fabric having dispersibility that passes through a 6.3 mm aperture screen. This test is well known to those skilled in the art, and this dispersibility indicates an easy and effective dispersion in cold water (high dispersibility).

  The final appearance and hardness characteristics of the filter according to the present invention are also similar to that of cellulose acetate, again increasing commercial acceptability.

  It is advantageous to treat (eg emboss) the nonwovens used in the filter according to the invention using standard equipment used to form paper-based cigarette filters. Paper filters have a higher tar retention than cellulose acetate filters with the same pressure loss. This means that cigarette manufacturers cannot simply replace cellulose acetate with paper filters. Because it is necessary to change the filter length (to maintain the same pressure loss or tar delivery rate) or the cigarette tar delivery rate is reduced (if the filter length is constant) This is because the pressure loss increases. Applicants have found that the tar retention of filters and filter elements according to the present invention is much closer to that of cellulose acetate than paper. The Applicant has also found that the higher the openness and the intrinsic porosity of the nonwoven structure, the lower the tar retention of the filter incorporating the material. Thus, in order to provide filters and filter elements with desirable tar retention and pressure loss, the porosity of the nonwoven fabric can be controlled by controlling the constituent fiber properties such as polymer type, fiber cross section, fiber crimp, fiber dimensions. Sex can be designed. This means that the filters / elements of the present invention are further advantageous as they can be used as simple replacements for cellulose acetate filters.

  The nonwoven may further comprise wood pulp. As used herein, the term wood pulp includes pulp that constitutes naturally occurring cellulose fibers (eg, obtained from conventional methods such as sulfite or kraft from soft or hard wood). The pulp may be beaten (well known to those skilled in the art) using, for example, conventional beating machines or refining machines. Wood pulp can improve the tensile strength of the nonwoven fabric. When wood pulp is included, it is preferably present in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by weight of the nonwoven, for example 5 to 10%. In a preferred example, wood pulp is included in an amount up to 9.5%, such as 1-9%, such as 5-9%, by weight of the nonwoven. Applicants have surprisingly found that such nonwovens containing very small amounts of wood pulp (in addition to a water-soluble binder) are strong enough to form into a filter / filter element. In a different preferred example, wood pulp is included in an amount up to 20% by weight of the nonwoven, for example 1 to 20% by weight, and the water-soluble binder is expressed as a percentage of the solids level content in the finished nonwoven. Present in an amount of 1% to 5%.

  Thus, according to the present invention, in one aspect, a tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises staple fiber sheets, wood pulp, and a water-soluble binder, Tobacco smoke filters or filter elements are provided that are uniformly coated on at least one side of the staple fiber sheet and that up to 9.5% by weight of the nonwoven is wood pulp.

  According to the present invention, in another aspect, a tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises staple fiber sheets, wood pulp, and a water-soluble binder, wherein the water-soluble binder comprises: The nonwoven fabric is uniformly coated on at least one side of the staple fiber sheet, and the nonwoven comprises wood pulp in an amount up to 20% by weight of the nonwoven, and the amount of binder comprises solids in the finished nonwoven Tobacco smoke filters or filter elements are provided that are expressed as a percentage of level content between 0.1% and 5%. The staple fibers are preferably not cellulose acetate fibers or cellulose ester fibers.

  The tobacco smoke filter or filter element may further comprise a flavor enhancing additive. The flavor enhancing additive may be an additive as disclosed in WO 2010/136751 for use in paper filters. Flavor enhancing additives include alicyclic lactones, aromatic lactones, aromatic ketones, secondary alcohols or esters thereof, phthalides, χ-valerolactone, χ-hexalactone, δ-hexalactone, χ-heptalactone, χ -Octalactone, δ-octalactone, 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone, 5-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid δ-lactone, 4,4-dibutyl-χ-butyrolactone, mint lactone, dehydromentfurolactone, 3 -Butylidenephthalide, 3-n-butylphthalide, whiskey lactone, or sedannolide.

  The tobacco smoke filter or filter element may include a longitudinally extending core of tobacco smoke filtration material. The tobacco smoke filtration material may comprise a nonwoven fabric or may be a nonwoven fabric. The longitudinally extending core of the tobacco smoke filter material may be substantially cylindrical.

  The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to the invention may be 14 to 28 mm in circumference, such as 16 to 26 mm, such as 16 to 17 mm or 24 to 25 mm. The length of the tobacco smoke filter of the present invention may be 10-40 mm, such as 15-35 mm, such as 20-30 mm. The tobacco smoke filter element of the present invention may be 5-30 mm long, such as 6-20 mm, such as 8-15 mm, such as 10-12 mm.

  The tobacco smoke filter or filter element of the present invention may further include, for example, a plug wrap wrapper. The wrapper is preferably engaged around the tobacco smoke filter or filter element (eg, around the longitudinally extending core of the tobacco smoke filter material). The wrapper (e.g., plug wrap) is preferably held in place with a water soluble adhesive (e.g., by an overlay / stick seam as known to those skilled in the art). The water-soluble adhesive facilitates the opening of the filter when in contact with water, thereby exposing the filter material (nonwoven fabric) contained in the filter, thereby facilitating the collapse of the filter (nonwoven fabric) after use. This is advantageous.

  The filter or filter element of the present invention may be used as a single filter chip, as a filter rod, as one or more segments in a multi-segment filter, and the like. Thus, the filter element according to the present invention may be used as a two-element, three-element, or other multi-element segment filter. Two-element or other multi-element filters are known to those skilled in the art. The filter according to the present invention may be used in mechanical cigarettes (eg, mass produced and packaged cigarettes). The filter according to the present invention can be used as a filter chip for use with individually wound cigarettes (eg hand-rolled cigarettes) or self-rolled (Make-Your-Own) products May be.

  According to the invention, in a further aspect, a filter cigarette comprising a tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to the invention is provided. In a filter cigarette according to the invention, the filter of the invention (or a filter comprising a filter element of the invention) is joined to a wrapped tobacco rod at one end facing the tobacco. The filter can be, for example, by ring chipping (by engaging only around the [wrapped] filter and the adjacent end of the rod, leaving most of the filter wrapper exposed) or by complete chipping over It may be joined to the wrapped tobacco rod by wraps (engaging around the entire length of the filter and the adjacent end of the tobacco rod). The plug wrap / overlap and / or chipping paper preferably contains a water soluble overlay adhesive. The water-soluble adhesive facilitates the opening of the filter when in contact with water, thereby exposing the filter material (nonwoven fabric) contained in the filter, thereby facilitating the collapse of the filter (nonwoven fabric) after use. This is advantageous.

  Any filter or filter cigarette according to the present invention may be non-vented or by conventional means, for example by using a pre-perforated or air permeable plug wrap and / or a plug wrap And may be vented by laser perforation formation of a chipping overlap.

  The filter or filter element according to the invention may be formed as a continuous rod (by methods well known to those skilled in the art). As the continuous rod exits continuously from the production machine exit, it is cut to a finite length for subsequent use. This cutting can form individual filters or filter elements as defined and described above. Each of these is then attached to a separate wrapped tobacco rod to form a filter cigarette. But most of the time, continuous filter rods are first cut to a length of more than 2 times (usually 4 times or 6 times) for subsequent use; If so, they are subsequently cut into double lengths for the filter cigarette assembly. In this case, double length filter rods are assembled and joined (by ring chipping or full chipping overlap) between the wrapped tobacco rod pairs. This combination is then split in the middle, resulting in two separate filter cigarettes. Similar techniques are used in the case of double-length filter elements that are combined to form a two-element or multi-element filter, as is known to those skilled in the art. The present invention includes filter rods (and / or filter element rods) that are at least twice as long.

  In a further aspect according to the present invention, a non-woven fabric comprising a staple fiber sheet and a water-soluble binder, wherein the water-soluble binder is uniformly on at least one surface of the staple fiber sheet. A coated, non-woven fabric is provided. In another aspect, according to the present invention, a non-woven fabric comprising a staple fiber (eg, staple fiber sheet) and a water-soluble binder, wherein the water-soluble binder is applied to the staple fiber in an aqueous form. A non-woven fabric is provided. The nonwoven fabric is preferably a wet laid nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric of the present invention includes (for example, shortcut biodegradable) staple fibers and a water-soluble binder. The water-soluble binder is preferably applied in aqueous form (to the fiber). The staple fiber may be a staple fiber having a cut length of 4 mm to 10 mm, for example 4 to 6 mm. The diameter of the staple fiber can be 1.7 dtex to 3.3 dtex. The staple fiber may have any cross-section (eg, circular, trilobal). It will be appreciated that staple fibers of any cut length and diameter can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention, as long as they are suitable for use in wet-laid nonwovens, and vary widely. A blend of fibers, fiber lengths, or fiber diameters may be used in the nonwoven.

  The staple fiber is preferably made of a biodegradable material. The staple fiber may be a regenerated cellulose fiber such as viscose or tencel. Both of these are available from Lenzing AG. Other biodegradable fibers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), or cotton may be used. Low biodegradable or non-biodegradable cellulose acetate fibers can be used, but these are not preferred.

  The nonwoven may further comprise wood pulp. Wood pulp can improve the tensile strength of the nonwoven fabric. When wood pulp is included, it is preferably present in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by weight of the nonwoven, for example 5 to 10%.

  The amount of water-soluble binder may be 0.1% to 5%, such as 0.5 to 3%, such as 1%, expressed as a percentage of the solids level content in the finished nonwoven. The water soluble binder may be carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), hydroxycellulose, polyethylene oxide, or starch. The binder can be applied by any known method suitable for applying a liquid binder, such as curtain coating, size press, mangle padding, and the like. It is preferable that a nonwoven fabric does not contain an alkali compound.

  In a preferred example, wood pulp is included in an amount up to 9.5%, such as 1-9%, such as 5-9%, by weight of the nonwoven. The inventor has surprisingly found that nonwoven fabrics containing such very small amounts of wood pulp (in addition to water-soluble binders) are strong enough to form into filter / filter elements. It was. In a different preferred example, wood pulp is included in an amount up to 20% by weight of the nonwoven, for example 1 to 20% by weight, and the water-soluble binder is expressed as a percentage of the solids level content in the finished nonwoven. Present in an amount of 1% to 5%.

  The staple fibers are preferably not cellulose acetate fibers or cellulose ester fibers.

  According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a filter material comprising a nonwoven fabric according to the present invention.

  The invention will now be described with reference to the following examples and the accompanying drawings.

Example 1
About 40 gsm of small scale wet-laid nonwoven was prepared using a Handsheet Former according to TAPPI standard T205. A fiber blend of 90% PVOH fiber (2.8 dtex, 4 mm long) and 10% wood pulp was used. The tensile strength of these sheets was below 10N, ie very weak. Subsequently, a CMC or PVOH water-soluble binder was applied to these sheets using a padding machine. Addition of 4% CMC increased the tensile strength to 65N, while addition of 4.5% PVOH increased the tensile strength to 108N. Thus, the addition of a liquid binder provides sufficient strength to allow such nonwovens to be processed on high speed cigarette filter manufacturing equipment. To these handsheet nonwovens, EDANA standard FG511.1 Tier 1 Dispersability Shake Flask Test (using screens with 1.6, 3.15, 6.3 and 12.5 mm apertures) And over 99.5% was found to pass through the smallest 1.6 mm screen. This demonstrated a very high level of dispersibility. It was also observed that the dispersibility level was improved by adding a binder to the untreated sheet as measured by this test.

  Example 1 shows that the nonwoven fabric of the present invention is suitable for use in a tobacco smoke filter or filter element (according to the present invention) and has an excellent level of dispersibility in cold water, ie the nonwoven fabric is highly biodegradable. To demonstrate.

Example 2
Two types of wet laid nonwoven fabrics (symbols A and B) according to the present invention were prepared using a pilot scale inclined wire hydroformer. Nonwoven A uses 100% viscose fiber (supplied by Kelheim Fibers GmbH) with a length of 6 mm and a linear density of 1.7 dtex and Nonwoven B has a length of 6 mm and a 100% tencel fiber (Lenzing) with a linear density of 1.7 dtex. Used by AG). A 1% solution of a water-soluble CMC binder (Finnfix 700, from Noviant) was applied to both nonwovens during production via curtain coating technology. A cigarette filter was then produced from both types of nonwoven fabric using a paper-based cigarette filter production facility well known to those skilled in the art (see, eg, Example 4). An essential feature of this process is the longitudinal embossing of the nonwoven to facilitate the formation of a cylindrical rod by compression. The bulk, tensile and stretch properties of the nonwoven are critical in determining whether it can withstand embossing, for example the nonwoven should not break or disturb the roller. The inventor has surprisingly found that both nonwovens are well processed on the filter manufacturing facility. The table below shows the test results for nonwoven fabrics and cigarette filters formed from these nonwoven fabrics.

  Dispersion characteristics of these filters were evaluated by placing them in a beaker containing cold water with the plug wrap removed. Both filters A and B were fully dispersed in less than 1 minute with occasional gentle agitation. This was significantly faster than a paper filter that showed no signs of dispersion over the same time frame. Nonwoven A and B samples were also tested using EDANA standard FG511.1 Tier 1 Dispersability Shake Flask Test (using 1.6, 3.15, 6.3 and 12.5 mm aperture screens). Flask test). After this condition, 99% of nonwoven A and 97% of nonwoven B were found to pass through a 6.3 mm aperture screen. This indicates a very high level of dispersibility.

  Example 2 shows that the nonwoven fabric of the present invention is suitable for use in a tobacco smoke filter or filter element (according to the present invention) and has an excellent dispersibility level in cold water, ie the nonwoven fabric is highly biodegradable. To demonstrate.

Comparative Example 3 (not of the present invention)
Further testing to prepare a third material ("Nonwoven C") using the same equipment and viscose fibers as Nonwoven A, but using 5% PVOH binder fibers instead of 1% water soluble liquid binder Carried out. That is, nonwoven fabric C was composed of 95% viscose and 5% PVOH fiber. Nonwoven fabric C had a weight of 36 gsm, a weight variation of 1.05%, a machine direction tensile strength of 47 N, and a transverse direction tensile strength of 33 N. These were all close to the values of nonwovens A and B. However, the dispersibility of nonwoven fabric C was significantly inferior to nonwoven fabrics A and B. There was no sign of rapid dispersion after placing the chip in water and less than 10% passed through a 6.3 mm aperture screen after the same shake flask test as in Examples 1 and 2.

  Comparative Example 3 demonstrates that for rapid dispersion, the water-soluble binder must be applied to the nonwoven as a uniform layer (eg, by application in aqueous form) rather than as a binder fiber within the nonwoven. To do.

Example 4
Similar to Example 2, two types of wet laid nonwoven fabrics (again A and B) according to the present invention were prepared using a pilot scale inclined wire hydroformer. Nonwoven A uses 100% viscose fiber (supplied by Kelheim Fibers GmbH) with a length of 6 mm and a linear density of 1.7 dtex and Nonwoven B has a length of 6 mm and a 100% tencel fiber (Lenzing) with a linear density of 1.7 dtex. Used by AG). A 1% solution of a water-soluble CMC binder (Finnfix 700, from Noviant) was applied to both nonwovens during production via curtain coating technology. A cigarette filter was then produced from both types of nonwoven fabric using a paper-based cigarette filter production facility well known to those skilled in the art.

  Sample filters were manufactured from cylindrical rods (15 mm length and 24.50 mm circumference) formed from wet laid nonwovens A or B according to the method described in GB 2075328.

  A wet laid nonwoven is formed on the inclined wire machine as described above. The finished nonwoven web that is advanced in the longitudinal direction is then advanced longitudinally between cooperating rolls having a corrugated structure extending in the circumferential direction (to emboss the nonwoven in the longitudinal direction). And then, it is continuously gathered in the transverse direction (while being advanced in the longitudinal direction as a nonwoven web) to form a rod shape. The resulting continuously manufactured rod is then continuously cut laterally to a finite length by methods known to those skilled in the art to provide a product filter or filter rod.

  The filter / filter rod / filter segment can be included in the filter cigarette by methods well known to those skilled in the art.

Example 5
The fiber biodegradability of the filter of the present invention was compared with the well-known cellulose acetate filter.

  A sample filter according to the present invention was manufactured according to the method shown in Example 4 above. A “viscose 2” filter was formed from fibers using 100% viscose fibers (supplied by Kelheim Fibers GmbH) with a length of 6 mm and a linear density of 1.7 dtex. A “Tencel 2” filter was formed from fibers using 100% Tencel fibers (supplied by Lenzing AG) with a length of 6 mm and a linear density of 1.7 dtex. A 1% solution of CMC binder (Finnfix 700, Noviant) was applied to both nonwoven fabrics during production via curtain coating technology. A filter was then manufactured from both types of nonwoven fabric using paper-based cigarette filter manufacturing equipment well known to those skilled in the art.

  Biodegradability was measured by an independent laboratory according to the OECD 301B “Ready Biodegradability” method (modified Sturm test). This test provides a measure of the biodegradability of the material (expressed as a percentage) over 28 days. FIG. 1 shows the results for a viscose 2 and tencel 2 filter according to the invention compared to a CA (standard cellulose acetate filter rod) when tested according to this method.

  It is clear that the viscose 2 and tencel 2 filters (and materials) according to the present invention decompose more rapidly and extensively than cellulose acetate. In addition, the test allows three levels of biodegradability to be assigned to a material as measured by 10 days of biodegradation. The acceptable level of biodegradability is “easy biodegradable” (resulting in greater than 60% biodegradability over a defined 10 day), but other lower biodegradability levels depending on the performance of the material in the test For example, “ultimate biodegradability” and “none”. All filters of viscose 2 and tencel 2 according to the present invention were certified as “easy biodegradable”. In contrast, “CA” received a lower certification of “ultimate biodegradability”.

  These results confirm that the filter of the present invention exhibits superior biodegradability compared to the cellulose acetate filter (and cellulose ester filter).

以下に、本発明の実施態様を非限定的に示す。
（態様１）
不織布を含むたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメントであって、該不織布はステープル・ファイバ・シートと、水溶性バインダとを含み、該水溶性バインダは、該ステープル・ファイバ・シートの少なくとも一方の面上に均一に被覆されている、たばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様２）
不織布を含むたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメントであって、該不織布は、ステープル・ファイバと、水溶性バインダとを含み、該水溶性バインダは水性形態で該ステープル・ファイバに塗布されている、たばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様３）
前記不織布がステープル・ファイバ・シートを含む、態様２に記載のたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様４）
前記不織布がウェット・レイド不織布である、態様１から３までのいずれか１項に記載のフィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様５）
前記ステープル・ファイバが生分解性である、態様１から４までのいずれか１項に記載のフィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様６）
前記ステープル・ファイバが、OECD 301B「易生分解性(Ready Biodegradability)」法(修正Sturm試験）に従って測定して「易生分解性」レベルを有している、態様１から５までのいずれか１項に記載のフィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様７）
前記不織布が木材パルプを含む、態様１から６までのいずれか１項に記載のたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様８）
前記ステープル・ファイバが、カット長４ｍｍ〜１０ｍｍ、例えば４〜６ｍｍのステープル・ファイバである、態様１から７までのいずれか１項に記載のフィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様９）
前記ステープル・ファイバの直径が１．７ｄｔｅｘ〜３．３ｄｔｅｘである、態様１から８までのいずれか１項に記載のフィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様１０）
前記ステープル・ファイバが再生セルロース繊維、ビスコース、テンセル、ポリビニルアルコール、ポリ乳酸、ポリグリコール酸、又は綿である、態様１から９までのいずれか１項に記載のたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様１１）
バインダの量が、完成済不織布中の固形物レベル含量のパーセンテージとして表して０．１％〜５％である、態様１から１０までのいずれか１項に記載のたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様１２）
前記水溶性バインダはカルボキシメチルセルロース、ポリビニルアルコール、ヒドロキシセルロース、ポリエチレンオキシド、天然又は加工澱粉、カチオン澱粉、グアールガム、又はこれらの誘導体である、態様１から１１までのいずれか１項に記載のたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様１３）
前記不織布の坪量は２５〜４２ｇｓｍ、例えば２７〜４０ｇｓｍである、態様１から１２までのいずれか１項に記載のフィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様１４）
さらに香味増強添加剤を含む、態様１から１３までのいずれか１項に記載のたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様１５）
前記不織布がたばこ煙濾過材料である、態様１から１４までのいずれか１項に記載のたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様１６）
（１．６，３．１５，６．３及び１２．５ｍｍ開口のスクリーンを使用して）EDANA基準FG511.1 Tier 1 Dispersability Shake Flask Test（ティア１分散性振盪フラスコ試験）を施した後、前記不織布の９５％以上、例えば９６％以上が６．３ｍｍ開口スクリーンを通過する分散性を有している、態様１から１５までのいずれか１項に記載のたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様１７）
前記不織布はさらに、該不織布の最大２０重量％の量で木材パルプを含み、そしてバインダの量が、完成済不織布中の固形物レベル含量のパーセンテージとして表して０．１％〜５％である、態様１から１６までのいずれか１項に記載のたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様１８）
不織布を含むたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメントであって、該不織布はステープル・ファイバ・シートと、木材パルプと、水溶性バインダとを含み、該水溶性バインダは、該ステープル・ファイバ・シートの少なくとも一方の面上に均一に被覆されており、そして該不織布の最大９．５重量％が木材パルプである、たばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様１９）
不織布を含むたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメントであって、該不織布はステープル・ファイバ・シートと、木材パルプと、水溶性バインダとを含み、該水溶性バインダは、該ステープル・ファイバ・シートの少なくとも一方の面上に均一に被覆されており、そして不織布は、該不織布の最大２０重量％の量で木材パルプを含み、そしてバインダの量が、完成済不織布中の固形物レベル含量のパーセンテージとして表して０．１％〜５％である、たばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様２０）
実質的に例１，２又は４のいずれかに関連して前述されたたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。
（態様２１）
態様１から２０までのいずれか１項に記載のたばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメントを含むフィルタ・シガレット。
（態様２２）
不織布であって、該不織布はステープル・ファイバ・シートと、水溶性バインダとを含み、該水溶性バインダは、該ステープル・ファイバ・シートの少なくとも一方の面上に均一に被覆されている、不織布。
（態様２３）
不織布であって、該不織布は、ステープル・ファイバ（例えばステープル・ファイバ・シート）と、水溶性バインダとを含み、該水溶性バインダは水性形態で該ステープル・ファイバに塗布されている、不織布。
（態様２４）
前記ステープル・ファイバが再生セルロース繊維、ビスコース、テンセル、ポリビニルアルコール、ポリ乳酸、ポリグリコール酸、又は綿である、態様２２又は２３に記載の不織布。
（態様２５）
たばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメントであって、態様２２から２４までのいずれか１項に記載の不織布を含むたばこ煙濾過材料から成る長手方向に延びるロッドを含む、たばこ煙フィルタ又はフィルタ・エレメント。 Test 6
EP 0709037 refers to the advantages of cellulose ester fibers having a modified cross-section, for example a specific X, Y or I-shaped cross section. Comparative Examples 1-5 in the specification refer to fibers with more standard fiber cross sections, and the disintegration of these fibers is “poor” compared to the “excellent” disintegration of the modified cross-section fibers. ". An EDANA flask shaking test (see the method described in Example 1) was performed on a plurality of handsheets of the present invention formed of viscose fibers having different cross sections. The viscose fibers used were “Danufil” and “Galaxy” from Kelheim Fibers. Each of these fibers has a circular cross section and a modified trilobal cross section. The results are shown in the table below. These results show that there is little difference between the dispersibility of sheets formed using a circular cross section and a modified trilobal cross section. This result is completely unexpected in view of the teaching content of EP 07009037. The specification states that fibers with modified cross-sections, such as specific X, Y or I-shaped cross sections (cellulose esters), have “excellent” disintegration, whereas more standard fiber cross-sections. This suggests that the disintegration property of the fiber is “poor”. This demonstrates the remarkable biodegradability of the filter of the present invention comprising staple fibers, a small amount of water-soluble binder, and (optionally) a small amount of wood pulp. Furthermore, these results surprisingly show that the fiber cross-sectional shape is independent of dispersibility in the nonwoven fabric (and filter) of the present invention.

In the following, embodiments of the present invention are shown without limitation.
(Aspect 1)
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises a staple fiber sheet and a water soluble binder, the water soluble binder on at least one side of the staple fiber sheet. Tobacco smoke filter or filter element that is uniformly coated.
(Aspect 2)
Tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a nonwoven fabric, the nonwoven fabric comprising staple fibers and a water-soluble binder, wherein the water-soluble binder is applied to the staple fibers in an aqueous form. Filter or filter element.
(Aspect 3)
The tobacco smoke filter or filter element of embodiment 2, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises staple fiber sheets.
(Aspect 4)
The filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the nonwoven fabric is a wet-laid nonwoven fabric.
(Aspect 5)
5. A filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the staple fiber is biodegradable.
(Aspect 6)
Any one of embodiments 1-5, wherein the staple fiber has a “readily biodegradable” level as measured according to the OECD 301B “Ready Biodegradability” method (modified Sturm test). The filter or filter element as described in the paragraph.
(Aspect 7)
The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises wood pulp.
(Aspect 8)
The filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 7, wherein the staple fiber is a staple fiber having a cut length of 4 mm to 10 mm, for example, 4 to 6 mm.
(Aspect 9)
The filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, wherein the staple fiber has a diameter of 1.7 dtex to 3.3 dtex.
(Aspect 10)
The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 9, wherein the staple fiber is regenerated cellulose fiber, viscose, tencel, polyvinyl alcohol, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, or cotton.
(Aspect 11)
11. A tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 10, wherein the amount of binder is 0.1% to 5% expressed as a percentage of the solids level content in the finished nonwoven.
(Aspect 12)
The tobacco smoke filter according to any one of aspects 1 to 11, wherein the water-soluble binder is carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxycellulose, polyethylene oxide, natural or processed starch, cationic starch, guar gum, or a derivative thereof. Or a filter element.
(Aspect 13)
The filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 12, wherein the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric is 25 to 42 gsm, for example, 27 to 40 gsm.
(Aspect 14)
The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 13, further comprising a flavor enhancing additive.
(Aspect 15)
The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 14, wherein the nonwoven fabric is a tobacco smoke filtration material.
(Aspect 16)
After applying the EDANA standard FG511.1 Tier 1 Dispersability Shake Flask Test (using 1.6, 3.15, 6.3 and 12.5 mm aperture screens) The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 15, wherein 95% or more of the nonwoven fabric, for example, 96% or more has dispersibility passing through a 6.3 mm aperture screen.
(Aspect 17)
The nonwoven further comprises wood pulp in an amount up to 20% by weight of the nonwoven, and the amount of binder is 0.1% to 5% expressed as a percentage of the solids level content in the finished nonwoven. The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 16.
(Aspect 18)
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises a staple fiber sheet, wood pulp, and a water soluble binder, wherein the water soluble binder is at least one of the staple fiber sheets. A cigarette smoke filter or filter element wherein the nonwoven fabric is uniformly coated and up to 9.5% by weight of the nonwoven fabric is wood pulp.
(Aspect 19)
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises a staple fiber sheet, wood pulp, and a water soluble binder, wherein the water soluble binder is at least one of the staple fiber sheets. And the nonwoven comprises wood pulp in an amount up to 20% by weight of the nonwoven, and the amount of binder expressed as a percentage of the solids level content in the finished nonwoven. Tobacco smoke filter or filter element that is between 0.1% and 5%.
(Aspect 20)
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element substantially as hereinbefore described in connection with any of Examples 1, 2, or 4.
(Aspect 21)
21. A filter cigarette comprising the tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of aspects 1 to 20.
(Aspect 22)
A nonwoven fabric comprising a staple fiber sheet and a water-soluble binder, wherein the water-soluble binder is uniformly coated on at least one surface of the staple fiber sheet.
(Aspect 23)
A nonwoven fabric comprising a staple fiber (eg, staple fiber sheet) and a water-soluble binder, wherein the water-soluble binder is applied to the staple fiber in an aqueous form.
(Aspect 24)
The nonwoven fabric according to embodiment 22 or 23, wherein the staple fiber is regenerated cellulose fiber, viscose, tencel, polyvinyl alcohol, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, or cotton.
(Aspect 25)
25. A tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a longitudinally extending rod of tobacco smoke filtration material comprising a nonwoven fabric according to any one of aspects 22-24.

Claims (12)

A tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a nonwoven fabric, the nonwoven fabric comprising a sheet of staple fibers and a water-soluble binder, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises wood pulp in an amount up to 20% by weight of the nonwoven fabric; The staple fiber has a level of “easy biodegradability” as measured according to the OECD 301B “Ready Biodegradability” method (modified Sturm test), the nonwoven is a wet laid nonwoven and the water soluble A tobacco smoke filter or filter element , wherein the binder is uniformly coated on at least one side of the sheet of the staple fibers . The filter or filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the staple fiber is a staple fiber having a cut length of 4 mm to 10 mm. The filter or filter element according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the staple fiber has a diameter of 1.7 dtex to 3.3 dtex. The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the staple fiber is regenerated cellulose fiber, viscose, tencel, polyvinyl alcohol, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, or cotton. . Tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the amount of binder is 0.1% to 5% expressed as a percentage of the solids level content in the finished nonwoven. . The tobacco smoke according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the water-soluble binder is carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxycellulose, polyethylene oxide, natural or processed starch, cationic starch, guar gum, or a derivative thereof. Filter or filter element. The filter or filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the nonwoven fabric has a basis weight of 25 to 42 gsm. The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , further comprising a flavor enhancing additive. The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the non-woven fabric is a tobacco smoke filtering material. After applying the EDANA standard FG511.1 Tier 1 Dispersability Shake Flask Test (using 1.6, 3.15, 6.3 and 12.5 mm aperture screens) The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein 95% or more of the nonwoven fabric has dispersibility that passes through a 6.3 mm aperture screen. 11. A tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the amount of binder is 0.1% to 5% expressed as a percentage of the solids level content in the finished nonwoven. . A filter cigarette comprising the tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 11 .

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