JPH06343447A - Raw material for cigarette smoke filter and cigarette smoke filter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a raw material for cigarette smoke filters capable of being degraded with microorganisms, etc., within a specific period without deteriorating the fundamental performances of the cigarette smoke filter, even when left in natural environments. CONSTITUTION:A raw material for cigarette smoke filters, comprising the fibers of a polyester produced from an aliphatic alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid, and the cigarette smoke filter wound up in a filter plug shape.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tobacco smoke filter material and a tobacco smoke filter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cigarette smoke filter, which is generally used for filtering cigarette smoke, comprises fibers, activated carbon, etc., and as the fibers, acetate fibers and polypropylene fibers are mainly used. The use of these fibers has basic performance as a material for cigarette smoke filters, and is excellent in economical mass production.

[0003]

In recent years, from the standpoint of natural environmental problems, the influence of leaving all products in the environment has become a problem. This is not an exception as a cigarette smoke filter, but the cigarette butts left abandoned by the smoker's throwing away etc., the tobacco leaf and the wrapping paper part are gradually decomposed, while the filter part remains the prototype for a long time, There is a problem that not only the adverse effects on the flora and fauna and the deterioration of the landscape but also the drainage gutters and eye plates are clogged and the drainage is obstructed, causing some of the urban functions to deteriorate. This problem is caused by the fact that the acetate fiber of the filter is decomposed by microorganisms and the like, but the decomposition rate is extremely slow, and the polypropylene fiber is hardly decomposed in the natural environment.

The present invention does not impair the basic components required for a cigarette smoke filter, such as the removal of particle components from cigarette smoke and the aroma and taste, and it is decomposed by microorganisms and the like within a certain period even when left in a natural environment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tobacco smoke filter material and a tobacco smoke filter.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a tobacco smoke filter material comprising polyester fibers obtained from an aliphatic α-oxy acid and a polyester fiber comprising an aliphatic α-oxy acid are wound around a filter plug. It's in a cigarette smoke filter.

The polyester in the present invention is an aliphatic α
-Oxyacid is polymerized, and lactic acid, glycolic acid or the like is used as the aliphatic α-oxyacid.
Typical examples of such polyesters include polylactic acid which is a polymer of lactic acid, polyglycolic acid which is a polymer of glycolic acid and copolymers thereof, and particularly,
Polylactic acid has a molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000.
Those of 0, particularly 10,000 to 50,000 are preferably used.

As a method for polymerizing the aliphatic α-oxy acid,
For example, in the case of lactic acid, a catalyst such as tin octylate is used.
A method such as heating at about 20 ° C. for 3 to 6 hours is used.

The polyester can be formed into fibers by, for example, melt-spinning a composition prepared by adding a stabilizer or the like to polylactic acid polymerized by a known method to an appropriate fineness, and collecting after spinning to obtain a filament tow. To do. The filament tow is crimped to give it a physical appropriateness as a material for a cigarette smoke filter.

To make a cigarette smoke filter, a wrapping paper is wrapped around the filament tow, wound up on a filter plug, and cut into a predetermined length. Further, in order to or after being attached to the tobacco rod portion, the tip is cut into a length suitable for the structure of the filter portion. Therefore, in the present invention, the filter includes the plug and the tip.

The material of the present invention for cigarette smoke filters and the fibers of cigarette smoke filters are easily decomposed by microorganisms in the natural environment, have no adverse effect on the natural environment, and are metabolized even when they enter the body of animals and the like. It is incorporated into the route and disassembled.

This is because the polyester constituting the fiber in the present invention has an ester bond in the main chain skeleton, which is relatively susceptible to hydrolysis, so that it is easily hydrolyzed in vivo and its decomposition product is generated. This is because lactic acid, which is a substance, is incorporated into a normal metabolic pathway and finally decomposed into carbon dioxide and water.

[0012] The decomposition performance slightly changes depending on the total fineness of the filament when it is used as a filter, the spinning oil, etc., but it does not essentially change.

[0013]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples. In addition, the measuring method of each measurement item in an Example is as follows.

Ventilation resistance: The pressure loss is shown by the water column when the flow rate of air passing through the plug or tip of the filter is 17.5 ml / sec. Total particle amount (TPM), tar, and nicotine removal rate: A filter tip was attached to a commercially available cigarette rod with cellophane tape, and the flow rate was 17.5 ml / sec with a fixed-quantity automatic smoking machine.
Smoking time 2 seconds, burning interval 58 seconds, cigarette burning length 50m
The smoke was automatically smoked under the condition of m, the mainstream smoke was collected by a Cambridge filter, and TPM, tar, and nicotine were analyzed to obtain the respective removal rates.

Aroma and taste: The one with the best aroma and flavor was evaluated on a scale of 3, and the one with the worst aroma and flavor was evaluated on a scale of 1, and the average value of 20 judges was shown. Biodegradability: The plug or tip of the filter was soaked in activated sludge for one month, and the weight loss rate due to decomposition was shown as the biodegradation rate.

(Example 1) A crimped filament of polylactic acid fiber having a Y-shaped cross-section of a fiber melt-spun from polylactic acid having a molecular weight of about 30,000, a single fiber fineness of 4 denier, and a total fineness of 40,000 denier. Circumference 2 using tow
4.4mm, length 120mm, ventilation resistance 350mm Wind up on a water column filter plug, cut it to a length of 20mm to make a chip, and cut the filter from the tobacco "Cherry" manufactured by Japan Tobacco Co., Ltd. It was attached to and the smoking test by automatic smoking and smoking by the judge was performed. Further, the filter chip was dipped in activated sludge and tested for biodegradability. The obtained results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example) The filter portion was once cut out from "cherry" and again attached to the tobacco stick portion in the same manner as in Example 1, and the smoking test and the biodegradability test were conducted by automatic smoking and smoking by a judge. The obtained results are shown in Table 1. The "cherry" filter is made of diacetate fiber.

(Example 2) A crimped filament of polylactic acid fiber having a Y-shaped cross-section of a fiber melt-spun from polylactic acid having a molecular weight of about 50,000, a single fiber fineness of 3 denier, and a total fineness of 40,000 denier. Circumference 2 using tow
4.4 mm, length 120 mm, ventilation resistance 411 mm After winding up on a water column filter plug and cutting this to a length of 20 mm into chips, automatic smoking and smoking by a judge are carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. The test and the biodegradability test were performed, and the obtained results are shown in Table 1.

[0019]

[Table 1]

[0020]

The material for cigarette smoke filter of the present invention is
Due to its biodegradability, it has almost no adverse effect on the natural environment, and a cigarette smoke filter made of such a material is a particle component in cigarette smoke equivalent to a normal cigarette smoke filter made of acetate fiber or polypropylene fiber. It has a good removal rate and does not impair the flavor and taste.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A material for a cigarette smoke filter comprising fibers of polyester obtained from an aliphatic α-oxy acid. 2. The tobacco smoke filter material according to claim 1, wherein the polyester is a polymer or copolymer of lactic acid or glycolic acid. 3. A cigarette smoke filter obtained by winding a polyester fiber obtained from an aliphatic α-oxy acid around a filter plug. 4. The cigarette smoke filter according to claim 3, wherein the polyester is a polymer or copolymer of lactic acid or glycolic acid.