KR20120103727A - Enhancing the disintegration and/or degradation of a smoking article - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a filter (2) for a smoking article (1) comprising a vehicle containing a liquid capable of improving the disintegration and / or dispersibility of the smoking article. The present invention also provides a method of enhancing the disintegration and / or decomposition of a smoking article, wherein the smoking article comprises a vehicle containing a liquid capable of enhancing the disintegration and / or decomposition of the smoking article.

Description

Enhancing the Disintegration and / or Degradation of a Smoking Article}

Explanation

The present invention relates to, but is not limited to, a method of enhancing the disintegration and / or decomposition of a smoking article used, and in particular, a method of improving the disintegration and / or decomposition of a filter of such smoking article.

A problem with currently available tobacco smoke filters, in particular cigarette filters, is that they can be difficult to process after use.

During smoking, most tobacco rods and paper wrappers that surround them are converted to gas and ash in the combustion process. Residual components of the spent smoking article include a filter consisting of a small amount of ash, a portion of the original tobacco rod and wrapper, a filter plug, a plug wrap, and tipping paper surrounding the tobacco rod and the filter. There is also an adhesive that holds these parts together. Spent smoking articles generally separate completely into their individual components when exposed to moisture and / or mechanical friction. Thus, individual parts of the spent smoking article can subsequently be dispersed and decomposed.

However, plugs of filter material are typically not easily dispersed or degraded. With the possibility of some exceptions or variables, filters are now formed from highly crimped cellulose acetate fibers bonded at the point of contact by using a plasticizer to provide a significant amount of gap space for the passage of smoke. The combined contact points of such filter elements decompose very slowly under normal environmental conditions. Cellulose acetate fibers themselves are generally poor biodegradable fibers.

Despite developments to date on improving the biodegradability of filter plugs, there is an interest in improved techniques for producing filters with improved biodegradation rates. At the same time, there is also a need to maintain the filtration chemistry, smoke properties and consumer preferences provided by currently available smoking article filters.

In order to more readily disintegrate or disperse and produce smoking articles comprising filter cigarettes that are more biodegradable, smoking articles exhibiting a relatively rapid disassembly of the individual parts of the spent smoking article, followed by good dispersing and biodegradation rates of the individual parts It is desirable to provide. In other words, increasing the disassembly rate of the spent smoking article improves the dissolution rate by increasing the exposure of the individual parts to natural elements such as moisture, sunlight, mechanical friction and aerobic biodegradation.

One method previously used to improve the dismantling of the spent smoking article filter is to swell the filter upon contact with moisture, thereby destroying and opening the filter tipping paper, thereby opening the filter material. Impregnating the water expandable gel in the filter material for exposure to natural elements.

It has also been proposed to produce parts of smoking article filters, including filtration material, filter plug wraps, and tipping paper, from water disintegratable paper. The use of water soluble adhesives for securing filter plugs and tipping paper is also known.

All these methods for improving the decomposition of smoking article filters require the presence of water such as rain, snow, dew, or residual moisture, such as wetlands, from such elements. However, in arid countries where there is little rain, such methods are unlikely to be effective.

A further problem is that cellulose acetate tow, which is commonly used as filter material, is not readily degraded or biodegraded. Thus, despite efforts to facilitate dismantling of the spent smoking article, the filter material itself will not decompose sufficiently. Thus, much effort has been directed to improving the biodegradability of cellulose acetate fibers to reduce the environmental burden of spent smoking articles or to make such spent smoking articles more environmentally compatible. Water soluble polymers were used in place of triacetin that solvent-bonded with the cellulose acetate fibers typically used to make filters. Alternatively, soluble polymer materials such as polyvinyl alcohol and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers may be used in place of cellulose acetate. Also known are tobacco smoke filters made from creped paper made of wood pulp and tobacco filters made from regenerated cellulose acetate fiber bundles. Compared to filters comprising cellulose fibrous bundles, these filters decompose slightly more easily when exposed to moisture.

There are obviously environmentally preferred alternatives to cellulose acetate, but degradability again depends on the presence of moisture, which, as mentioned above, may be lacking in some areas.

In view of the above, one or more embodiments of the present invention provide smoking articles having improved disintegration, disperse phase and / or degradability. In particular, one or more embodiments of the present invention provide a filter for a smoking article that can degrade in the absence of environmental water.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter for a smoking article comprising a vehicle containing a liquid that can enhance the disintegration and / or decomposition of the smoking article.

The vehicle that the capsule can be broken or otherwise actuated to release the liquid immediately before disposal of the smoking article, or it can be destroyed or otherwise actuated after disposal. In general, the vehicle is arranged to operate to release the liquid after the smoking article is smoked.

The vehicle may be arranged to be actuated by the action of longitudinal or bending forces on the filter, such that, for example, the act of rubbing the smoking article acts to release the liquid. The actuation of the vehicle to release the liquid can substantially modify the filter.

The liquid may enhance the degradation of the smoking article in one or more of the following ways. Firstly, various parts of smoking articles can be induced to be dismantled by liquid, causing their increased exposure to the environment and causing accelerated dispersion and biodegradation. Secondly, the decomposition of one or more of the parts of the smoking article can be improved directly by the liquid. For example, the filter may comprise a filter material, which can be decomposed by the liquid carried in the vehicle. Thus, for example, when the capsule containing the liquid is broken, the liquid is released and the decomposition of the filter material can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a smoking article comprising a filter as described above.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided the use of a capsule containing a liquid which enhances the disintegration and / or degradation of a smoking article.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of enhancing the disintegration and / or decomposition of a smoking article, the method comprising providing a capsule containing a liquid capable of enhancing the disintegration and / or decomposition of the smoking article. do.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying schematic drawings, each of which illustrates a longitudinal cross section of an individual filter cigarette including a filter according to an embodiment of the present invention (not isometric).
1 shows a filter according to one embodiment of the invention.
2 shows a filter according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

details

The present invention provides a filter for use in a smoking article, including a vehicle containing a liquid that can enhance the disintegration, dispersion and / or degradation of the smoking article. The vehicle is preferably intended to be operable to withstand manipulation during use of the smoking article and to release the liquid content to the filter upon disposal of the smoking article. Disintegration and decomposition of the filter can be carried out directly, for example, by disassembly or dispersion of one or more of the parts of the filter, such as filter material, in the liquid. Alternatively, the improvement of decomposition may be indirect, for example as a result of increased environmental exposure resulting from accelerated dismantling of the filter by the liquid.

1 shows a smoking article 1 comprising a filter 2. The filter 2 comprises two sections of a substantially cylindrical filter plug 3 separated by a cavity 6. The filter plug and the cavity are wrapped in plug wrap 4. A capsule 5 containing liquid is located in the cavity 6 of the filter 2. The smoking article further comprises a cylindrical rod of smokeable material 7 in parallel with the filter 2 such that the end of the rod 7 of smokeable material is adjacent to the end of the filter 2. Such a rod is wrapped in a paper wrapper 8 and connected to the filter 2 by tipping paper 9 in a conventional manner.

2 shows an alternative embodiment in which the corresponding features have been given the same reference numerals. This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the shape of the capsule 15 is elongated. In addition, the capsule 15 is embedded in the material of the filter plug 13, rather than being located in a cavity in the filter 2.

The liquid contained in the capsule can enhance the degradation of the smoking article. In turn, the choice of liquid depends on the composition of the material, including the remainder of the smoking article. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid is water and the various parts of the smoking article are water-dispersible or wet-degradable to any extent as outlined below. In this way, the decomposition of the smoking article is improved over the same smoking article without the water-containing capsule.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the capsule 15 is enclosed in the filter material 13. In some embodiments, the filter can be a complex filter including multiple filter segments. For example, the filter shown in FIG. 1 comprises two sections of filter material 3 separated by cavities 6, such cavities containing capsules. In further embodiments, the capsule may be located in a cavity formed between the filter material and a rod of smokeable material, or the filter may include two or more filter sections, and may also include multiple cavities.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the smoking article comprises a single capsule. However, in alternative embodiments, one or more capsules may be used, and in such embodiments, the capsules will generally be secured in a cavity section formed in the multi-section filter.

Capsules can be inserted into the filter by using any suitable method, and various capsule insertion methods are well known to those skilled in the art. Suitable apparatus include, for example, means for supplying a continuous stream of such filter material from a source of filter material (eg, bales, bobbins, etc.). The apparatus may further comprise a capsule insertion unit for inserting or inserting individual capsules at predetermined intervals in the filter material. The filter material with the encapsulated capsule is then received into a rod-making mean that provides a continuous rod, which is subsequently divided into desired lengths at predetermined intervals so that the individual filter of the present invention. Can be formed.

In general, the prior art disclosure of capsules for use in smoking article filters relates to providing an encapsulation method aimed at releasing the encapsulated material before smoking is performed. Such capsules are only designed to withstand breakage during transport and storage, when the filter is generally not subjected to significant external pressures. Such capsules are intended to be ruptured shortly before use of the smoking article in the future, since this is the first exposure of the smoking article to significant manipulation and external pressure, it is not necessary to make the capsule particularly strong.

On the other hand, capsules for use in the present invention are intended to be destroyed after the smoking article has been smoked, and therefore can preferably withstand a considerable degree of manipulation as the smoking article is smoked. After all, the capsules of the present invention should be stronger than those generally described in the prior art. It is important that the capsule does not burst accidentally before the smoking article is discarded. Such premature rupture may result in a change in the filtration properties of the smoking article, and thus may result in a change in delivery compared to what is expected.

On the other hand, it is important that the capsules are not excessively strong because the capsules must be easily destroyed during the process of hand extinguishing or "stubbing out" after smoking is stopped. Capsules for use in the present invention may have a fracture strength of, for example, 1.5 to 2.5 kp, preferably 1.7 to 2 kp.

The capsule can be designed and inserted into the filter in a manner that depends on the nature of the pressure exerted by the capacity to rupture. The pressure exerted by the user during smoking will be applied to the circumferential surface of the smoking article, primarily by fingers and mouth (“lateral” pressure). In some embodiments of the present invention, the capsule is adapted to withstand lateral pressure relatively to prevent premature rupture. On the other hand, the scrubbing process appears to be related to applying "vertical" pressure along the length of the smoking article, and eventually the capsule must have a relatively reduced durability to break in response to longitudinal pressure.

Such directional capsule elasticity can be achieved in many ways. For example, such capsules can be oval or oval, resulting in increased burst resistance when pressure is applied in one direction versus another. Alternatively, directional short forces can be achieved by using specially strengthened capsules at certain sites. Such capsules can be produced, for example, with increased shell thickness at selected sites. Of course, a similar effect can be achieved by weakening the capsule wall at certain sites to facilitate breakage or rupture in response to forces applied in a particular manner or direction.

The rub off process may also include bending of the filter. Thus, in some embodiments, the capsule is designed to exhibit increased sensitivity to rupture when the filter is bent or crushed. For example, long cylindrical capsules can be used, and such capsules can be broken by breaking. Such elongated capsules will be oriented vertically in the filter, causing such capsules to bend and rupture easily if the filter of the smoking article is rubbed or bent.

Several means of encapsulating a substance, in particular a liquid, for release in a smoking article filter are known and are generally suitable for use in the present invention. Clearly, one of the first considerations is that the capsule should generally be resistant to the degradation action of the intended inclusion. The capsule should also contain a material having a melting temperature that exceeds the temperature of the smoke in the filter.

The capsule may exhibit brittleness under stress and / or include weakened lines such as gold-engraved lines, brittle points or weak sections. Alternatively, a piercing mean can be included in the filter.

In a preferred embodiment, the capsule consists of a frangible material. In one embodiment, the capsule consists of low solubility high molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol. Many suitable alternative materials are known and, for example, capsules typically used in the pharmaceutical industry can be used. Such capsules may be based on gelatin or may be formed, for example, from polymeric materials such as modified cellulose. One type of modified cellulose that can be used is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose. Many biodegradable materials are known which may be suitable for use in the production of capsules, which are high molecular weight polyethylene glycols, polylactic acid, plastarch materials, polycaprolactones, polyglycolides, polyhydroxyalkanos Acids such as poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, and zein-derived bioplastics.

Alternatively, the capsule may comprise a length of thin-walled glass tube whose distal end may be sealed by heating or withstand a manual treatment before or during smoking but may be sealed with a material that may burst after smoking. Other suitable materials may include thin-walled aluminum tubes or hollow foodstuffs such as pasta, or expanded hollow tubes of reconstituted tobacco material. The inner wall of the capsule material may advantageously be coated with a bright E or waterproof material such as silicone to maintain the rigidity of the capsule material by preventing the absorption or degradation of the liquid inclusions over time.

The capsules, alternatively, retain their shape and strength at room temperature and smoking temperature, but are broken down to release liquid contents when pressure is applied to digest the smoking article, resins, natural or synthetic gums, latex or plastics. The material can be constructed. Examples of suitable waxes include beeswax, candelilla, carnauba, shellac wax, caranday, sugarcane wax, myrtle wax and petrol Petroleum wax.

Suitable resins include epoxy resins, terpene resins, petroleum resins, ester gums, phenolic resins and rosin based resins. Preferred gums include gum arabic, locust bean, guar, alginate, carrageenan and pectin.

Preferably the material including the capsule does not affect the flavor of the mainstream smoke as smoking is carried out.

Capsules may be formed in a variety of physical forms, including single or multiple portion capsules, large capsules, small capsules, microcapsules and the like. Many different capsule forms are suitable for use in the present invention, for example, capsules may generally be spherical (shown in FIG. 1), oval, oval (shown in FIG. 2), cylindrical, or generally polygonal. It may be shaped like a prism.

Capsules can be colored. For example, the capsule can include a colorant. Colorants can be used to make it easier to place the capsules in the filter during the manufacturing process. Alternatively or additionally, the colorant can provide an interesting and compelling appearance to the smoking article if the capsule or capsules are intended to be only partially enclosed in the filter material, or if the tipping paper is intended to have a transparent window portion.

Alternatively or in addition, the liquid fixed in the capsule may be colored. This will give the user an additional visible indication that the liquid is successfully released and the decomposition of the consumed smoking article will be improved. Colored liquids also have the added advantage of being able to act as an indicator when the capsule is accidentally destroyed before smoking. The color may be a warning to the smoker that the smoking article is damaged and cannot be used for smoking.

The size of the capsule obviously depends on the amount of liquid required, but it should be taken into account that the presence of the capsule in the filter should not adversely affect the filtration or the suction characteristics of the filter.

In one preferred embodiment, the capsule is 5 mm in diameter. In general, the diameter of the capsule may amount to 80% of the diameter of the smoking article. Preferably, the capsule diameter may amount to 70%, 60% or 50% of the smoking article. For example, the diameter of the capsule can be 2 to 7 mm, preferably such diameter is 4 to 6 mm.

The capsule should be large enough to contain sufficient content to enhance degradation of the smoking article. The required volume will vary depending on the nature of the liquid held in the capsule, the composition of the remainder of the smoking article, and the associated ability of the liquid to enhance the degradation of the smoking article. The volume of the capsule may reach 60%, 50%, 40%, or 30% of the total volume of the filter. However, the requirement for large volumes of liquid must be balanced with the need to have sufficient filter material in the filter to provide the desired degree of filtration.

It is desirable to make the volume of the capsule as large as possible, but as the size of the capsule increases, the risk of premature destruction of the capsule also increases. Also, the larger the capsule, the greater the blocking of the smoke flow path. In turn, it may be desirable for the filter to include two, three, four or more capsules to accommodate the desired amount of liquid.

A plurality of capsules may be positioned at regular intervals, for example along the length of the filter. Alternatively a plurality of capsules may be placed as clusters in the filter, for example in a cavity formed between two sections of filter material.

Alternatively, long cylindrical or elliptical capsules (or tubes) having the same length as a substantial part of the length of the filter, or the same as the entire length of the filter, may be used. Such capsules may reach 5 mm in diameter.

Multiple capsules containing different liquids can be used.

In some embodiments, the capsule or capsules may be further encapsulated in a second capsule or sheath and the like. This can further prevent accidental or premature destruction or incidental leakage. In this way, single wall or multi-wall capsules can be used to control capsule stability, strength, and ease of processing in fabricating break resistant filters.

Capsules can be made using any suitable method, and the method of making such capsules clearly depends on the precise composition and make-up required. Various capsule manufacturing methods will be known to those skilled in the art, including techniques such as co-extrusion, spin coating, coacervation, interfacial polymerization, solvent evaporation, and annular jet forming.

In some embodiments where the capsule is a seamless capsule, the capsule can be produced using a coextrusion process. The coextrusion process is a coextrusion process of two liquids that subsequently form a shell and capsule content (or “core”). The first (co-extrusion) step involves forming a droplet with a liquid core material in the liquid shell material. After the co-extrusion step, the "capsules" are solidified, for example by cooling or dipping in the hardener. The capsule may then be given to various treatments, such as washing, removing excess liquid, coloring, applying additional coatings, and the like.

Alternatively, annular jet formation techniques can be used. This method utilizes two concentric jets to eject the inner jet of the liquid core material and the outer jet of the liquid shell material. The fluid stream penetrates into the droplets and the liquid shell material solidifies by phase transition induced in the presence of crosslinking ions, pH differences, temperature changes, and the like.

In some embodiments where the capsule comprises a wax capsule, the capsule can be formed, for example, by a method comprising freezing a solution of the liquid core material until small crystals are formed. According to this method, the crystals are then dropped into the molten wax and removed by a spatula after the wax coating is formed around the cold crystals. The frozen core material gradually becomes liquid as the coated capsule reaches room temperature.

In alternative embodiments, the capsule can be made in situ. For example, in embodiments where the capsule comprises an elongated cylindrical capsule extending over the entire length of the filter, the capsule can be constructed by crimping a continuous tube into the filter-length filament as part of the filter making process.

The liquid immobilized in the capsule can be any liquid capable of enhancing the degradation of one or more of the materials including the rest of the smoking article. Clearly, the nature of the liquid depends on the composition of the materials of the smoking article and vice versa.

Disintegration and / or decomposition of smoking articles can be enhanced by one or more of the following methods. Firstly, the disassembly of smoking articles can be improved, allowing individual parts to be more exposed to the environment, and thus sensitive to accelerated degradation. Second, decomposition of one or more of the individual parts can be directly enhanced, for example, one or more of those parts can be dissolved or otherwise reacted with the liquid fixed in the capsule.

Smoking articles generally include many different papers (tipping papers, plug wraps, and tobacco wrapping papers) that join parts of the smoking articles and secure them together. In some embodiments, it is enhanced by the action of the liquid in the dispersion capsule of the adhesive itself and / or the paper itself. In one preferred embodiment, the liquid is water, the adhesive is a water soluble or water dispersible adhesive, and the plus wrap and tipping paper comprise water disintegratable paper. Thus, when the capsule is broken, water acts on the adhesive, plug wrap, and tipping paper to enhance the dismantling of the smoking article and accelerate the environmental degradation of the various parts of the smoking article.

There are many means by which liquid can improve the decomposition of smoking articles. If the capsule breaks, the liquid is released and can move through the smoking article. In some embodiments, the liquid immobilized in the capsule is an aqueous solution and one or more of the remaining parts of the smoking article consist of any water-decomposable, for example, water-soluble or water-dispersible material. In one embodiment, the liquid in the capsule is water and the filter material is a water soluble or water dispersible material such as polyvinyl alcohol.

In alternative embodiments, other liquids may be used in the capsule, and the choice of liquids to be used obviously depends on the composition of the other parts of the smoking article.

In general, the preferred liquid for use in capsules is an aqueous solution, the most preferred liquid is water. Weak acid or weak base solutions can be used. In general, any liquid may be used that is not potentially toxic or harmful to use. In case of accidental premature breakdown of the capsule, it is also important that none of the other parts of the smoking article decompose to produce a product that is potentially toxic or harmful to the user.

The liquid can be colored. This serves as a visual indication that the capsule has been broken, which can be important for two reasons. Firstly, it will inform the user that the capsule has broken prematurely and thus inform the user that he should not smoke the smoking article. Secondly, when the user wants to destroy the capsule, this will confirm to the user that the capsule has actually been destroyed sufficiently. The possibility of observing the colored liquid can also serve as an incentive to allow the user to destroy the capsule upon disposal of the smoking article.

In some embodiments, degradation of the smoking article is enhanced by a chemical reaction between the liquid and one of the remaining parts of the smoking article, such as the filter material. The chemical contained in the capsule may be selected to specifically react with a particular part of the smoking article. Alternatively, the chemical may exhibit a less selective ability to chemically react with and decompose the smoking article, for example, the chemical may be a weak acidic solution.

The filter may comprise two or more capsules containing different liquids. Different liquids can react together or otherwise combined to form liquids that can enhance the degradation of smoking articles. Alternatively, different parts of the smoking article may be given for decomposition by different liquids.

In some embodiments, the capsule contains a solution that acts as an attractant for microorganisms, insects, or other organisms. The rate of degradation of smoking articles can be improved by the activity of living organisms.

According to these embodiments, the capsule may contain, for example, an environmentally acceptable aqueous solution of glucose (or other sugar solution), salt (as saline solution), or starch (as dilute corn starch syrup). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in all these embodiments the selection of materials, including the remainder of the smoking article, is important for promoting the action of the microorganism.

The capsule is intended to be destroyed upon disposal of the smoking article, and is often associated with an undesired odor of the consumed smoking article. Thus, in addition to the decomposition action, the liquid may additionally have a deodorizing function. Alternatively, separate disintegration and deodorization liquids can be integrated into the filter into separate capsules so that they break simultaneously.

The deodorant may be a neutralizing agent or a masking agent or may be a combination of a neutralizing agent and a masking agent.

Preferred deodorants are 2-trans-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadiene-8-ol (also known as geraniol), 1-carbon, 1-carveol, terpinyl acetate, gera Neyl Propionate, Citronellyl Butyrate, Citral, Cis-3-hexenol, Triacetin, Benzyl Benzoate, Acetone, Safrole, Terpinyl Propionate, Methyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamic Aldehyde Isopropyl alcohol, triethylglycol diacetate (TEGDA), OdorGone ™, methyl cinnamicaldehyde, linalil propionate, acetic acid, citronellal, citronellyl formate, Geranyl formate and linalool. Many other masking agents, such as fragrances, for example essential oils used in pot pourri, are also suitable compounds for use in the present invention.

The filter material used in the majority of the filters of smoking articles currently available consists of cellulose acetate fibers and does not readily disintegrate or degrade.

The filter material of one embodiment of the invention consists of polyvinyl alcohol. Polyvinyl alcohol is commercially available as a relatively inexpensive and nontoxic thermoplastic, water soluble, solid polymer. Polyvinyl alcohol is unique in that it is only a biodegradable, carbon-carbon backbone polymer that can be fully biodegraded under environmental conditions. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, when the spent smoking article is thrown away, the user destroys the capsule, for example by squeezing the filter or by stepping the spent smoking article. This releases the water contained in the capsule, which water moves through the filter and promotes decomposition of the polyvinyl alcohol filter material.

In alternative embodiments, other water-degradable materials such as starch, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers, polylactic acid, crepe paper made from wood pulp sheets, or reconstituted cellulose fiber bundles may be used.

As described above, the liquid may not act to dissolve the filter material, but may improve the decomposition of the smoking article through some other mechanism. For example, in some embodiments, the filter material may be cellulose acetate, which is made using a water soluble plasticizer to bind the cellulose acetate fibers. According to these embodiments, the liquid may be water, and thin parts such as plug wraps, tipping papers and / or adhesives may also be preferably water soluble or water dispersible. In turn, breakage of the capsule causes disassembly of the parts of the filter, including the dispersing or dissolving of the plasticizer. As a result, the cellulose acetate fibers are not bonded to each other, the filter material disintegrates and the individual cellulose acetate fibers can be dispersed. As an alternative to the use of water soluble plasticizers, nonwoven or loosely processed cellulose acetate fibers may be used.

In embodiments in which the liquid promotes disassembly of parts of the smoking article, the filter may further comprise a substance or powder that can expand upon the action of the liquid. In this way, destruction of the capsule causes expansion of this material and subsequent destruction of the filter. Suitable materials that can expand are known to those skilled in the art. For example, materials that can swell upon contact with water include carboxymethyl cellulose, water-dispersible starch, chemically modified starch, and super absorbent polymers such as acrylic acid and sodium acrylate. Crosslinked copolymers or crosslinked copolymers of acrylamide and potassium acrylate. These materials may be incorporated into the filter, for example in powder form, and will swell when exposed to water, for example water from the capsule of the invention. The swelling action physically separates parts of the filter to enhance disintegration and dispersal of the parts.

In other embodiments, the liquid may be an aqueous solution comprising a biological agent capable of breaking down cellulose, such as a cellulase enzyme.

In some embodiments, the filter material may comprise paper. The liquid may be water, which does not dissolve the paper, but will nevertheless enhance its disintegration and degradation.

Filter materials that are not biodegradable but can be disintegrated or converted into biodegradable forms by the action of certain chemicals contained in the capsule can be used.

Many smoking articles are configured to incorporate a flavourant into the smoke drawn along the smoking article by the user. This is often accomplished by incorporating a flavor-containing capsule into the smoking article filter. In such smoking articles, encapsulation prevents premature evaporation of the volatile flavoring agent and the capsule is destroyed prior to use of the smoking article to release the flavoring agent. However, this method of flavoring smoking articles is clearly not compatible with the degradable smoking articles described herein. This is due to the excess of capsules that may be required for the filter, and because of the fact that flavor capsules must be destroyed before smoking, while capsules capable of breaking down liquids must be destroyed upon disposal of spent smoking articles.

As a result, in some embodiments of the invention, the filter may comprise a thread extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter from the tobacco rod end to the mouth end. According to these embodiments, such threads are loaded with aromatic or flavor materials. Thus, as the smoke is drawn along the smoking article, the flavor contained in the thread is accompanied by the smoke. The use of flavourant-enriched threads also provides a simple means of incorporating the flavourant into the smoking article filter, which requires minimal changes in the manufacturing process.

As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" refer to materials that can be used to produce the desired flavor or aroma. Preferred flavoring agents are extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clover, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, drambuie, bourbon, Scotch, Whiskey, Spearmint, Peppermint, Lavender, Cardamon, Celery, Cascarilla, Nutmeg, Sandalwood , Bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, Jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or peppermint mint oil from any species of the genus ntha), flavor masking agents, bitterness receptor site blockers, receptor site enhancers, sweeteners (eg sucralose, acesul) Palm potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as chlorophyll, minerals, botanical, or breathodorants freshening agent). These may be substitutes, synthetic or natural ingredients or combinations thereof.

Preferred materials for the production of threads are cotton, but other materials such as cellulose acetate, and nylon, or natural materials such as vegetable fibers may also be used. According to these embodiments, the liquid immobilized in the capsule can degrade the flavor-enriched thread.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, water degradable paper is used as plug wrap, tobacco wrapping paper and tipping paper. Thus, when the capsule is broken, water is released and the decomposition of the paper wrapper is enhanced to promote dismantling of the smoking article.

In alternative embodiments, one or more of the papers used in the smoking article are not disintegrated by water, but may otherwise be biodegradable. In other embodiments, one or more of the paper packs are not biodegradable but may disintegrate by the action of certain chemicals fixed in the capsule, such as a weak acidic solution.

In order to create a general visual effect, in some embodiments, the filter may include a transparent window that enables visualization of the filter material and / or capsules in the filter. In some such embodiments, the capsule is secured in a cavity formed between two pieces of filter material and the transparent window is aligned with the cavity section of the filter material. In this way, it gives the user a unique effect of visualizing the capsule in the filter, which can act as a reminder to destroy the capsule as soon as the smoking article is smoked. To produce the effect of the transparent window, the tipping paper may comprise a single piece of transparent material, which is polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cellulose acetate film, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene oxide (PEOX), polyethylene , Cellophane, Natureflex ™, polylactic acid, plastiform material, polycaprolactone, polyglycolide, polyhydroxyalkanoate such as poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and zein-derived bioplastics It is not limited to this. The tipping paper has an opaque coating on certain portions to leave a clear, uncoated section defining the window. Since such material will be in contact with moisture from the user's mouth and fingers, the transparent material used is either insoluble or treated with an external waterproof coating. According to these embodiments comprising the transparent material, the liquid fixed in the capsule can decompose the transparent material.

Adhesives are commonly used to join the seams of plug wrap, tipping paper and cigarette paper of smoking articles. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, water soluble or water dispersible adhesives are used. When released, the water released from the capsules loses the bonds between the various parts of the smoking article, making individual parts more exposed to the environment and, therefore, susceptible to accelerated disintegration and biodegradation.

Preferred water-soluble adhesives for seam adhesion are liquid starch adhesives. Hot melt adhesives, or EVA and PVA adhesives may also be used.

In some embodiments, one or more of the adhesives used are not water soluble. In this case, a solvent is contained in the capsule, which acts to soften or solubilize the adhesive to promote disintegration of the smoking article.

Vehicles containing liquids that can enhance disintegration and / or dispersion of smoking articles may generally be capsules as described above, although other fluid-containing vehicles may be used. For example, pockets or pouches formed directly in the filter material or formed of a separate material, such as polyethylene, may be used to destroy when the smoking article is smoked. In addition, sponge-like porous materials, such as foamed plastic polymers, may be used to contain the fluid, which fluid may be released through the action of squeezing or twisting when the smoking article is smoked. Other suitable fluid-containing devices will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The above description describes those believed to be preferred embodiments of the invention. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims (18)

A filter for a smoking article comprising a vehicle containing a liquid capable of enhancing disintegration and / or degradation of the smoking article. The filter of claim 1, wherein the liquid can improve dispersion of smoking articles. 3. The filter of claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle comprises a capsule. The filter of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is arranged to be operative to release the liquid after the smoking article has been smoked. 5. The filter of claim 4, wherein the vehicle is arranged to be actuated by longitudinal or bending forces acting on the filter. 6. The filter of claim 4 or 5, wherein actuating the vehicle to release the liquid substantially deforms the filter. The filter of claim 1, wherein the liquid enhances disassembly of parts of the filter. 8. The filter of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid is water. The filter of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a filter material that is soluble, swellable, or dispersible in water. 10. The filter of claim 9, wherein the filter material is polyvinyl alcohol. The filter of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a plugwrap, tipping paper, and an adhesive, at least one of which is soluble, swellable, or dispersible in water. The filter of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a biodegradable material. The filter of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a capsule having a breaking strength of greater than 1.7 kp. The filter of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a capsule having a volume of 50% or less of the total volume of the filter. A filter for smoking article substantially described herein with reference to the drawings. Smoking article comprising the filter according to claim 1. Use of a vehicle containing a liquid that enhances disintegration and / or degradation of a smoking article. A method of enhancing disintegration and / or degradation of a smoking article, the method comprising a vehicle containing a liquid capable of enhancing disintegration and / or degradation of a smoking article.

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