What are the tows in cigarette filters made of?

Diacetate fiber tow

The filaments in the filter are called "Cellulose diacetate", which is obtained from wood and then processed with "acetic acid". At present, its application areas include: fiber products for cigarette filters, optical films, filter membranes and other industries.

How is diacetate fiber tow made

The diacetate fiber tow used in cigarettes is generally made from natural raw materials such as wood pulp. These fiber bundles undergo specific processing steps and eventually form filter materials that can be used for tobacco filters. The production process includes extracting cellulose from natural raw materials, chemically treating it, and further processing it into a fiber structure suitable for tobacco filters. These fiber bundles play a role in filtering harmful particles in the tobacco industry. By improving the filtering effect, it ensures that smokers inhale less harmful substances when inhaling smoke, and have a certain degree of biodegradability.

Why use acetate bundles as cigarette filters

There are many benefits to using acetate bundles as cigarette filters. The material has strong filtering performance and can effectively block harmful substances such as tar and nicotine in tobacco smoke, thereby minimizing the harm of cigarettes to smokers. Secondly, cellulose diacetate has a large surface area, which can more effectively contact smoke and improve the dust filtration effect, thereby reducing the amount of smoke inhaled into the mouth. This helps smokers reduce the amount of smoking and reduce the impact of secondhand smoke on people around them.

What are the hazards of this ingredient?

Cellulose diacetate bundles also bring some hazards when used in cigarette filters. The following will describe these hazards in detail from multiple angles:

Environmental pollution
1. Waste treatment: Cellulose diacetate bundles are the main component of cigarette filters, so their large-scale use in other uses will lead to more waste generation. These wastes may enter the environment and cause potential pollution to soil and water sources.
2. Biodegradation: Although cellulose diacetate has a certain degree of biodegradability, in the actual environment, improper treatment or large-scale discharge may affect its degradation rate, resulting in its long-term accumulation in the environment and increasing environmental pressure.

Health impacts
1. Combustion emissions: Once cellulose diacetate tow is burned, it will produce harmful smoke and chemicals, which may have adverse effects on the environment and human health.
2. Microplastic pollution: Since cellulose diacetate is a plastic material, when it decomposes or is released into the environment, it may cause microplastic pollution problems, causing potential harm to ecosystems and wildlife.

Social impacts
1. Environmental awareness: Large-scale use of cellulose diacetate tow may reduce people's environmental awareness and sustainable development because it has potential negative effects on waste disposal and environmental protection.
2. Sustainability challenges: Excessive use of this material may pose challenges to environmental sustainability, as its potential impacts on the environment and health require the search for more sustainable alternatives.