UA81109C2 - Cigarette filter with spherical beaded carbon - Google Patents

Abstract

A cigarette filter contains a beaded, activated carbon of a spherical form having a diameter within the range of approximately 0.20 millimeter to 0.70 millimeter.

Description

Description of the invention

This application is incorporated by reference to US application Ser. No. 347,558, filed Jan. 9, 2002, and US Ser. No. 403,490, filed Aug. 14, 2002, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates to filter tobacco products, such as filter cigarettes, in particular to cigarette filters containing carbon materials.

Filter tobacco products, particularly cigarettes, typically have a tobacco rod, a filter, and a strip of rim paper 70 connecting the filter to the tobacco rod. A tobacco stick usually includes a column of cut tobacco (eg, in the form of hidden tobacco) wrapped in cigarette paper or a shirt. Typically, the filter includes a plug of fibrous material ("filter plug"), which, in a preferred embodiment, is made of cellulose acetate tow. Ventilation of the main stream of smoke is achieved by making a row or rows of perforation holes in the rim paper 12 located along the filter plug. Such ventilation ensures the dilution of the sucked main jet of smoke with the surrounding air to reduce the level of resins in the smoke.

During smoking, the smoker sucks in the main stream of smoke from the puffing cell at the lit end of the cigarette.

The inhaled cigarette smoke first enters the upstream smoke filtering portion of the filter, and then passes through the downstream portion adjacent to the mouth end of the cigarette filter,

Individual cigarettes have filter sections containing materials such as charcoal granules, silica gel, zeolite, etc. Examples of cigarettes and filters are described in |(US patents Mo2,881,770, issued in the name of Tomeu;

Mo3,353,543 issued in the name of Zrgotsi and others; Mo3,101,723 issued to Zeidtap et al and Mo4,481,958 issued to Kapieg et al, as well as European patent applications Mo532,329 and Mob608,047). Some commercially available filters contain particles or granules of coal (for example, activated carbon materials) He) compactly or dispersed inside the cellulose acetate bundle; other commercially available filters contain carbon fibers sprayed into them; some commercially available filters have the so-called "cavity filter" ("samu yYAMeg") or "triple filter" ("girie YAMeg) designs. For example, commercially available filters include the 5C5 IM Yuitsai/Zoiii SagsoaI Riyeg and Ttirie Boiiy SNagsoai Riyeg (double solid o charcoal filter and triple solid charcoal filter) of the company Riigopa Ipiegpaiopa!, a. "3

Ttirie Samu Riyeg (triple filter with a cavity) of the Vaitoagipeg company, as well as AST of the Riygopa company

Ipiegpayopa!i, ЦЯ. (See also Siagke et al., Torasso's Guide (Tobacco World), p. 55 (November -- 1992). A detailed discussion of the properties and composition of cigarettes and filters is given in US Pat.

Mo5,404,890 in the name of Sepigu et al and Mo5,568,819 in the name of Sepigu et al, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein

By reference). co

Examples of concentric designs of filters containing granular coal are given in European application No. 579,410 and US patent No. 3,894,545 to Stegley et al.

A plug-gap-plug design usually includes a pair of filter plugs separated by a gap and a packing of granular activated carbon in the cavity, or gap, C between them. During their production, the technological process for spaced filter plugs c is organized along a continuous filter wrap tape. The filter wrap is then partially rolled around a portion of the filter blank, after which granular carbon material is poured or otherwise introduced into the spaces defined between the partially wrapped filter plugs. The filter wrap is then glued and finally formed, and the formed endless rod is cut at specified places 49 to the required length, usually in the form of interconnected filter elements, which are already used individually in cigarettes with a filter. - In the production of filter components such as those shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a known cavity filling device can be used. Such a cavity filling device is illustrated and described in U.S. Patents No. 4,214,508, No. 5,221,247, No. 5,322,459, No. 5,542,901, and No. 5,875,824, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

When using known techniques and coal materials, the control of the technological process at high speeds of the mechanisms usually suffers from the discrepancy in dosage, scattering and grinding of granular material. The density of the filter mouthpieces suffers, as a result of which some cavities may be filled less than others. 29 For example, some of the known "charcoal" dosing devices contain a supply of granular

HF) of coal in the hopper and allow the rim of the rotating measuring wheel to rotate in a relatively stationary pile of granulated coal. Such a design has a crushing effect on granulated coal, which usually increases with increasing machine speed. The ricocheting and flying of material particles during manufacturing operations using known devices and materials often creates unacceptable 60 defects in the finished product (such as contamination and incomplete filling) and accelerates unwanted machine "downtime" to perform cleaning of the equipment and the surrounding work space.

Granular coal, which is an accumulation of particles of irregular shape and different sizes, tends to fill a defined volume unstably from one filling operation to another. Thus, the existing incomplete and uneven filling of cavities can be a major drawback in the automated production of filter rods. Uneven filling can also lead to the formation of unwanted channels through the layer of material, allowing a significant portion of the main smoke jet to pass through or around the packing such that the interaction between the main smoke jet and the granular coal can be reduced.

It is known that the introduction of granular activated carbon materials into cigarette filters helps to remove certain components from the main stream of smoke. When used in this way in cigarette filters, similar granular forms of coal are formed by charring organic materials, such as walnut shells, or wood, as well as by "activating" the material charred in this way, subjecting it to heat treatment at approximately 800-10002C with steam or carbon dioxide. Such activating treatment of these materials 70 leads to the formation of a porous (honeycomb) internal structure with a very large specific surface, which is usually for activated carbon in the range of 300-2500 m yy according to measurements according to the method

Brunauer, Emmett and Teller ("BET").

However, such granular activated carbon materials have surface roughness and shape that are irregular and non-uniform from granule to granule. These irregularities and inhomogeneities of granular activated carbon materials create difficulties in the industrial production of carbon-containing cigarette filter mouthpieces and cigarettes. For example, an incorrect shape increases the ricochet of particles as they are fed through the filter nozzle machine, which causes the product to be contaminated by flying coal particles, dusts the work area and requires a stop to clean the filter nozzle machine, and leads to uneven and less complete filling cavities of filter mouthpieces of the "plug-gap-plug" type.

Granular activated carbon materials are also known for their significant influence on cigarette taste, which is that their randomly wide range of pore size distribution is accompanied by a tendency to retain not only the components of the gas phase of the main stream of tobacco smoke, but also partially the bulk phase, that is, more or less the amount of resinous components that add flavor and aroma to cigarette smoke. Granular activated carbons made from nut shells or wood are also known to contain contaminants, which are thought to be another possible cause of off-flavors associated with the use of granulated carbon in cigarettes.

It is also clear that the process of activation of granulated coal is accompanied by a tendency to weaken the body of the granule, that is, it becomes less strong and more prone to cracking, grinding and dust formation during "F) feeding time through the dosing devices of machines for the production of filter mouthpieces. It is also clear that performing the activating treatment entails additional costs for the production of granulated material. at

According to the above, the purpose of the present invention is to design a cigarette with a filter containing a type of charcoal capable of fully and effectively adsorbing the components of the gas phase present in the main stream of cigarette tobacco smoke with less impact on the taste experienced when smoking such a cigarette. -

According to the above, a further goal of the present invention is the construction of a filter cigarette containing "a type of coal and/or other materials capable of fully and effectively adsorbing the components of the gas phase of the main jet of cigarette tobacco smoke with a greater physical ability to withstand the operations of automated manufacturing of filter mouthpieces and without the need for additional activating processing and "related costs."

Another goal of the present invention is to improve the process of automated manufacturing of filter mouthpieces containing coal. A further purpose of this invention is to ensure a more complete and uniform filling of cavities in the process of manufacturing filters of the plug-gap-plug type.

A further goal of the present invention is to eliminate (reduce) material spillage and ricochet in the process of manufacturing filter mouthpieces in such a way as to reduce cases of contamination of finished products or (ee) dust generation with the need to clean equipment for the production of filter mouthpieces. These and other goals are achieved with the help of the present invention, in which the filter of the tobacco product consists of balls of activated carbon of a uniform spherical shape and, according to the variant, which is preferred - a predetermined diameter, range of distribution of pore sizes and level of activation. o 50 The subject of the present invention is a cigarette filter containing coal, which ensures uniformity of product formation, uniformity of product characteristics, ease of achieving uniformity of both, and also (Che) improved absolute characteristics.

In a preferred embodiment, a plug-gap-plug type filter is provided, the cavity of which is filled with spheroidal carbon of a uniform spherical shape and preferably of about the same size, preferably in the range of 0.2 -0.7mm in diameter, with the preferred option in the range of 0.2-0.4mm, exactly or approximately 0.35mm. With such

IF) dimensions, sufficient and effective removal of the gas phase is achieved at medium to low activation levels of the order of 1600 m 2 /g or less (according to measurements by the BET method of Brunauer, Emet and Teller).

Accordingly, the strength or hardness of the carbon balls is maintained to improve their resistance to cracking and the formation of unwanted dust during the automated production of filter nozzles.

Maintaining the ball size at or near a predetermined diameter promotes more uniform flow and tighter packing of the granules during the manufacturing process. 65 As it turned out, activated carbon has a predominant (mostly) pore size distribution in the micropore range (less than 20A), which is considered optimal for removing gas phase components.

Activated carbon pellets (specifically, resin-based pelletized carbons) have also been found to have fewer macropores (greater than 500A) compared to wood- or coconut-based (granular) activated carbons.

In a preferred embodiment, such spheroid is manufactured to obtain a pore size distribution predominantly in the micropore or small mesopore range (BOA diameter or smaller) with significantly fewer pores in the macropore range (500A or larger), and with the remaining pores , the sizes of which lie in the range between them.

The charcoal can also be made with the possibility of introducing aromas in such a way that they 7/0 can be released into the main stream of smoke.

The novelties and advantages of the present invention, in addition to those already mentioned, will become clear to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings, in which like items correspond to like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a cigarette having a tobacco rod and a multi-component filter according to /5 This invention; a local section is made on the view to illustrate internal details;

Fig. 2 is a side view similar to Fig. 1, but it shows a cavity filled with spherical spherical coal of two different sizes;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of one spherical ball, which may also contain a core and a surface layer of flavoring;

Fig. A4 is an enlarged view of a section of a filter cavity filled with spherical spherical coal, showing a point contact between the balls;

Fig. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention, having a tobacco rod and a multi-component filter; a local section is made on the view to illustrate internal details;

Fig. 6b is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention, having a tobacco rod and a multi-component filter; a local section is made on the view to illustrate internal details;

Fig. 7 is a graph of the percentage of transmission of 1,3-butadiene per puff for several different sizes of i) spherical coal;

Fig. 8 is a graph of the percentage of 1,3-butadiene transmission per puff for various types of RICA and spherical coal, as well as the transmission of 1,3-butadiene from a control standard cigarette 1KAE; and Gee! zo Fig. 9 is a bar chart showing the effect of coal and non-adsorbing impurities on the percentage of transmission of 1,3-butadiene. at

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in Fig. 1, is a "- cigarette 10 consisting of a tobacco rod 12 and a multi-component filter 14 attached to the rod with a rim paper 16. The filter 14 is made in the form of a "plug- "gap-stopper" with cellulose acetate plugs 18, 20 spaced apart from each other and a cavity 22 between them, which is filled with spherical carbon 24 of a spherical shape. The scope of the present invention also includes other configurations of filters having a cavity filled with spherical spherical adsorbent material.

Spherical spherical carbon material 24 consists of individual balls, preferably of the same predetermined diameter, which have a preferred tendency to contact each other at a single point of contact when they are packed into the cavity of a c-type cigarette filter plug. gap-traffic". Such single-point contact results in the formation of a carbon material packing with minimal channel formation, or end-to-end "short-circuiting" of the passing tobacco smoke path. through the cavity 22. Accordingly, maximum contact is achieved between the gas phase of cigarette smoke and the carbon surface of the balls for the most effective adsorption of the necessary components of the gas phase.

The filter cavity 22 is preferably filled with spherical coal balls

Go! of the same size, or alternatively contains balls of two different sizes - one larger than the other. The smaller balls are evenly spaced between the larger balls, as shown in Fig.2. - In particular, Fig. 2 is a side view similar to Fig. 1, but it shows the filter cavity 22 - filled with a mixture of large balls 26 and smaller balls 28, evenly spaced between the larger granules. These two ball sizes can be selected mathematically to provide maximum cavity filling by 22, thus minimizing bypass channeling at the outer edges of the cavity. When picking up

Ge) of the maximum diameter of the granules used, the diameter of the cylindrical cavity 22 of the filter is taken into account, and optimal characteristics are achieved when using balls having a diameter in the range from 1/10 to 1/40 of the diameter of the cavity. When the smaller balls 28 are used in conjunction with the larger balls 26, the smaller balls typically have a diameter of about 2295 from the larger balls. A preferred mathematical ratio is C for the radius of the smaller spheres 28 to the radius of the larger spheres 26. o 0 by A further alternative may also be to introduce spherical material to introduce flavoring into the smoke stream after other filter components have removed most of the gas phase components , 60 to be deleted. In another embodiment, such a filter component may be similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with an additional cavity downstream of the smoke, which is filled with flavored spherical material.

Attempting to ensure single-point contact between the spherical coal balls 24 minimizes friction between the balls and allows them to flow quickly during the production process like a liquid so that they self-organize into a densely packed mass inside the filter cavity 22. Such free flow makes it possible to quickly and efficiently fill the cavity 22 with little or almost no useless scattering of coal balls.

Said carbonaceous materials can be given a spherical shape by known methods. In addition, if activated carbon is selected as the spherical spherical carbon material, the types of carbon described in (US Patents Mo4,917,835, Mo5,456,868 and Mob,033,506) can be used, as well as other known carbon compositions. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. Spherical coal of the same and correct spherical shape can be purchased from Kygep Spetisai companies! Ipdyvigu So., Tsa (Japan) or Mavi Sagrop Tse, Napieu

Cancer, Sitionoga 503 2AE (Great Britain). 70 As already noted, the spherical spherical carbon material 24 immediately compacts into a densely packed mass with minimal formation of channels, which can otherwise reduce the effectiveness of the filter packing inside the cavity 22 of the filter. This is a direct result of the point contact between the smooth surface of the balls of material. Such a uniform stacking density helps to reduce the deviations between the filters produced, as well as to reduce the deviations between their general characteristics. Unlike granular packings, which are often inserted to form bypass channels or other voids, the filter cavity 22 is almost completely filled with spherical spherical carbon material during the manufacturing process without significant compaction thereafter.

Figure 5 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is a cigarette 10A consisting of a rod of smoking material 12, such as cut tobacco, and a multi-component filter 14 attached to the rod 12 with a rim paper 16. When the cigarette 10A is lit, the main stream of smoke is formed in the tobacco rod 12 and is drawn through the mentioned tobacco rod and filter 14.

In this description, the relative positions of the sections of the filter and other elements "upper along the flow of smoke" and "lower along the flow of smoke" are indicated relative to the direction of the main stream of smoke during inhalation from the tobacco rod 12 s g through the multi-component filter 14.

In a preferred embodiment, the filter 14 has a first upstream section 50 containing i) carbon material and an end component 52 on the mouth side (mouthpiece). In this embodiment, the section 50 containing the carbon material has a filter part of the "plug-gap-plug" type, consisting of a central filter component 54, an end component 56 adjacent to the He! of tobacco spaced relative to this central filter component 54 in such a way as to define a cavity 58 between them filled with spherical spherical carbon material 24, such as activated spherical carbon. The tobacco-adjacent end component 56 is positioned immediately adjacent to the tobacco rod 12 and, in a preferred embodiment, includes a low-absorption-resistance ("LOA") admetacellulose bundle plug. --

As already mentioned, the spherical spherical carbon material 24 consists of individual balls that are in contact with each other at a single point. Such a single-point contact leads to the formation of a packing made of carbon material with minimal channel formation, or end-to-end "short-circuiting" of the path of tobacco smoke passing through the cavity 58. Accordingly, maximum contact is achieved between the gas phase of cigarette smoke and the carbon surface of the balls for the most effective adsorption of the necessary "Components" gas phase. z c In addition, as already noted, the mentioned coal materials can be given a spherical shape by known methods. If activated carbon is selected as the spherical spherical carbon material, the carbon materials described in US Patent Nos. 4,917,835, 5,456,868, and Mob,033,5061 may be used, as well as other known carbon compositions. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. in their entire usefulness for all useful applications o The end component 52 on the mouth side is preferably made of a plug of cellulose acetate or other fibrous or ribbed material with a moderate or low retention capacity for loose solids. In a preferred embodiment, this is a low solids retention capacity, with the denier and total total denier selected to achieve the overall desired suction resistance of the multi-component filter 14. o In a preferred embodiment, at least part, if not all, of the carbon packing 24 contains

Ge flavors or impregnated with flavoring.

5, it can be seen that the central filter component 54 in the multi-component filter 14, according to the preferred embodiment, includes a plug 60 of fibrous filter material, which, according to the preferred embodiment, is a cellulose acetate tow with moderate to low retention capacity and resistance impregnation, together with one or more threads 62 containing flavoring. When the main

F) the stream of smoke is sucked through the central filter component 54 and along the thread 62, and the aromas are released to the main stream of smoke. Filter blanks with scented threads can be purchased from Ategisap Riyopa Sotrapu, 8410 dePegzop Juamiz Nidpulau, Kisptopa, Migaipia at 23231-1341, and the corresponding design of the central filter component 54 is described in |(U.S. Pat.

Mo4,281,671, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all useful applications).

In a preferred embodiment, one or more circumferential rows of perforations 64 are provided in the rim paper 16 in an area along the central component 54 and downstream of the smoke from the flavored charcoal packing 20, preferably in the upper by the smoke path 65 to the end portion of the central component 54 adjacent to the packing 24. This preferred arrangement maximizes the distance between the mouth end 66 of the cigarette and the perforation holes 64, which is preferably at least 12mm ( millimeters) or more. Thus, the smoker's lips do not obscure the perforations 64. In a preferred embodiment, the ventilation rate is in the range of 40-6095, more preferably approximately 45-5595 for an ETS cigarette with bmg tars.

The spheroid packing may contain at least 7Omg to 12Omg (milligrams) or more of carbon in the fully packed state, or 160mg to 18Omg or more of spheroid in the 8595 packing condition or more in cavity 58.

For example, the preferred length of the tobacco rod 12 is 49mm, and the preferred length of the multi-component filter 14 is 34mm. The length of the four filter components of the cigarette 10A is as follows: end component 56, adjacent to the tobacco, in the preferred embodiment, bmm; packing length 24 from spherical coal according to the preferred option, 12mm for packing with coal 18Ω; central component according to the preferred option, mm; and the end component 52, which is inserted into the mouth, in the preferred embodiment, /5 Vmm.

The tobacco rod 12 can be wrapped in a conventional cigarette wrapper, and paper with tapes can also be used for this purpose. The banded cigarette paper has spaced apart continuous cellulose bands 68 surrounding the finished tobacco rod of the cigarette 10 to vary the mass burning rate of that cigarette so as to reduce the risk of ignition of the material on which the smoldering cigarette 10A is left.

(US Patent Nos. 5,263,999 and 5,997,691) describe cigarette papers with tapes and are incorporated herein in their entirety for all useful applications.

Figure 6 shows another preferred embodiment. It uses a modified cigarette 1088 with the same filter sections as cigarette 10A shown in Fig. 5, but with some difference in the relative location of these sections. Therefore, similar notations are used to designate similar parts. In the cigarette 108, the filament element 62 that releases the flavoring is located in the mouthpiece end component 52 from the mouthpiece end of the cigarette 108, downstream of the smoke from i) the flavored charcoal pack 24 and separated from it by the central component 54. In this embodiment, the flavored thread 62 may be coated with a plasticizer, such as triacetin, to hold the thread in place within the component 52 and thus prevent the thread from being pulled out of the He! from the filter during smoking. Alternatively, for the same purpose, flavored thread 62 may be woven into it. Similarly, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, ventilation is provided at 64 in the zone along the central filter component 54, adjacent to the stuffing 24 of aromatic - pi spherical coal and located downstream of the smoke from it.

Activated carbon spheroid material for use in the above-described cigarette filters can be produced by a number of known spheroid manufacturing processes, such as, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. 1,383,085, which is incorporated herein by reference for all useful applications), in many examples the feedstock comprises tars or pitches after processing petroleum products and coal. In general, any substance that can melt and contains the desired carbonaceous material (or its precursors) is satisfactory, if it can "form a suspension in a liquid with the formation of spherical particles and their solidification and subsequent coking and with activation.

Machine operation with ball coal has significant advantages over the more traditional crushed or ;" granulated coal (such granulated coal, which is produced and sold by the company RISA O5A Ips., 432 Mesogtisk Voshemaga, SoIishtriv, Opio 43213-1585). It turned out that the machine configured for the production of filter mouthpieces for dosing 180 mg of granular coal to a cavity measuring 12 mm in

Go) a cigarette filter with an average filling level of 8695, can without changing the parameters of the machine setting and with the same amount of coal and the length of the cavity achieve an average filling index with spherical coal - approximately 9195 by volume, provided that a satisfactory working speed is maintained, for example, 1500 blanks - filters per minute. In addition, it was found that the operation of the ball coal machine was accompanied by significantly less dust generation, and the collected loose coal was suitable for repeated use and was not cracked, which often happens in the case of granular coal.

Ge) Another aspect of the present invention is the improved taste of a cigarette containing spherical coal in the filter instead of granular. As explained more fully below, it was found that on a preference scale of 1 to 7, US smokers rated the charcoal-free control cigarette the highest level of preference (relative to their preference for charcoal-free filters). The same smokers rated their attitude towards the pelleted charcoal cigarette at a lower level. But when they smoked cigarettes of the same kind with spherical coal,

F) the level of their preference increased to a level that was intermediate between the other two assessments. Such results indicate a significant increase in the level of preference for products with spherical coal compared to products containing granular coal. 60 With regard to activated carbon, it was found that a significant part of its pore size distribution is in the range of micropores and mesopores (less than 50A) with a relatively small share of distribution in the range of macropores - more than 500A. Not wishing to be further bound by theory, we note that it is believed that with a smaller number of macropores, spherical coal has a lower tendency to retain resinous substances from the main stream of smoke, instead allowing the aromatic components of the smoke to pass through the packing of coal 65 balls. In contrast, granulated (RISA) coal has most of its pore size distribution in the macropore range (size range greater than 500A), which tends to retain larger particles containing tars and aromatics.

In addition, granulated coal is produced from organic materials such as coconut and other nut shells or wood. That is, it is believed that their natural origin leads to a much larger amount of ash and the presence of various metals and other materials and impurities that are not present in ball coal. This aspect is also considered a circumstance that leads to a better subjective impression of spherical coal compared to granular coal.

There are three main considerations regarding machinability and the selection of carbon material for use in cigarette filters. One of these circumstances is the tendency of machines for the production of filter 7/0 Mouthpieces as such to create dust during the operations of the cigarette manufacturing process.

Dust may continue to present difficulties in the processing of such products. Another factor is the cost of heat treatment operations during coal activation. The more burning, the more mass of raw material is wasted. In addition, at higher levels of activation, as a result of the loss of mass and density of the coal, it becomes more brittle. In addition, there are limits to how short the length of the 7/5 Cavity can be made and filled in plug-gap-plug filter mouthpiece operations. In modern machines for the production of filter mouthpieces, preference is given to a cavity length of approximately 4-bmm. Cavities less than 4 mm in length cause difficulties in production and are not preferred.

The gas phase retention efficiency is affected by particle size and ball diameter: smaller granules exhibit greater efficiency. In addition, in general, the more activated carbon, the more effective it is in retaining the gas phase. However, machinability (dusting factor) and activation treatment costs are opposing considerations as to what level of activation is required. The balance is achieved by reducing the ball diameter to a preferred range of approximately 0.2mm to 0.7mm, with a more preferred option of 0.2-0.4mm, at an activation level corresponding to the specific surface area in the range 1000-1600m2/g BET (as measured by the method of Brunauer, Emmett and Teller, hereinafter "m"/g BET"), with a more preferred option in the range of 1100-1300m 2/g BET. However, very small balls have o tend to fit so closely into the filter cavity that it causes too great a pressure drop across that cavity to a level that may be undesirable. In some applications, such as the preferred embodiments, it is desirable to avoid excessive pressure drops. According to the size of Ge) a spherical ball that is more preferred is about 0.35mm in diameter. The preferred size ranges also facilitate the proper and clean operation of the filter mouthpiece machines.--

The smaller the coal ball, the more tightly these balls are nested. This increases the pressure drop.

Accordingly, the tendency to always have a small diameter of the ball to increase the efficiency of gas phase retention is in contradiction with the need to remain within predetermined limits regarding the pressure drop through the (se) filter, i.e. within the limits of smokers' wishes regarding resistance to absorption when smoking a cigarette.

Fig.7 is a graph of the percentage of transmission of 1,3-butadiene per puff through the end of a cigarette that is inserted into the mouth, for different sizes (diameters) of coal balls. The used spherical carbon materials are 75 mg of activated spherical carbon with a diameter of 0.7 mm in a packing length of 2.7 mm (curve 100 in Fig. 7), 75 mg of activated spherical carbon with a diameter of 0.5 mm in a packing length of 2.bmm (curve 102) and 75 mg of activated - from spherical coal with a diameter of O0.35 mm and a packing length of 2.5 mm (curve 104). All cavities had a state of full filling. "» From Fig. 7 it can be seen that with a smaller diameter of the ball, the characteristics regarding the retention of 1,3-butadiene are improved, and it also maintains its effectiveness throughout all puffs. In particular, it turned out that 75 mg balls of the Kygepna company

SPpetisa! Ipdyvigu So., Tsa. (Japan) with a diameter of О0.35 mm with a completely filled cavity length of 2.5 mm (ee) removes almost all 1,3-butadiene from a cigarette during all eight puffs from it, despite the relatively small surface area-mass values.

The level of surface activity of the spherical material in Fig. 7 is in the range of 1000-1600 m 2 / g BET, according to the preferred option, 1100-1300 m 2 / g BET. It should be noted that the result shown at 20 line 104 represents almost complete retention of 1,3-butadiene, and line 102 shows a significant (about 9096) decrease in the amount of 1,3-butadiene. cf. Fig. 8 is a graph of the percentage of 1,3-butadiene transmission per puff through the end of a cigarette inserted into the mouth, for different diameters of spherical coal: 75 mg of coal balls with a diameter of 0.35 mm in a cavity length of 2.5 mm (curve 108 in Fig. 8), 48 mg of granulated (RISA) coal 40xbOmesh in a cavity length of 2.5mmMmM 29 (curve 110), 4b6mg of granulated (RISA) coal 20x5Omesh in a cavity length of 2.5mm (curve 112), 180mg

GF) granulated (RISA) coal 20 x 5Omesh in a cavity length of 12 mm (curve 114), as well as standard 7 control cigarettes 1KA4E (curve 116).

When comparing Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, it can be seen that granular coal 40 HbOmesh with a dosage of 48 mg to a cavity of 2.5 mm (curve 110 in Fig. 8) shows basically the same results as spherical coal with a diameter of 0.35 mm (curve 108 in Fig. 7). However, it is known that RISA coal 40xbO0mesh is extremely difficult to handle when working on a machine for making filter mouthpieces (significant formation of dust, which affects the parameters).

On the contrary, spherical coal with a diameter of 0.35 mm at a dosage of 75 mg showed good properties in handling them without significant dust formation during the operation of the machine both due to the good general fluidity characteristics of de /Spherical coal and its greater density and hardness (observed at low and moderate activation levels). Accordingly, spherical coal achieves the same characteristics as superfine granulated coal (SCA), but with dimensions that allow convenient handling when working on equipment for the production of cigarettes. This is its significant advantage.

In general, coal balls are a denser and harder material than RICE crushed coal. Accordingly, the generation of dust during the production and performance of other operations with cigarette filters containing spherical carbon is less, and the filling of the cavities is more uniform and complete than for granular carbon.

When using spherical coal with a diameter of 0.35 mm and a dosage of 75 mg in the filled state, excellent gas phase retention efficiency is achieved, as shown by line 104 in Fig. 7. However, with the length of the circumference of a standard cigarette (24 mm), such a dose completely fills a cavity 2.5 mm long, which is difficult to do in 70 production. Accordingly, preference may be given to the use of another type of activated carbon with similar or preferably the same ball size, but with less or no activation to save costs and improve machinability. Experiments on mixing 75mg of spheroidal coal with glass beads in a volume ratio of 1/3 spheroidal coal and 2/3 spheroidal glass showed practically the same gas phase retention characteristics as for the same dosage of 75mg as such. Accordingly /5 it may be preferred to mix 75mg of activated carbon spheroids with additional balls of non-activated carbon, which, in the preferred embodiment, are of the same diameter and of sufficient mass to fill a cavity of length bmm, or with such additional quantity as may be required for cavity filling traditionally used by this cigarette manufacturer. This combination of activated and non-activated carbon balls gives the same results at a lower cost because there is no need to completely fill the cavity with more expensive activated carbon balls. A further advantage of such an invention is that cigarette manufacturers can pre-select the cavity size for their range of cigarette brands and are free to choose the amount of charcoal to fill the various parts or volumes, filling whatever volume remains in the pre-selected cavity, non-activated (or activated to a lesser degree) spherical material, spherical material containing aromas, or other suitable filler. If the tastes of smokers change, or in response to other circumstances, the proportion of activated carbon balls inside the filter can be changed without difficulty, such as the need to i) change the size of the cavity in the overall design of the cigarette or changes in the dimensions and settings of the equipment for the production of filters and cigarettes. This is a significant advantage in the organization of cigarette manufacturing operations. Fig. 9 is a bar graph showing the relatively similar effect on percent transmission of 1,3-butadiene for filters with only spheroidal carbon and those where spheroidal particles are mixed with non-adsorbing fillers. Column 120 in Fig.9 corresponds to a standard control cigarette 1K4E and shows that about 8690 1,3-butadiene is passed through the end of the cigarette inserted into the mouth during the smoking process after eight puffs. Columns 122 and 124 correspond to the design --

From a cigarette similar to the one depicted in Fig. 5, but with cellulose acetate without coal (column 122), as well as

ZvOmg of glass balls without coal (column 124). After about eight puffs, the total percentage of 1,3-butadiene passing through the mouth end in both of these cigarettes is high, approximately 9195 for column 122 and 8295 for column 124. Columns 126, 128, and 130 correspond to cigarette designs that are similar to the one depicted in Fig. 5, however, in each of these examples, the filter cavity is filled with different materials. The cigarette corresponding to column 126 has a cavity filled with /5 mg of ball-activated charcoal with a diameter of 0.35 mm. Only about 1,905 of 1,3-butadiene passes through the mouthpiece into cigarettes, corresponding to column 126 after eight puffs. Similar results are achieved in cigarettes that ;" correspond to columns 128 and 130, where the filter cavities are also filled with 75 mg of activated carbon balls with a diameter of 0.35 mm, but mixed with non-adsorbing impurities. A cigarette corresponding to column 128 contains 190mg of glass beads mixed with charcoal beads, while a cigarette corresponding to column 130 contains

Go! contains ZvOmg of glass balls mixed with coal balls. In each of the examples, the total percentage of 1,3-butadiene passing through the end of a cigarette inserted into the mouth after eight puffs is about 295. As a result, those filters containing activated carbon balls mixed with non-adsorbing fillers show approximately the same results as filters with an equivalent weight of 5g activated carbon balls in the unmixed state. o Table 1 below shows the pore size distribution for the following activated carbon materials:

Ge) RICE coal 20x50mesh per inch and 40xbOmesh per inch, as well as spherical coal materials with diameters of 0.7mm, 0.5mm and 0.ZB5mm from two different batches.

F) name) 60 b5

Table 1 Pore volumes for OBET 9 Volume Area Volume micro Total

Sample surface density per (cm3/g) volume g/cm3 BET (m3/g cm3/g 20x50 mesh 40x60 mesh

Balls batch 0.57 1129 0.4549 1 diameter 0.7 mm

Balls batch 0.58 1247 0.4791 0.4906

And the diameter is 19.5 MM SH

I diameter 0.35 mm 2 diameter (o) 0.5 mm

Balls batch 0.58 1244 0.4750 0.5030

НБН НБН НН ПОН ЦЕ зо 10.35 mm о 7 OET - density functional theory, which is a statistical thermodynamic theory, which is based on "- a molecular basis, which assumes the connection of the adsorption isotherm with the microscopic properties of this system

See: R.A. UUerr and S. Ot, Apaiuisa! Meiyodz ip Ripe Ragiisie Thesppoiodu, Misgoteiiigisv Ipvigitepi same

Sogrogayop, Mogsgov5, SA, 1977, p. 811. co

The RISA coal has a bulk density of approximately 0.37g/cm W, while the activated spheroid of the preferred coal has a bulk density greater than 0.5g/cm W in the more preferred embodiment, in the range 0.55-0.6g/cm3. "

It should be appreciated that the activated carbons of the preferred embodiments can be mixed, combined and combined in other ways with other adsorbents, such as zeolites, molecular sieves, composite materials or layered materials, clays, aluminas, other metal oxides. , and metal silicates and phosphates, silica gels and modified silica gels such as 3-aminopropylsilyl (ARB) silica gel beads.

Table 2 below shows, in comparison with the standard control cigarette 1K4E, the total percentage of transmission of the components of the specified gas phase for cigarette filter designs with the cavity (ee) shown in Fig. 5, which is filled with the specified materials. - - at 50 iChe)

F) name) 60 b5

Table 2 control- |75 mg 75 mg 75 mg 380 mg 30 mg 40 mg 40 mg 50 mg 46 mg 48 mg 75 mg 75 mg ka ICAE | spherical | spherical | spherical | glass | spherical | spherical | spherical | spherical | 20x50 40x60 of spherical |spherical coal coal |coal balls coal coal coal coal RISA RISA coal coal diameter Idiameter Idiameter Idiameter diameter |diameter |diameter diameter |diameter 0.35 mm |0.35 mm and0.35 mm and 0.35 mm and|0, 35 mm and|0.35 mm and|0.35 mm and! 0.7 mm 0.5 mm 190 mg 380 mg 70 mg 60 mg 60 mg 50 mg glass |glass silica- silica- silica- silica- beads beads calf gel gel gel mixture mixture) | mixture, carbon 70 (Propeiai | 95 | 18 | 23 | 23 | 980 28 46. hydrogen

Ethan. | 90 1 7 | 7 | 79 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 77 | 788 | 75 | 75 | 8951 76 (Propadien| MY | 18 122 Ii 45 39 43 | yuyu | p | 7 | from butadiene

Pzopreny | 94 | 3 2 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 4 | with | 1 иЙ/ 4 | 0 | zh | 7 5 shen | 11171711 717171 1 pentadiene 153- Z 1 1 104 4 3 1 2 39 diclohexadiene

Methyl-87 2 I 1 3 2 1 2 50 5 cyclopentadiene 22 le | 7117 and aldehyde aldehyde (dcrolene | 2 | 1 | 1 1 2 79 A Z o dieyun 1-1 o -5-- -А 5 - -- 52 2 --

IDacetyl | 84 | 1 | 1 1 0 | 79 Her 0 | Ho spek MIT ethyl ketone se NI OBL NBN SHOE PO o aldehyde control- |75 mg 75 mg 75 mg 380 mg 30 mg 40 mg 40 mg 50 mg 46 mg 48 mg 75 mg 75 mg on 14 /|spherical |spherical |spherical | of glass |spherical |spherical |spherical |spherical 20x50) 40x60 spherical |spherical (is) coal |coal |coal // |Ball coal coal |coal coal RISA RISA coal coal diameter |dismeter |Idiameter diameter diameter |diameter Idiameter diameter |diameter 0 .35 mm 0.35 mm and|0.35 mm and 0.35 mm andЮ0.35 mm and|0.35 mm and 0.35 mm and 0.7 mm 0.5 mm ("in") 19 mg 380 mg 70 mg 60 mg 60 me 50 mg glass |glass silica- silica- |silica» silica-che: balls balls gel gel gel liu ish. mixture. mixture: "- (Benzol. | 96 | 2 | 1 1 1 196 1 Sh 5 1! 3 | 1 7 1 1 2 | 0 1 29 1 5 (Toluvol. | 86 2 | 1 | 0. | 85 1|72 1 | 1 HER 07172 1 0 1 3 nitrile

Methyl- 2 2 1 122 6 Z 2 Й 3 4 furan 72.57 5 3 4 2 1 3 58 dimethyl- furan " deer - with Nj NBN NBN NBN POBANNYA NOBNNYA NOBNNYA NNYA NOYA POVI NOV with sulfide "from mercaptan

PO a nkoni ns NECK PON NOYA KNEE COLUMN NO NAAN GEAR NAAN PON pyrrole (Kestn.o | 77 | 2 | 1 | o 1 89 | 5 HER 3 | 5 GH 2 ! 0 | 0 | 19 1 5 (Acetylene| 99 | 113 | пз | 121 | 14 | 91 | 95 | 08 | п5 | 92 | 102 | 121 | ух со According to the preferred option, the flavoring agent is added to the spheroidal coal by spraying the flavoring agent on a batch of activated carbon in a mixing (grinding) drum , or in -3 with a boiling fluidized bed with nitrogen as a fluidizing agent, where the flavoring can be sprayed onto the coal located in this layer. Within the scope of the present invention is also the application of av) 20 flavoring on other filter components, or on a packing of carbon balls , placed separately, or on any of the mentioned elements with the addition of aromas, which is performed on one or more filter wraps and/or rim paper.

It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in embodiments other than those described, which are provided for illustrative purposes and are in no way intended to limit the invention. For example, cigarette filters may contain spherical carbon placed inside

GF) fibrous mass, such as adetatcellulose bundle. Also, optionally, each spherical ball can have a core and a surface layer of flavoring. The scope of rights under this invention is limited only by the following claims. for

Claims (1)

The formula of the invention 1. A cigarette filter containing spherical activated carbon having a diameter in the range of approximately 0.20 mm to 0.70 mm. b5 2. Cigarette filter according to claim 1, which is characterized by the fact that spherical activated carbon has a diameter in the range from 0.20 mm to 0.40 mm. C. A cigarette filter according to claim 2, characterized in that the spherical activated carbon has a diameter of approximately 0.35 mm. 4. A cigarette filter according to any of the previous items, which is characterized by the fact that at least part of the mentioned material - spherical coal - has a specific surface of no more than 1600 m/g per BET. 5. Cigarette filter according to claim 4, which is characterized by the fact that at least part of the mentioned material - spherical coal - has a specific surface in the range of 1100-1300 m2/g by BET. 6. A cigarette filter according to any of the previous items, characterized in that the ball is activated 70. coal has a density of more than 0.5 g/cm. 7. A cigarette filter according to any of the previous items, characterized in that at least part of the spheroid carbon has a specific volume of micropores, determined by density functional theory (DFT), of at least 0.4 cmuU/g, and the total volume por is no more than 0.6 cmU/g. 8. A cigarette filter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a cavity, and 72 said spherical carbon substantially fills this cavity. 9. A cigarette filter according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that it has a cavity, and said spherical coal fills the cavity by about 80-9590. 10. A cigarette filter according to any of the previous items, which is characterized by the fact that it contains activated charcoal in such an amount that it is sufficient to reduce the content of at least one smoke component by the desired amount. 11. A cigarette filter according to claim 10, characterized in that it contains activated charcoal in an amount sufficient to reduce the content of 1,3-butadiene by about 9095 or more. 12. A cigarette filter according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amount of spherical activated carbon is about 70-180 mg. with 13. A cigarette filter according to any of the previous items, which is characterized by the fact that it contains a second d) spherical material, which, compared to activated spherical carbon, is characterized by a lower degree of activation or is non-activated. 14. The cigarette filter according to claim 13, characterized in that the second spherical material includes spherical carbon of substantially the same diameter as the spherical activated carbon. b" 15. A cigarette filter according to any of the previous items, which is characterized in that said spherical or spherical carbon includes a first group of individual balls of substantially the same diameter and a second group of individual balls of approximately the same diameter, which is smaller than the diameter of the balls. There are" of the first group. "- 16. Cigarette filter according to claim 15, which is characterized by the fact that the spherical balls of the second group have a 3o radius, which is approximately 3 from the radius of the balls of the first group. so (5) 2 17. A cigarette filter according to any of the previous items, which is distinguished by having a cylindrical "cavity, and said spherical coal of a spherical shape includes balls whose diameters are from - 30 1m0o to 1/40 of the diameter of this cylindrical cavity. c 18. A cigarette filter according to any of the previous items, which is characterized in that at least part of the spherical charcoal is flavored. 19. The cigarette filter according to claim 18, which is characterized by the fact that it contains at least one additional flavoring segment, located downstream of the smoke from said flavored spherical coal of spherical shape. so 20. Cigarette filter according to claim 19, which is characterized by the fact that the mentioned additional flavoring element - contains a thread with flavoring. 21. A cigarette filter according to any of the preceding items, which is characterized by the fact that it contains a flavoring element located downstream of the smoke from the spherical coal of a spherical shape. av | 20 22. A cigarette filter according to any of the previous items, characterized in that the spherical shape of said spherical carbon is given by suspending a soluble carbon precursor in a liquid with subsequent hardening and coking of this precursor. 23. A cigarette filter according to any one of the previous items, characterized in that the spherical coal interacts with a material selected from the group consisting of zeolite, silica gel, modified silica gel, inorganic polymers, clay, metal oxides, metal silicates , aluminum phosphates and metal phosphates. GF) 24. The cigarette filter according to any of the previous items, which is characterized by the fact that it has a cylindrical shape, the cavity, which is almost completely filled by the said spherical coal, has a diameter that is approximately equal to the diameter of the filter, and the length of this cavity is approximately from 2.5 mm to 12 mm. 25. A cigarette having a tobacco rod and a cigarette filter according to any one of claims 1-24. b5