Filter segment comprising an acetate salt and glycerine

Abstract

A smoking article comprising a filter segment, the filter segment comprising a tow material and triacetin, wherein the filter segment further comprises an amino acid acetate salt and glycerine. The amino acid acetate salt and glycerine stabilize the triacetin in order to maintain the structural firmness of the tow material.

Claims

1. A filter segment comprising a tow material and triacetin, wherein the filter segment further comprises an amino acid acetate salt and glycerine.

2. A filter segment according to claim 1 wherein the amino acid acetate salt is lysine acetate.

3. A filter segment according to claim 1 wherein the amino acid acetate salt is present in an amount between 1 mg and 15 mg.

4. A filter segment according to claim 1 wherein the amino acid acetate salt is present in an amount between 4 mg and 12 mg.

5. A filter segment according to claim 1 wherein the glycerine is present in an amount between 10 and 25 mg.

6. A filter segment according to claim 5 wherein the glycerine is present in an amount between 12 and 20 mg.

7. A filter segment according to claim 1 wherein the filter segment has a diameter of between 0.5 mm and 3 mm.

8. A filter segment according to claim 1 wherein the tow material comprises cellulose acetate.

9. A filter comprising a filter segment according to claim 1.

10. A multi-segment filter comprising a filter segment according to claim 1 and one or more additional filter segments.

11. A smoking article comprising a filter segment according to claim 1.

12. A method comprising combining an amino acid acetate salt and glycerine in a filter segment comprising a tow material and triacetin to stabilise the triacetin.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the combining step maintains the structural rigidity or firmness of the tow material in the filter segment.

14. A method of preparing a filter segment comprising applying triacetin to a tow material, applying an aqueous solution of an amino acid acetate salt and glycerine to the tow material and forming a filter segment from the resulting tow material.

15. A filter segment according to claim 2 wherein the amino acid acetate salt is present in an amount between 1 mg and 15 mg.

16. A filter segment according to claim 3 wherein the glycerine is present in an amount between 10 and 25 mg.

17. A filter segment according to claim 4 wherein the glycerine is present in an amount between 10 and 25 mg.

18. A filter segment according to claim 15 wherein the glycerine is present in an amount between 12 and 20 mg.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the amino acid acetate salt comprises lysine acetate.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising combining the filter segment with a rod of smokable material to form a smoking article.

Description

EXAMPLE

(1) Various solutions comprising L-lysine acetate are prepared as shown in the following table by simple mixing of the ingredients with stirring. Unless otherwise indicated, the amounts denote % by weight based on the total weight of the solution.

(2) TABLE-US-00001 Solution I II III IV Water 50 40 40 23 Glycerine 25 40 30 46 Lysine Acetate 25 20 30 31 Viscosity at 20° C. (Centipoise) 3 6 4 11 Density at 20° C. (g/mL) 1.12 1.12 1.12 1.13

(3) The solutions are sprayed onto a standard cellulose tow web immediately after triacetin has been applied to the tow. The method of application is standard and well known in the art.

(4) The strands of tow are brought together and a filter plug wrap is placed around the tow. The tow is then cut to form filter segments. The filter segments are then allowed to dry over a period of 7 days and stored in containers. Separately a standard cellulose acetate filter segment is prepared that does not contain any lysine acetate or glycerine. It is also allowed to dry over a period of 7 days. The filter segments are then placed in a closed container in which the atmosphere inside the container is controlled to maintain a relative humidity of 80% and a temperature of 20° C. After 2 weeks, the standard filter segment shows significant reduction in the amount of triacetin. In contrast, the filter segments comprising the lysine acetate and glycerine show hardly any reduction in the amount of triacetin.

(5) While the invention has been exemplified above with reference to combustible smoking articles, it will be appreciated that filter segments according to the invention may also be used in filters for non-combustible smoking articles.