Degradable cellulose ester
AssigneeAcetate International LLC
InventorsMichael Combs, Amber Miller, Cody Parker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a degradable cellulose ester. The cellulose ester may be formed into tow for use in cigarette filters or into articles, such as molded articles. A basic material, an enzymatic material, or combinations thereof is included in the cellulose ester in order to degrade the cellulose ester.
Claims12
A degradable cigarette filter comprising:
- a filter element comprising bloomed cellulose acetate tow, wherein the cellulose acetate has a degree of substitution (DS) of greater than 1.3;
- a pill dispersed in the bloomed cellulose acetate tow;
- and
- a plug wrap at least partially surrounding the filter element;
- wherein the pill comprises a coating and at least one of a basic material, an enzymatic material, or a combination thereof,
- wherein the coating comprises at least 1 wt. % of the basic material, at least 1 wt. % of the enzymatic material, or a combination thereof, based on the total weight of the coating;
- and
- wherein the pill, when exposed to water, deacetylates the bloomed cellulose acetate tow by at least 10% in 20 days or less.
A degradable cellulose acetate tow, wherein the cellulose acetate tow has a degree of substitution of greater than 1.3 and wherein the cellulose acetate tow further comprises a pill dispersed in the cellulose acetate tow, wherein the pill comprises a coating and at least one of a basic material, an enzymatic material, or a combination thereof, wherein the coating comprises at least 1 wt. % of the basic material, at least 1 wt. % of the enzymatic material, or a combination thereof, based on the total weight of the coating;
- and wherein the pill, when exposed to water, deacetylates the cellulose acetate tow by at least 10% in 20 days or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.