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AssigneeRhone-Poulenc Rhodia Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsEberhard Teufel, Rolf Willmund
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Structures are formed from cellulose acetate in which an additive is present or on this surface the additive consisting of a nitrogenous organic compound which by degradation by microorganisms forms basic decomposition products, in particular ammonia, and/or--basic--compounds having an NH group or NH groups and/or an NH.sub.2 group or NH.sub.2 groups. The structures may have the form of filaments, staple fibers, films, foils, sheets or other objects. The structures in the form of filaments and/or staple fibers are used for the manufacture of filter tows. The filter tow of this kind is described. The filter tow is for the manufacture of a tobacco smoke filter element, and such a tobacco smoke filter element is described. The structures, the filter tow, and the tobacco smoke filter element according to the invention show improved biodegradation under the action of environmental influences, the filter tow and the tobacco smoke filter element being capable of being stored under the conditions customarily used today without danger of microbiological degradation.
Filaments or staple fibers formed of cellulose acetate and at least one nitrogenous organic compound capable of forming under the action of microorganisms at least one of NH.sub.3 or a basic compound containing at least one --NH or NH.sub.2 group whereby a basic medium is formed and partial hydrolysis of said cellulose acetate occurs and wherein said at least one nitrogenous organic compound has been introduced into the cellulose acetate solution prior to the formation of said filaments and staple fibers.
A filter tow consisting of a band of a plurality of filaments or staple fibers or a mixture thereof formed of cellulose acetate and at least one nitrogenous organic compound capable of forming under the action of microorganisms at least one of NH.sub.3 and a basic compound containing at least one --NH or NH.sub.2 group whereby a basic medium is formed and partial hydrolysis of said cellulose acetate occurs, and wherein said at least one nitrogenous organic compound has been introduced into the cellulose acetate solution prior to the formation of said filaments and staple fibers.
The method of manufacturing a filter tow which comprises the step of gathering a plurality of filaments or staple fibers, or a mixture of filaments and staple fibers, said filaments and staple fibers being formed from a cellulose acetate in which an additive is present, said additive consisting of at least one nitrogenous organic compound, said nitrogenous organic compound forming by degradation by microorganisms at least one of ammonia, basic organic compounds having at least one --NH group or at least one NH.sub.2 group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.