Biodegradable composites

A process for manufacturing a cigarette filter tow comprising composite filaments of cellulose and cellulose acetate, wherein the cigarette filter tow is prepared so as to exhibit a rate of biodegradation in an anaerobic environment exceeding the rate of biodegradation in an anaerobic environment corresponding to otherwise equivalent fibers spun from cellulose alone or from a cellulose acetate alone, said process comprising providing a solution dope comprising a blend of cellulose and cellulose acetate in an ionic liquid and spinning or casting the blend into a protic solvent to generate fibres or films, and converting the fibres or films into cigarette filter tow.

A biodegradable cigarette filter tow comprising crimped composite filaments of cellulose and cellulose acetate, wherein the filter tow comprises has a moisture content between about 10% to 50% w/w.