Filter for a tobacco product

Abstract

The invention relates to a cigarette holder-type component, which is intended to be attached to a tobacco product and can be adapted to the suction head of the tobacco product so that the smoke travels through the component during smoking. The component contains porous material, into which an aqueous solution containing at least one aldehyde-binding compound has been absorbed to form an aldehyde-binding filter. In the component that is to be attached to the tobacco product, the water content of the material is kept at a level where the aldehyde-binding compounds are capable of reacting with the aldehydes in the smoke, changing them into a harmless form.

1 . A component intended to be attached to a tobacco product, comprising:
 a cylindrical component ( 1 ), which is essentially hollow inside, the component being adaptable to the suction head ( 12 ) of the tobacco product ( 2 ) so that the smoke travels through the component during smoking,   characterized in that the space ( 13 ) inside the component ( 1 ) contains porous material ( 3 ), into which an aqueous solution containing at least one aldehyde-binding compound has been absorbed, or to which at least one aldehyde-binding compound has been attached, in some other way, to form an aldehyde-binding filter, and that in the component ( 1 ) that is to be attached to the tobacco product, the water content of the material ( 3 ) at the beginning of smoking is high enough for the aldehyde-binding compounds to react with the aldehydes in the smoke.   
   
   
       2 . The component according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, after making the filtering filter, the water content of the material ( 3 ) can be retained essentially unchanged by means of a moisture barrier(s) ( 4 ,  5 ,  17 ), the barriers being openable or removable. 
   
   
       3 . The component according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the moisture barrier is made of an airtight material, such as aluminium foil. 
   
   
       4 . The component according to  claim 2  or  3 , characterized in that the moisture barrier ( 4 ,  5 ,  17 ) partly or fully covers the component ( 1 ). 
   
   
       5 . The component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the porous material is cellulose. 
   
   
       6 . The component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water content of filter material contained in the component ( 1 ) is 0.1-10 μl/mg of filter material. 
   
   
       7 . The component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amount of aldehyde-binding compound in the filter material contained in the component ( 1 ) is 0.5-100 mg. 
   
   
       8 . The component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component ( 1 ) contains a container ( 19 ), inside of which the filtering material has been packed. 
   
   
       9 . The component according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the container ( 19 ) can be included inside the component ( 1 ). 
   
   
       10 . The component according to  claim 8  or  9 , characterized in that before use, the container ( 19 ) is partly or fully protected by means of moisture barriers, which can be opened or removed. 
   
   
       11 . The component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aldehyde-binding compound comprises one or more free sulphhydryl and amino groups or sulphonic groups. 
   
   
       12 . The component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aldehyde-binding compound comprises one or more compounds according to the formula (I) 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein
 R 1  is hydrogen or an acyl group containing 1-4 carbon atoms, 
 R 2  is a sulphhydryl or sulphonic group, and 
 n is 1, 2, 3 or 4, 
 or a salt of these compounds. 
 
   
   
       13 . The component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aldehyde-binding compound is selected from a group comprising L-cysteine, D-cysteine, cysteine acid, cysteine-glycine, cystine, threo- or erythro-β-phenyl-DL-cysteine, β-tetramethylene-DL-cysteine, methionine, serine, D-penicillamine or its N-terminal dipeptide, semicarbazide, glutathione, reduced glutathione, β-mercaptoethylene amine, DL-homocysteine, DL-homocysteine acid, N-acetylcysteine, L-cysteinyl-L-valine, β-β-tetramethylene-DL-cysteine, cysteinyl glycine, mercaptoethyl glycine, cysteine hydrochloride, thiamine hydrochloride, sodium metabisulphite, arginine, glycine, lycine, ammonium chloride, 1,4-dithiothreitol, mercaptane, or a salt of any of these compounds. 
   
   
       14 . The component according to any one of the preceding claims to be used in reducing the amount of aldehydes contained in cigarette smoke in the mouth and the saliva.