Methods for improving quality of mainstream smoke and multicomponent filters and smoking articles therefor

Abstract

A multicomponent smoking article filter adapted to be disposed at the non-burning end of the rod of smokable material, comprising: a first plug; a second plug; a first cavity disposed between the first plug and the second plug, wherein the first cavity comprises: (1) a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a flavorant, and (2) either a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a humectant, or containing water, or a combination thereof; and a second cavity comprising a sorbent disposed upstream from the first cavity relative to the direction of mainstream smoke drawn through the filter.

1 . A method of improving the quality of mainstream smoke in a smoking article comprising:
 a rod of smokable material; and   a multicomponent filter disposed at a non-burning end of the rod of smokable material, comprising
 a first plug, 
 a second plug, 
 a first cavity disposed between the first plug and the second plug, and 
 a second cavity comprising a sorbent disposed upstream from the first cavity relative to the direction of mainstream smoke drawn through the filter, or 
   a multicomponent filter disposed at a non-burning end of the rod of smokable material, comprising:
 a plug; and 
 a second cavity comprising a sorbent disposed upstream from the plug relative to the direction of mainstream smoke drawn through the filter, 
   the method comprising:   introducing into the first cavity:
 (1) a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a flavorant, and 
 (2) either a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a humectant, or containing water, or a combination thereof, or 
   introducing into the plug a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a flavorant, and (2) either a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a humectant, or containing water, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adding or removing a sufficient number of particles of a filler material, which filter material is inactive toward constituents of mainstream smoke resulting from smoking the smokable material, to said first cavity to maintain the first cavity in an essentially fully filled condition.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the improving of the quality of the mainstream smoke comprises reducing or removing an organoleptic dry note or organoleptic earthy note or both in said mainstream smoke. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cavity comprises (1) a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a flavorant, and (2) a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a humectant. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the humectant comprises glycerin. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cavity comprises a plurality of cellulosic granules, wherein at least one cellulosic granule contains both a humectant and water. 
     
     
         7 . The method acccording to  claim 1 , wherein the first cavity comprises a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a humectant, and a plurality of granules containing water. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic granules comprise microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). 
     
     
         9 . A multicomponent smoking article filter adapted to be disposed at the non-burning end of the rod of smokable material, comprising:
 a first plug;   a second plug;   a first cavity disposed between the first plug and the second plug, wherein the first cavity comprises:
 (1) a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a flavorant, and 
 (2) either a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a humectant, or containing water, or a combination thereof; and 
   a second cavity comprising a sorbent disposed upstream from the first cavity relative to the direction of mainstream smoke drawn through the filter.   
     
     
         10 . The multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 9 , the sorbent comprises activated carbon. 
     
     
         11 . The multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 9 , wherein the first cavity further comprises one or more particles of a filler that is inactive toward constituents of mainstream smoke resulting from smoking the smokable material. 
     
     
         12 . The multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 9 , wherein the first cavity comprises:
 (1) a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a flavorant, and   (2) a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a humectant.   
     
     
         13 . The multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 12 , wherein the humectant comprises glycerin. 
     
     
         14 . The multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 9 , wherein the first cavity comprises a plurality of cellulosic granules, wherein at least one cellulosic granule contains both a humectant and water. 
     
     
         15 . The multicomponent smoking article filter acccording to  claim 9 , wherein the first cavity comprises a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a humectant, and a plurality of cellulosic granules containing water. 
     
     
         16 . The multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 9 , wherein the cellulosic granules comprise MCC. 
     
     
         17 . The multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 9 , wherein said second cavity is disposed downstream of a third plug. 
     
     
         18 . The multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 17 , wherein said third plug comprises cellulose acetate tow. 
     
     
         19 . The multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 17 , wherein said third plug comprises carbon particles or granules on tow. 
     
     
         20 . The multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 17 , wherein said third plug comprises carbon-filled paper. 
     
     
         21 . A smoking article comprising the multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 9  having a buccal end and a tipping end, and a rod of smokable material disposed adjacent to the tipping end of the multicomponent smoking article filter. 
     
     
         22 . The smoking article according to  claim 21 , wherein the smokable material comprises tobacco. 
     
     
         23 . The smoking article according to  claim 21 , further comprising tipping paper disposed to attach the multicomponent smoking article filter to the rod of smokable material. 
     
     
         24 . The smoking article according to  claim 21 , wherein the smoking article is a cigarette. 
     
     
         25 . The smoking article according to  claim 24 , wherein the cigarette is an electrically heated cigarette. 
     
     
         26 . The smoking article according to  claim 21 , wherein the cellulosic granules comprise MCC. 
     
     
         27 . A multicomponent smoking article filter adapted to be disposed at the non-burning end of the rod of smokable material, comprising:
 a plug, comprising:
 (1) a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a flavorant, and 
 (2) either a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a humectant, or containing water, or a combination thereof; and 
   a second cavity comprising a sorbent disposed upstream from the plug relative to the direction of mainstream smoke drawn through the filter.   
     
     
         28 . A smoking article comprising a multicomponent smoking article filter according to  claim 27 , having a buccal end and a tipping end, and a rod of smokable material disposed adjacent to the tipping end of the multicomponent. smoking article filter. 
     
     
         29 . A smoking article according to  claim 21 , further comprising ventilation holes proximate to the second plug, the first cavity, or the second cavity.