Smoking articles comprising copper-exchanged molecular sieves

Abstract

Smoking articles which involve the use of a copper-exchanged molecular sieve catalyst that is capable of removing NO and/or NO 2 from mainstream smoke are provided. The copper-exchanged molecular sieve catalyst comprises a microporous molecular sieve substrate having pores with an average diameter of from about 3 Å to about 15 Å, where at least some of the pores of the microporous molecular sieve substrate contain Cu +2 ions. Methods for making cigarette filters and smoking articles using the copper-exchanged molecular sieve catalyst, as well as methods for smoking a cigarette comprising the copper-exchanged molecular sieve catalyst, are also provided.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A smoking article comprising:
 a copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst incorporated into a smoking mixture,   wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst comprises   a microporous molecular sieve substrate having pores with an average pore size of from 3 Å to 15 Å, and copper ions incorporated into the microporous molecular sieve substrate,   wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst is capable of removing NO, NO 2 , or both from mainstream smoke during smoking,   wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst comprises pores sufficiently small to exclude constituents in mainstream smoke having more than 12 carbon atoms, and   wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst is further incorporated into a filter portion of the smoking article to act as a sorbent.   
     
     
         35 . The smoking article of  claim 34 , wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst is capable of selectively removing more benzene and 1,3-butadiene from mainstream smoke than molecules larger than benzene. 
     
     
         36 . The smoking article of  claim 34 , wherein the microporous molecular sieve substrate has an average pore size of 8 Å or smaller. 
     
     
         37 . The smoking article of  claim 36 , wherein the microporous molecular sieve substrate has an average pore size of 6 Å or smaller. 
     
     
         38 . The smoking article of  claim 34 , wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst is in particle form having an average mesh size from 20 mesh to 60 mesh. 
     
     
         39 . The smoking article of  claim 34 , wherein the microporous molecular sieve substrate is a zeolite selected from the group consisting of zeolite ZSM-5, zeolite A, zeolite X, zeolite Y, zeolite K-G, zeolite ZK-5, zeolite Beta, zeolite ZK-4, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The smoking article of  claim 34 , wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst is Cu(II)-ZSM-5. 
     
     
         41 . A smoking article comprising:
 a copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst incorporated into a smoking mixture,   wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst comprises   a microporous molecular sieve substrate having pores with an average pore size of from 3 Å to 15 Å, and copper ions incorporated into the microporous molecular sieve substrate,   wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst is capable of removing NO, NO 2 , or both from mainstream smoke during smoking,   wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst comprises pores sufficiently small to exclude constituents in mainstream smoke having more than 12 carbon atoms,   wherein the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst is further incorporated into a filter portion of the smoking article to act as a sorbent; and   a second molecular sieve material capable of selectively removing at least some of at least one constituent of mainstream smoke that is not removed by the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst.   
     
     
         42 . The smoking article of  claim 41 , wherein the second molecular sieve material comprises a catalytic metal other than copper(II). 
     
     
         43 . The smoking article of  claim 42 , wherein the catalytic metal is selected from the group consisting of iron, manganese, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The smoking article of  claim 34 , wherein the smoking article is selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a pipe, a cigar and a non-traditional cigarette. 
     
     
         45 . The smoking article of  claim 44 , wherein the smoking article is a cigarette. 
     
     
         46 . The smoking article of  claim 34 , comprising from 10 mg to 300 mg of the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst. 
     
     
         47 . The smoking article of  claim 46 , comprising from 50 mg to 150 mg of the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst. 
     
     
         48 . A method of making the cigarette of  claim 45 , the method comprising:
 (i) providing a cut filler comprising a copper(II)-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst interspersed in the cut filler to a cigarette making machine to form a tobacco column;   (ii) placing a paper wrapper around the tobacco column to form a tobacco rod; and   (iii) attaching a cigarette filter to the tobacco rod to form the cigarette of claim  13 .   
     
     
         49 . A method of smoking the cigarette of  claim 45 , the method comprising:
 lighting or heating the cigarette of  claim 45  to form smoke; and   drawing the smoke through the cigarette,   wherein during the smoking of the cigarette, the copper-ion exchanged molecular sieve catalyst reduces the concentration of at least one of NO and NO 2  in the mainstream smoke.