Catalyst to reduce carbon monoxide in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette

Abstract

Cut filler compositions, cigarette paper, cigarette filters, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided, which involve the use of a catalyst capable converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The catalyst comprises nanoscale metal and/or metal oxide particles supported on high surface area support particles. The catalyst can be prepared by combining a metal precursor solution with high surface area support particles to form a mixture, or by combining a metal precursor solution with a colloidal solution to form a mixture, and then heat treating the mixture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cut filler composition comprising tobacco and a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, wherein the catalyst comprises nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles supported on high surface area support particles. 
     
     
         2 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles comprise B, Mg, Al, Si, Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, Ce, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the high surface area support particles comprise silica gel beads, activated carbon, molecular sieves, magnesia, alumina, silica, titania, zirconia, iron oxide, cobalt oxide, nickel oxide, copper oxide, yttria optionally doped with zirconium, manganese oxide optionally doped with palladium, ceria and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles comprise Cu, Zn, Co and/or Fe and the high surface area support comprises silica gel beads and/or activated carbon. 
     
     
         5 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises from about 0.1 to 25 wt. % nanoscale particles supported on high surface area support particles. 
     
     
         6 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the high surface area support particles are derived from a colloidal solution. 
     
     
         7 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles have an average particle size less than about 50 nm. 
     
     
         8 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles have an average particle size less than about 10 nm. 
     
     
         9 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the high surface area support particles is from about 20 to 2500 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         10 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the high surface area support particles comprise millimeter, micron, submicron and/or nanoscale particles. 
     
     
         11 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles comprise carbon from partial decomposition of the metal precursor and/or solvent. 
     
     
         12 . The cut filler composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles comprise magnetic particles. 
     
     
         13 . A cigarette comprising tobacco and a catalyst capable of converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, wherein the catalyst comprises nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles supported on high surface area support particles. 
     
     
         14 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles comprise B, Mg, Al, Si, Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, Ce, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the high surface area support particles comprise silica gel beads, activated carbon, molecular sieves, magnesia, alumina, silica, titania, zirconia, iron oxide, cobalt oxide, nickel oxide, copper oxide, yttria optionally doped with zirconium, manganese oxide optionally doped with palladium, ceria and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles comprise Cu, Zn, Co and/or Fe and the high surface area support particles comprise silica gel beads and/or activated carbon. 
     
     
         17 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the catalyst comprises from about 0.1 to 25 wt. % nanoscale particles supported on high surface area support particles. 
     
     
         18 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the high surface area support particles are derived from a colloidal solution. 
     
     
         19 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles have an average particle size less than about 50 nm. 
     
     
         20 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles have an average particle size less than about 10 nm. 
     
     
         21 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the surface area of the high surface area support particles is from about 20 to 2500 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         22 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the high surface area support particles comprise millimeter, micron, submicron and/or nanoscale particles. 
     
     
         23 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles comprise carbon from partial decomposition of the metal precursor and/or solvent. 
     
     
         24 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles comprise magnetic particles. 
     
     
         25 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles are substantially carbon free. 
     
     
         26 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the cigarette comprises from about 5 mg of the catalyst per cigarette to about 200 mg of the catalyst per cigarette. 
     
     
         27 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , wherein the cigarette comprises from about 10 mg of the catalyst per cigarette to about 100 mg of the catalyst per cigarette. 
     
     
         28 . The cigarette of  claim 13 , further comprising a filter and cigarette paper, wherein the filter and/or the cigarette paper incorporates the catalyst. 
     
     
         29 . A cigarette filter comprising a catalyst capable of converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, wherein the catalyst comprises nanoscale metal particles and/or nanoscale metal oxide particles supported on high surface area support particles.