Tobacco-derived filter element

Abstract

A filter material adapted for use as a filter element of a smoking article is provided, the filter material including at least 10 dry weight percent of cellulosic pulp derived from stalks, roots, or a combination thereof of a plant of the Nicotiana species, wherein the filter material is in the form of a paper comprising the cellulosic pulp or a fibrous tow comprising the cellulosic pulp in esterified form. Filter elements and smoking articles, such as cigarettes, that contain the filter material are also provided. Methods of preparing filter materials for use in filter elements are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filter material adapted for use as a filter element of a smoking article, comprising at least 10 dry weight percent of cellulosic pulp derived from stalks, roots, or a combination thereof of a plant of the  Nicotiana  species, wherein the filter material is in the form of a paper comprising the cellulosic pulp or a fibrous tow comprising the cellulosic pulp in esterified form. 
     
     
         2 . The filter material of  claim 1 , wherein the filter material is in the form of a paper that is pleated to form a rod-like element. 
     
     
         3 . The filter material of  claim 2 , wherein the web of sheet-like material has a basis weight of about 20 gsm to about 90 gsm. 
     
     
         4 . The filter material of  claim 1 , wherein the filter material comprises at least 20 dry weight percent of cellulosic pulp derived from stalks, roots, or a combination thereof of a plant of the  Nicotiana  species. 
     
     
         5 . A filter element for a smoking article comprising one or more segments of a filter material according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . A cigarette comprising a tobacco rod having a smokable filler material contained within a circumscribing wrapping material and a filter element connected to the tobacco rod at one end of the tobacco rod, said filter element comprising at least one segment of a filter material according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A method for formation of a filter element of a smoking article, the method comprising:
 i) pulping a tobacco input comprising stalks, roots, or a combination thereof of a plant of the  Nicotiana  species to form a cellulosic pulp;   ii) forming a web of sheet-like material comprising the cellulosic pulp; and   iii) pleating the web of sheet-like material to form a rod-like element suitable for use in a filter element.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the web of sheet-like material has a basis weight of about 20 gsm to about 90 gsm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the web of sheet-like material comprises at least 10 dry weight percent of the cellulosic pulp. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the web of sheet-like material comprises at least 20 dry weight percent of the cellulosic pulp. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rod-like element is adapted for use as a filter element in a smoking article. 
     
     
         12 . A method for formation of a filter element of a smoking article, the method comprising:
 i) pulping a tobacco input comprising stalks, roots, or a combination thereof of a plant of the  Nicotiana  species to form a cellulosic pulp;   ii) esterifying the cellulosic pulp to produce cellulose acetate;   iii) dissolving the cellulose acetate in a solvent to form a cellulose acetate dope;   iv) spinning the cellulose acetate dope into a plurality of filaments; and   v) collecting, drying and crimping the plurality of filaments to form a tow material suitable for use in a filter element, the tow material comprising at least 10 dry weight percent of cellulose acetate filaments made from the cellulosic pulp.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising blending the tow material with ethyl cellulose fibers, cellulose acetate-lignin blended fibers, or a combination thereof to form a biodegradable blend of filter tow material suitable for use in a filter element. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tow material comprising at least 20 dry weight percent of cellulose acetate filaments made from the cellulosic pulp.