Tobacco smoke filter

Abstract

A tobacco smoke filter or filter element including a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises: a sheet of staple fibres; and a water soluble binder; wherein the water soluble binder is uniformly coated on at least one face of the sheet of staple fibres. The filter has superior biodegradability.

1 . A tobacco smoke filter or filter element including a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises: a sheet of staple fibres; wood pulp; and a water soluble binder; wherein the water soluble binder is uniformly coated on at least one face of the sheet of staple fibres. 
     
     
         2 . The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-woven fabric comprises the wood pulp in an amount of up to 20% by weight of the non-woven fabric, and an amount of water soluble binder is 0.1 to 5% expressed as percentage of a solids level content in a finished state of the non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the staple fibres are regenerated cellulosic fibres, viscose, tencel, polyvinyl alcohol or cotton. 
     
     
         4 . The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the water soluble binder is carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxycellulose, polyethylene oxide, a natural or modified starch, a cationic starch, guar gum or derivative thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 3 , having a dispersibility wherein 95% or more of the nonwoven fabric passes through 6.3 mm aperture screens after being subjected to EDANA Standard FG511.1 Tier 1 Dispersibility Shake Flask Test using screens of 1.6, 3.15, 6.3 and 12.5 mm aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 5 , having a dispersibility wherein 96% or more of the nonwoven fabric passes through 6.3 mm aperture screens after being subjected to EDANA Standard FG511.1 Tier 1 Dispersibility Shake Flask Test using screens of 1.6, 3.15, 6.3 and 12.5 mm aperture. 
     
     
         7 . A tobacco smoke filter or filter element including a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises: a sheet of staple fibres, wherein the staple fibres have a ‘Ready Biodegradability’ level of biodegradability as measured according to OECD 301B ‘Ready Biodegradability’ method (modified Sturm test); and a water soluble binder; wherein the water soluble binder is uniformly coated on at least one face of the sheet of staple fibres. 
     
     
         8 . The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 7 , wherein the nonwoven fabric further comprises wood pulp. 
     
     
         9 . The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 8 , wherein the nonwoven fabric further comprises the wood pulp in an amount of up to 20% by weight of the non-woven fabric, and an amount of binder is 0.1 to 5% expressed as percentage of a solids level content in a finished state of the non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 8 , wherein a material is considered “Readily Biodegradable” if 60% of degradation is reached within a 10-day window in 28 days and the 10 day window is defined as beginning when 10% of the degradation is reached and ends after 10 days from this point, but before the 28th day. 
     
     
         11 . The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 7 , further comprising a flavour enhancing additive; and/or wherein the nonwoven fabric is tobacco smoke filtering material. 
     
     
         12 . The tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flavour enhancing additive; and/or wherein the nonwoven fabric is tobacco smoke filtering material. 
     
     
         13 . A filter cigarette which includes a tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A filter cigarette which includes a tobacco smoke filter or filter element according to  claim 7 .