Smoking article filters having oxo-additives

Abstract

 Filters for smoking articles include a polymeric filter material and oxo-additives. The filter can include (i) polymeric fibers formed from a composition containing polymeric material and an oxo-additive; (ii) polymeric filter material that has been contacted with a liquid composition that includes an oxo-additive and a binder; and/or (iii) oxo-additive added to an adhesive that is in contact with polymeric filter material.

Description

[0001] This disclosure relates to smoking articles that include a polymeric filter material.

[0002] Filters of smoking articles are employed to remove one or more constituents of smoke when a consumer smokes the smoking article. The filters are placed downstream of a smokable material, such as tobacco, such that when the consumer draws on the mouth end of the smoking article smoke from the smokable material passes through the filter. One or more smoke constituents are removed, or their concentration is reduced, from the mainstream smoke before entering the consumer's mouth.

[0003] Smoking article filters are typically made from polymeric material. An example of such a polymeric material is cellulose acetate fibers, called cellulose acetate tow. One or more bonding agents may be employed in the filter to bond together the cellulose acetate fibers. Examples of such binding agents include waxes and agents known in the trade as plasticizers.

[0004] Conventional plasticizers work well for bonding and selective filtration. However, they are typically not water-soluble, and the fibers remain bonded over extended periods of time. Conventional cigarette filters can require years to degrade when discarded due to, for example, the highly entangled nature of filter fibers, solvent bonding between fibers (due to the plasticizers), and the inherent slow degradability of the cellulose acetate polymer.

[0005] WO 2014/099468 discloses, among other things, a method for attaching metal oxides to the surface of polymeric fibers of smoking article filters to enhance the degradation rate of filters. The method includes contacting a cellulose ester (such as cellulose acetate) fiber with a mixture that includes metal oxide particles dispersed in a protic liquid to attach the metal oxide particles on the surface of the fibers. The mixture is substantially free of plasticizer.

[0006] Despite recent efforts, there remains a need in the art for additional ways to enhance degradation rates of smoking article filters.

[0007] One object of the present invention is to provide smoking articles with filters having an increased rate of degradation. Other objects of the present invention will be evident to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the present disclosure, which includes the claims that follow and the accompanying drawings.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, a method includes forming a filter component, such as fibers and adhesives, from a composition comprising a melted or dissolved material and an oxo-additive. Another aspect of the present invention is a filter comprising fibers, adhesive, or fibers and adhesive made in accordance with the preceding method. Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking article that includes such a filter.

[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, a smoking article includes a filter; and a smokable material upstream of the filter. The filter comprises an oxo-additive blended into one or more materials of the filter. For example, the oxo-additive can be blended into a fiber, an adhesive or a fiber and an adhesive of the filter.

[0010] As used herein, an "oxo-additive" is a compound that promotes degradation of an oxo-biodegradable polymeric material when tested according to ASTM D6954-04 "Standard Guide for Exposing and Testing Plastics that Degrade in the Environment by a Combination of Oxidation and Biodegradation." It is believed that at least some oxo-additives promote formation of a hydro-peroxide intermediate functional group on a polymeric filter material when the oxo-additive is contacted with the polymeric filter material under suitable conditions. Exposure of the polymeric filter material (to which an oxo-additive is contacted) to one or more of heat, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and environmental oxygen may result in the formation of a hydro-peroxide intermediate functional group on the polymeric filter material. The formation of the hydro-peroxide intermediate functional groups can result in the breakage of chains in the polymeric material and the formation of lower molecular weight fragments of the polymeric material. Lower molecular weight fragments can be more readily consumed by micro-organisms or can be further broken down into smaller fragments via the mechanism mediated by the oxo-additive. In another aspect of the present invention, a method includes adding or blending an oxo-additive into a polymeric filter material for use in a smoking article. The method includes contacting a liquid composition comprising the oxo-additive and optionally a binding agent with the polymeric filter material. Another aspect of the present invention is a filter comprising the polymeric filter material, oxo-additive and optionally a binding agent made in accordance with the preceding method. Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking article that includes such a filter.

[0011] In another aspect of the present invention, a smoking article includes a filter having polymeric filter material. The smoking article further includes an adhesive disposed on the filter and in contact with the polymeric filter material. The adhesive, made of a melted or dissolved material, includes an oxo-additive. The adhesive can be used to adhere a wrapper, such as a plug wrap, to polymeric material of the filter.

[0012] Various aspects of the present invention may have one or more advantages to currently available or previously described smoking articles. For example, adding oxo-additives to polymeric filter material can increase the rate of degradation of smoking article filters. In some aspects, adding one or more oxo-additives to the polymeric filter material can occur in any one or more of the steps currently employed in filter manufacturing. For example, adding the one or more oxo-additives into a composition can comprise (i) melting or dissolving a polymeric material in the presence of the one or more oxo-additives prior to forming fibers; or (ii) soaking or spraying the fibers formed from a polymeric material with the one or more oxo-additives, using a plasticizer-free composition or a composition comprising additionally a binding agent composition (e.g., a plasticizer composition). Specifically, blending the one or more oxo-additives into a melted or dissolved material (including a polymeric material) results in the incorporation of the oxo-additives into the entire volume of the melted or dissolved material, and not merely the surface of the material. This approach is different from soaking or spraying the polymeric material with oxo-additives which attaches the oxo-additives to just the surface of the polymeric material. By way of another example, adding or blending the oxo-additive into an adhesive used to adhere a wrapper to a filter should result in improved manufacturing efficiency relative to, for example, just soaking or spraying the fibers with a plasticizer-free composition. These and other advantages of various aspects of the present invention will be evident to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the present disclosure.

[0013] Oxo-additives may be added to any suitable polymeric filter material to increase the rate of degradation of the filter. Examples of suitable polymeric filter material include polylactic acid, cellulose esters, and blends thereof. Examples of cellulose esters that can be used to form polymeric filter material include cellulose acetates, cellulose propionates and cellulose butyrates with varying degrees of substitution, as well as mixed esters thereof. Examples of such mixed esters include cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and cellulose acetate propionate butyrate. Preferably, the polymeric filter material comprises cellulose acetate.

[0014] Preferably the polymeric filter material is in the form of fibers, which can form fibrous filter material. The fibers may be melt-spun or spun from an appropriate solvent. Examples of appropriate solvents include acetone, acetone/water, tetrahydrofuran, methylene chloride/methanol, chloroform, dioxane, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, pyridine, mixtures thereof, or the like. One of skill in the art will understand that the choice of polymeric material employed and the desired resulting fiber properties will determine, in part, the choice of solvent. When melt-spinning fibers, the melt temperature employed will depend, in part, on the polymeric material chosen. By way of example, the melt temperature may be in a range from about 120°C to about 250°C, such as from about 180°C to about 220°C.

[0015] An oxo-additive can be blended into a composition comprising the polymer before the polymer is spun. The fibers may thus be formed in the presence of the oxo-additive such that the oxo-additive is incorporated in the entire volume of the resulting polymeric fibers.

[0016] The oxo-additive can be added to a composition comprising the polymer before or after the polymer is melted or dissolved for spinning. In either case, the oxo-additive is added and blended into the polymer prior to spinning to form the fibers.

[0017] The oxo-additive can be blended into a composition comprising the polymer at any suitable concentration before the polymer is spun into fibers. Preferably, the oxo-additive is added at a concentration that, after fiber formation, results in an amount of oxo-additive sufficient to increase the rate of degradation of the fibers. Preferably, the resulting fibers contain a weight percent of oxo-additive relative to polymeric filter material in a range from about 1% to about 5%; more preferably from about 2% to about 4%. The composition for melt or solvent spinning of polymeric fibers can contain, for example, from about 1% to about 5% oxo-additive by weight; more preferably from about 2% to about 4% oxo-additive by weight.

[0018] A filter as described herein may optionally include one or more binding agents. Preferably, a filter that includes a binding agent comprises polymeric fibers. The binding agent can bind the polymeric fibers together. Preferably, the binding agent, if included, is a plasticizer. As used herein, a "plasticizer" is a solvent, that when applied to polymeric fibers, solvent-bonds the fibers together. Examples of plasticizers include triacetin (also known as glycerol triacetate), diethylene glycol diacetate, triethylene glycol diacetate, tripropion, acetyl triethyl citrate, triethyl citrate and mixtures of one or more thereof. The one or more plasticizers may be mixed with, for example, polyethylene glycol and contacted with the polymeric fibers to solvent-bond the fibers together. The fibers may be contacted with a binding agent in any suitable manner. Preferably, a composition comprising the binding agent is sprayed on the polymeric fibers.

[0019] In various aspects according to the present invention, an oxo-additive is included in a composition comprising a binding agent and the resulting composition is contacted with polymeric filter material. The composition comprising the oxo-additive and the binding agent is a liquid composition, such as a suspension, solution, or other suitable mixture, under conditions in which the composition is contacted with the polymeric filter material. The contacting may be carried out in any suitable manner. For example, the polymeric material may be dipped into the composition comprising the binding agent and the oxo-additive or may be pulled through the composition. Preferably, the composition comprising the binding agent and the oxo-additive is sprayed on polymeric filter material. Preferably, the polymeric filter material is in the form of fibers and the binding agent is a plasticizer.

[0020] The oxo-additive and binding agent may be present in a composition for contacting the polymeric material at any suitable concentration. Preferably, the binding agent is present in a concentration sufficient to bind at least some polymeric fibers or particles together. Preferably, the oxo-additive is added at a concentration that, after drying, results in an amount of oxo-additive sufficient to increase the rate of degradation of the filter. After drying, the resulting filter preferably comprises binding agent in a range of from about 1% to about 10% relative to the weight of the polymeric filter material; preferably from about 2% to about 9% or more preferably from about 4% to about 7% relative to the weight of the polymeric filter material. Preferably, the resulting fibers contain a weight percent of oxo-additive relative to polymeric filter material in a range from about 1% to about 5%; more preferably from about 2% to about 4%.

[0021] The composition for contacting the polymeric filter material can contain, for example, from about 1% to about 5% weight percent oxo-additive; preferably from about 2% to about 4% oxo-additive by weight. The composition for contacting the polymeric filter material can contain, for example, from about 1% to about 10% binding agent by weight; preferably from about 2% to about 9% or more preferably from about 4% to about 7% binding agent by weight.

[0022] The composition comprising the binding agent and the oxo-additive is preferably contacted under conditions, and for a time, suitable for the oxo-additive to attach to the polymeric material. Preferably, the composition is contacted with the composition under ambient conditions or conditions typically employed with the use of binding agents in the manufacture of filters for smoking articles.

[0023] As binding agents are often liquids, an oxo-additive may be added directly to the binding agent to form the composition for contacting with the polymeric material. However, the composition comprising an oxo-additive and a binding agent may include a solvent or liquid carrier. If present, the composition preferably comprises a solvent capable of at least partially dissolving the binding agent or miscible with the binding agent. Any suitable solvent or liquid carrier may be used to dilute the binding agent. By way of example, suitable solvents or liquid carriers include water; alcohols (such as C = 1 to 4, or more where the alcohol is a liquid), such as methanol, ethanol, butanol, propanol, and the like; or combinations of one or more thereof.

[0024] The polymeric filter material with added oxo-additive described above may be formed into filters for smoking articles in accordance with methods known in the art. Such filters may be incorporated into smoking articles in accordance with methods known in the art.

[0025] According to various aspects of the present invention, a smoking article is provided which comprises a filter having polymeric filter material and an adhesive composition disposed on the filter. The adhesive composition which is in contact with the polymeric filter material composition comprises one or more oxo-additive(s). The adhesive composition may be used to adhere a wrapper to the filter. For example, the adhesive composition comprising the oxo-additive can be used to adhere a plug wrap or a tipping paper or both to the filter. Preferably, the filter also comprises oxo-additive(s).

[0026] The adhesive composition comprises an amount of one or more oxo-additives that is sufficient to increase the rate of degradation of the filter under appropriate conditions, such as conditions to which the filter is exposed after the smoking article is smoked by a consumer. Preferably, the adhesive composition and filter together comprise an amount of the oxo-additive such that the weight percentage of oxo-additive to polymeric filter material in the smoking article is in the range from about 1% to about 5%; more preferably from about 2% to about 4%. The adhesive composition can contain, for example, from about 0.2% to about 10% oxo-additive by weight; preferably from about 0.5% to about 8% or more preferably about 1% to about 4% oxo-additive by weight.

[0027] An oxo-additive can be added to any suitable adhesive composition. Examples of suitable adhesive compositions include drying adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, contact adhesives, hot adhesives, and the like. Preferably, the adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive. In some embodiments, a hot-melt adhesive includes polyvinyl acetate, a wax or a combination of polyvinyl acetate and a wax.

[0028] Any suitable amount of adhesive can be used to adhere a plug wrap, tipping paper, or other smoking article component to a filter. For example the amount of adhesive applied may be in a range from about 0.1 % to about 5% by weight of the total combined weight of the filter and adhesive. Preferably, the adhesive is applied in a range from about 0.2% to about 2% or more preferably from about 0.3% to about 1.3% by weight of the total combined weight of the filter and adhesive.

[0029] The filters to which an adhesive composition comprising an oxo-additive may be applied may be filters comprising polymeric filter material and an oxo-additive. Such filters may be manufactured as described above or otherwise. In some embodiments, the filters are substantially free of oxo-additives, and the oxo-additive in the adhesive composition is the only oxo-additive serving to increase the rate of degradation of the filter.

[0030] With regard to any of the embodiments or aspects described herein, any one or more oxo-additives may be employed. As discussed above, an oxo-additive promotes degradation of an oxo-biodegradable polymeric material when tested according to ASTM D6954-04 "Standard Guide for Exposing and Testing Plastics that Degrade in the Environment by a Combination of Oxidation and Biodegradation." It is believed that at least some oxo-additives promote the formation of a hydro-peroxide intermediate functional group on a polymeric filter material when the oxo-additive is contacted with the polymeric filter material in under suitable conditions. For example, a schematic illustration of a hydro-peroxide intemediate degradation mechanism that may be facilitated by oxo-additives is depicted in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a polymer in the presence of an oxo-additive and increased temperature, UV light or oxygen can result in hydro-peroxide intermediate functional groups on the polymer, which in the presence of oxygen results in polymer chain scission. The polymer chain can be degraded into smaller molecular weight species, such as aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, acids, esters and the like as shown. Lower molecular weight fragments can be more readily consumed by micro-organisms or can be further broken down into smaller fragments via an oxo-additive mediated mechanism.

[0031] Examples of suitable oxo-additives for use in accordance with the teachings presented herein include metal oxides, organic salts of transition metals, and the like. In some preferred embodiments, an oxo-additive includes metal oxide or an organic salt of transition metal.

[0032] An oxo-additive may include any suitable metal oxide. The metal of the metal oxide can be selected from Groups 1-16 of the Periodic Table of Elements. Preferred metals for the metal oxides include titanium, zinc and aluminium. Other suitable metals for the metal oxides include cobalt, magnesium, and iron. The metal oxides may be mono-metal or mixed metal oxides, such as a bimetal oxide. In some preferred embodiments, an oxo-additive includes a combination of titanium dioxide and aluminium oxide. Preferably, the ratio of titanium dioxide to aluminium oxide is from about 1:20 to about 1:5 by weight. The metal oxides may be metal oxide particles. The metal oxide particles may be of any suitable size. For example, the metal oxide particles may have a diameter in a range of from about 10 nanometers to about 500 nanometers. Preferably, the metal oxide particles have a diameter in a range of from about 10 nanometers to about 100 nanometers; more preferably from about 30 nanometers to about 60 nanometers. If the metal oxide particles include titanium dioxide, the particles may have a diameter in a range from about 50 nanometers to about 500 nanometers; preferably from about 100 nanometers to about 300 nanometers.

[0033] An oxo-additive may include any suitable salt of an alkaline metal, earth alkaline metal, or a transition metal or an ammonium salt. In some preferred embodiments, an oxo-additive includes an organic salt of a transition metal. Preferably the oxo-additive includes a stearate of a transition metal, such as a stearate of iron, manganese or cobalt. Examples of such stearates of transition metals are described in, for example, published PCT patent application WO 2012/088585, entitled OXO-BIODEGRADABLE ADDITIVE FOR USE IN FOSSIL FUEL POLYMER FILMS AND ONCE-USED PACKAGING, which published application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to the extent that it does not conflict with the present disclosure. Other suitable salts include carboxylate, nitrate, borate, halogenide, sulphite, sulphate or hydroxide. In some preferred embodiments, an oxo-additive includes an alkaline metal salt or earth alkaline metal salt, which is preferably a potassium (K-), lithium (Li-) or sodium (Na-) salt, more preferably a K-, Li- or Na carboxylate, most preferably a potassium carboxylate.

[0034] A preferred class of oxo-additives includes those that are photoactive agents. Photoactive agents are agents that, when exposed to UV radiation when in contact with polymeric filter material, increases the rate of degradation of the polymeric filter material. An example of a photoactive agent is titanium dioxide, although other photoactive metals or metal compounds may be employed alone or in combination with titanium dioxide.

[0035] Other examples of oxo-additives that can be used in accordance with the present invention include those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,350,783, entitled COMPOSTABLE THERMOPLASTIC PRODUCTS and U.S. Patent No. 7,858,675, entitled COMPOSITION WITH POLYMER AND AN OXIDATION-CATALYST, which patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties to the extent that they do not conflict with the disclosure presented herein.

[0036] U.S. Patent No. 5,350,783 discloses non-metallic metal complexing agents, nonoxidizing-metal metal complexing agents and combinations thereof in the presence of one or more oxidizing metal compounds as oxo-additives. The non-metallic metal complexing agents or nonoxidizing-metal metal complexing agents convert in the presence of the oxidizing metal compounds to an active oxidant to thermally degrade a polymeric material. Examples of metal complexing materials disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,350,783 include organic compounds such as beta-diketones, beta-ketoesters, phosphonic acids, aminopolycarboxylic acids, polyphosphates, hydroxycarboxylic and fatty acids, and materials containing -CO-, -NH₂, -SH, -S-S-, -COO-, and -CO₂H groups. Other materials that will complex oxidizing metals are maleated polyolefins and polymers with carboxyl groups, such as propylene and acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene and acrylic acid copolymers. Metal complexing agents disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,350,783 include complexes of nonoxidizing metals such as aluminum, barium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and titanium, preferably those of sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. The metal complexes include sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, sodium salt of zinc ethylenediaminetetraacetate, calcium diethyldithiocarbamate, magnesium hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid, sodium salt, calcium acetylacetonate, magnesium triethylenetetraaminetetraacetate, zinc diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, sodium salt, potassium propylenediaminetetraacetate, and nonoxidizing metal complexes of cyclic phosphate, xanthates, benzothiazoles, oximes, and benzimidazoles.

[0037] U.S. Patent No. 7,858,675 discloses the use of compounds having a 1,2-oxo-hydroxy-moiety as oxo-additives. The compound having the 1,2-oxo-hydroxy-moiety can have a structure according to Formula I:

with X and Y being identical or different from each other, and representing respectively:

X: OR, SR, NR₁R₂, R, O^-M⁺;

Y: OR, SR, NR₁R₂, R;

R, R₁, R₂: a group selected independently from one another from the groups consisting of H, an optionally substituted C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, an optionally substituted C₆-C₂₀ aryl group, an optionally substituted C₇-C₂₀ alkylaryl group, and an optionally substituted C₇-C₂₀ arylalkyl group,

M⁺ being an alkaline metal cation or earth alkaline metal cation, or an ammonium ion and wherein X and Y may be joined together to form a cyclic structure of at least 5 carbon atoms, and/or with any of X or Y representing an oligomeric or a polymeric residue, which can optionally be substituted.

[0038] According to U.S. Patent No. 7,858,675, X and/or Y are preferably R, more preferably X and Y are R, even more preferably, X and/or Y is an optionally substituted C₆-C₂₀ aryl group or an optionally substituted C₇-C₂₀ arylalkyl group; or X is an optionally substituted C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group and Y is an optionally substituted C₆-C₂₀ aryl group. In another preferred embodiment, X is OH. In another preferred embodiment, X is an optionally substituted alkoxy group with 1-20 carbon atoms and Y is an optionally substituted C₆-C₂₀ aryl group. In still another preferred embodiment of the invention, X is an O^-M⁺, with M⁺ representing an alkaline metal cation or earth alkaline metal cation, or an ammonium ion. When X and Y are joined together to form a cyclic structure, than the cyclic structure preferably contains at least 7 carbon atoms.

[0039] U.S. Patent No. 7,858,675 further discloses that a co-catalyst can be added to enhance the rate of degradation. Accordingly, the oxo-additive includes a co-catalyst and a compound having the 1,2-oxo-hydroxy-moiety. Preferred co-catalysts include alkaline metal salts, earth alkaline metal salts and ammonium salts.

[0040] Examples of commercially available or currently used oxo-additives that can be employed in accordance with the present invention include oxo-additives of Symphony Environmental Technologies (d₂W® additive), EPI Environmental Technologies (TDPA®), Wells Plastics (Reverte)®, Willow Ridge Plastics (PDQ-M, PDQ-H, BDA and OxoTerra™), Add-X Biotech (Addiflex®), and EcoPoly Solutions (EcoPoly®).

[0041] One or more stabilizers can be added to a composition comprising an oxo-additive. A stabilizer can be included in a filter in an amount to adapt the life time of the filter due to the presence of an oxo-additive. One class of stabilizers that can be added are primary antioxidants like phenolic antioxidants and aromatic amines. Another class of stabilizers that can be added are secondary antioxidants such as phosphites and thioethers.

[0042] Any suitable smoking article may include an oxo-additive containing filter, oxo-additive-containing adhesive composition for adhering a wrapper to a filter, or both an oxo-additive-containing filter and an oxo-additive-containing adhesive composition. The filter is disposed downstream of a smokable material. The term "downstream" refers to relative positions of elements of the smoking article described in relation to the direction of mainstream smoke as it is drawn from a smokable material and into a user's mouth.

[0043] The term "smoking article" includes cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and other articles in which a smokable material, such as a tobacco, is lit and combusted to produce smoke. The term "smoking article" also includes articles in which smokable material is not combusted, such as but not limited to smoking articles that heat a smoking composition directly or indirectly, or smoking articles that use air flow or a chemical reaction, with or without a heat source, to deliver nicotine or other materials from the smokable material.

[0044] As used herein, the term "smoke" is used to describe an aerosol produced by a smoking article. An aerosol produced by a smoking article may be, for example, smoke produced by combustible smoking articles, such as cigarettes, or aerosols produced by non-combustible smoking articles, such as heated smoking articles or non-heated smoking articles.

[0045] All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein.

[0046] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0047] As used herein, "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term "and/or" means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

[0048] As used herein, "have", "having", "include", "including", "comprise", "comprising" or the like are used in their open ended sense, and generally mean "including, but not limited to". It will be understood that "consisting essentially of", "consisting of", and the like are subsumed in "comprising," and the like.

[0049] The words "preferred" and "preferably" refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, including the claims.

[0050] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a partially unrolled smoking article. The smoking article and filter depicted in FIG. 2 illustrate an embodiment of a smoking article or components of a smoking article described above. The schematic drawing is not necessarily to scale and is presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. The drawing depicts one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 2, a smoking article 10, in this case a cigarette, is depicted. The smoking article 10 includes a rod 20 containing a smokable material, such as a tobacco rod, and a mouth end filter 30. The filter 30 and rod 20 are shown as being separated for purposes of illustration, but may be abutting. The depicted smoking article 10 includes plug wrap 60, cigarette paper 40, and tipping paper 50. In the depicted embodiment, the plug wrap 60 circumscribes at least a portion of the filter 30. The cigarette paper 40 circumscribes at least a portion of the rod 20. Tipping paper 50 or other suitable wrapper circumscribes the plug wrap 60 and a portion of the cigarette paper 40 as is generally known in the art.

[0052] An adhesive (not shown) can be disposed about at least a portion of filter 30 and can serve to adhere plug wrap 60 and optionally at least a portion of tipping paper 50 to the filter. The adhesive can be disposed on filter 30. However, it will be understood that during manufacture of the smoking article 10, the adhesive can be initially disposed on the plug wrap 60 and optionally on a portion of tipping paper 50.

[0053] An adhesive, filter 30, or adhesive and filter 30 may include an oxo-additive as described herein.

[0054] Thus, methods, systems, devices, compounds and compositions for SMOKING ARTICLE FILTERS HAVING OXO-ADDITIVES are described. Various modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are apparent to those skilled in chemistry and chemical engineering or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A smoking article, comprising:

a filter; and

a smokable material upstream of the filter,

wherein the filter comprises an oxo-additive blended into one or more materials of the filter.

2. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more materials of the filter into which the oxo-additive is blended is a polymeric material.

3. A smoking article according to claim 2, wherein the polymeric material forms a fiber.

4. A smoking article according to claim 3, wherein the fiber forms a fibrous filtration material.

5. A smoking article according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the polymeric material from which the fiber is formed is dissolved or melted.

6. A filter according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein the fibers are formed by melt-spinning or spinning from a solvent.

7. A smoking article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter further comprises a binder.

8. A smoking article according to claim 7, wherein the binder is a plasticizer.

9. A smoking article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the one or more materials of the filter into which the oxo-additive is blended is an adhesive composition.

10. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the only material of the filter into which the oxo-additive is blended is an adhesive composition.

11. A method for forming polymeric fibers for use in a filter of a smoking article, the method comprising:

forming one or more filter components, such as fibers, adhesives, or fibers and adhesives, from a composition comprising a melted or dissolved material and an oxo-additive.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more filter components comprises fibers formed from a composition comprising an oxo-additive that is blended into melted or dissolved polymeric material.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the fibers are formed by melt-spinning or spinning from a solvent after the oxo-additive is added into the composition.

14. A method according to any one of claims 11-13, wherein at least one of the one or more filter components comprises an adhesive.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising contacting the adhesive with a polymer of the filter.

Drawing