Filtrona Publishes Latest Carbon Research Findings

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 07/20/2012

Filtrona Scientific Services has published its latest carbon filter research, which explores whether there is a relationship between the position of carbon granules in filters and the overall vapour phase removal efficiency. The study, conducted by Dr Mike Taylor, director of scientific development, found that the weight rather than the position of carbon within a filter tip was the dominant factor affecting the retention of vapour phase compounds.

In recent years, a number of studies have looked at the performance of activated carbon in cigarette filters. These studies have examined variables such as carbon weight, carbon volume, carbon activity level, carbon precursor material (eg, coal or coconut), smoking regime and filter circumference. All of these studies were carried out on triple granular filters, which include a middle segment of carbon across the circumference of the filter, or active acetate filters, which contain carbon granules evenly spread across the body of a filter. However, innovations in filter manufacture now enable the carbon to be localized, in particular cross-sectional regions of the filter around the periphery or within a centrally located pocket for example; so Taylor’s research examined these latest filters. The tests looked at the retentions of major vapour phase compounds, including carbonyls and hydrocarbons, semi-volatile compounds and phenols and cresols and the findings are presented in respect of the relative retentions of four different types of activated carbon filters: Active Acetate Dual, Cavitec (triple granular), Active Patch and Smooth Core. "This work has demonstrated that the weight of carbon per tip rather than the distribution of carbon within the filter tip is the dominant factor affecting the retention of vapour phase compounds," Taylor said. "The results from this study are consistent with previous findings that the rapid diffusion of volatile compounds whilst passing through a carbon filter enables their removal irrespective of the position of the carbon granules in relation to the main smoke flow path." Enditem