U.S. patent application number 12/083287 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-23 for cigarette filter.
This patent application is currently assigned to NISSEI BIO COMPANY, LIMITED. Invention is credited to Masaji Matsunaga, Fumito Yoshida.
Application Number | 20090183745 12/083287 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37942441 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090183745 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsunaga; Masaji ; et
al. |
July 23, 2009 |
Cigarette Filter
Abstract
[Problem to be Solved] To provide a cigarette filter capable of
very effectively adsorbing/eliminating carcinogens such as dioxins
and benzpyrene in mainstream smoke generated in cigarette smoking,
and maintaining the flavor characteristic of cigarette and air
permeability of cigarette filter. [Solution] Provided is a
cigarette filter containing a harmful substance-eliminating
material comprising a double-stranded DNA and/or a corn cob
powder.
Inventors: |
Matsunaga; Masaji;
(Eniwa-shi, JP) ; Yoshida; Fumito; (Eniwa-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 320850
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320-4850
US
|
Assignee: |
NISSEI BIO COMPANY, LIMITED
ENIWA-SHI
JP
|
Family ID: |
37942441 |
Appl. No.: |
12/083287 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
October 12, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2005/018812 |
371 Date: |
April 9, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/331 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24D 3/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/331 |
International
Class: |
A24D 3/06 20060101
A24D003/06 |
Claims
1. A cigarette filter containing a harmful substance-eliminating
material comprising a corn cob powder or a corn cob powder and a
double-stranded DNA.
2. The cigarette filter according to claim 1, wherein said
double-stranded DNA is attached onto the external surface of said
corn cob powder.
3. The cigarette filter according to claim 1, wherein said corn cob
powder is dried to contain a water content of 5 mass % or less.
4. The cigarette filter according to claim 1, wherein said harmful
substance-eliminating material is mixed in a filter rod consisting
of a fibrous filter material.
5. The cigarette filter according to claim 4, wherein said harmful
substance-eliminating material comprises said double-stranded DNA
and/or a corn cob powder having a particle diameter of 150 .mu.m to
500 .mu.m.
6. The cigarette filter according to claim 1, wherein a plurality
of filter rods consisting of a fibrous filter material are
provided, and a layer composed of said harmful
substance-eliminating material is interposed between said filter
rods.
7. The cigarette filter according to claim 6, wherein said harmful
substance-eliminating material comprises said double-stranded DNA
and/or a corn cob powder having a particle diameter of 500 .mu.m to
1000 .mu.m.
8. The cigarette filter according to claim 1, wherein said harmful
substance is dioxins or/and benzpyrene.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a cigarette filter
containing a harmful substance-eliminating material comprising DNA
and/or a corn cob powder capable of effectively eliminating harmful
substances in mainstream smoke of cigarettes in smoking, and less
deteriorating the flavor characteristic of cigarette and air
permeability of filter.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, as cigarette filters, cellulosic compounds
have generally been used. For example, a filter consisting of
cellulose acetate fiber has been widely used because it does not
deteriorate flavor in smoking, and can adsorb and eliminate harmful
components in mainstream smoke of cigarettes. Specifically, for
example, filtration efficiency of filter is improved in such manner
that cellulose acetate fibers are processed into a crimped tow, and
the fineness of single fiber in this tow is decreased, or the
filled amount of fibers is increased. Further, in order to improve
adsorptive property of harmful components, it is known that
inorganic adsorbents such as active carbon and zeolite are added to
the above-described cigarette filters, as a typical example, the
followings can be listed:
(1) one containing zeolite powder as an adsorbent (Patent document
1). (2) one containing a porous glass composed of at least CaO,
B.sub.2O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2 and AlO.sub.3 (Patent document 2).
[0003] Further, in addition to the above-described inorganic
adsorbents, it is also known that DNA as an active component is
directly attached onto a filter, by which carcinogenic toxic
products contained in cigarette smoke are trapped (Patent document
3).
[0004] On the other hand, as a material for adsorbing/eliminating
harmful components, as an example, known are soil, sand, gravel,
clay, stone, concrete, asphalt, brick, block, carbon such as active
carbon and carbon black, zeolite, polymer, plastic, elastomer
material, metal, metal alloy such as steel, glass, glass fiber,
ceramic, textiles such as cloth and knit, cellulosic material, and
combinations thereof.
[0005] Among these, as a specific cellulosic material, there are
known wood, wood chip, sawdust, paper, cardboard, and corn cob
powder (corn cob). [0006] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open No. Hei 02-308784 [0007] Patent document 2:
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-95552 [0008] Patent
document 3: French patent No. 2798302
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0009] Incidentally in recent years, harmful substances in
mainstream smoke of cigarettes, particularly regarding dioxins and
benzpyrene, attention is paid to the carcinogenicity, there have
been increasing demands to desire a filter capable of effectively
adsorbing/eliminating these harmful substances. However, in regard
to the cigarette filter that the harmful substance
adsorbing/eliminating capability is improved by addition of the
above-described inorganic adsorbent, although a removal effect of
tar and nicotine in mainstream smoke of cigarettes is mentioned, a
removal effect of dioxins and benzpyrene has not been shown.
[0010] Further, there has been a case that a cigarette filter
capable of eliminating harmful substances in mainstream smoke of
cigarettes has not only the harmful substance eliminating
capability but eliminates flavor characteristic of cigarette,
namely, a chemical substance as the original flavor as well, or
adds flavor of material used in the filter, which deteriorates the
flavor of cigarette. Further, there may be a case that air
permeability of filter is deteriorated, resulting in resistance to
suction of cigarette smoke, which leads to quality loss of
cigarette, thus care should be exercised in these points.
[0011] The present inventors have keenly studied to solve the
above-described problem in the conventional techniques, as a
result, unexpectedly found the following: using a corn cob powder
on which DNA is attached as a harmful substance eliminating
substance, by having the harmful substance-eliminating material
contained in a cigarette filter, harmful substances in mainstream
smoke of cigarettes can be adsorbed/eliminated more effectively
than, not to mention, the case where a conventional active carbon
or the like is contained in a cigarette filter, and, also, than the
case where only corn cob powder or only DNA is contained in a
cigarette filter; moreover, the flavor characteristic of cigarette
and excellent air-permeability of filter can be maintained, and
completed the present invention.
[0012] Namely, the present invention aims to provide a cigarette
filter capable of very effectively adsorbing carcinogens such as
dioxins and benzpyrene and maintaining the flavor characteristic of
cigarette and air permeability of filter.
Means to Solve the Problem
[0013] The present invention relates to a cigarette filter
containing a harmful substance-eliminating material comprising a
double-stranded DNA and/or a corn cob powder.
[0014] In the cigarette filter of the present invention, it is
preferable that the double-stranded DNA contained in the harmful
substance-eliminating material is attached onto the surface of the
corn cob powder.
[0015] Further, it is preferable that the corn cob powder contained
in said harmful substance-eliminating material is a corn cob powder
which is dried to contain a water content of 5 mass % or less.
[0016] Further, said harmful substance-eliminating material is
mixed in a filter rod consisting of a fibrous filter material to
result in the cigarette filter of the present invention, in this
case, preferably, the harmful substance-eliminating material may
comprise a double-stranded DNA and/or a corn cob powder having a
particle diameter of 150 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m.
[0017] Alternatively, a plurality of filter rods consisting of a
fibrous filter material are provided, and a layer composed of said
harmful substance-eliminating material is interposed between said
filter rods to result in the cigarette filter of the present
invention, in this case, preferably, the harmful
substance-eliminating material may comprise a double-stranded DNA
and/or a corn cob powder having a particle diameter of 500 .mu.m to
1000 .mu.m.
[0018] Further, as the harmful substance eliminated by the
cigarette filter of the present invention, it may be dioxins or/and
benzpyrene.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0019] According to the present invention, as a harmful
substance-eliminating material, by the constitution that a
double-stranded DNA is attached onto the surface of corn cob
powder, harmful substances in cigarette smoking, particularly,
dioxins, benzpyrene and the like are trapped by intercalation
between the double-stranded DNA molecules, at the same time, the
harmful substances can also be adsorbed by a porous structure which
the corn cob powder has, thereby it becomes possible to eliminate
the harmful substances in mainstream smoke effectively. Further, by
the above-described constitution, namely, by attaching a
double-stranded DNA onto the surface of corn cob powder, the
double-stranded DNA is hardly dropped in comparison with the direct
attachment of the double-stranded DNA onto a cigarette filter
(fibrous filter material), giving a merit that the harmful
substance eliminating capability can be kept for a long time.
[0020] Further, by adjusting the attached amount of the
double-stranded DNA onto the corn cob powder, the particle diameter
and used amount of the corn cob powder, it is possible to maintain
the flavor characteristic of cigarette and excellent
air-permeability of filter at the same time while having the
above-described harmful substance eliminating capability.
[0021] In addition, corn cob powders are usually treated as an
industrial waste in agricultural regions, so that one kind of
harmful substance-eliminating materials can be cheaply
procured.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0022] Hereinafter, each constituent element and its function of
the cigarette filter of the present invention will be further
described.
[0023] (1) Double-Stranded DNA
[0024] The double-stranded DNA contained in the harmful
substance-eliminating material of the present invention consists of
two polynucleotide chains of a helical form (double helix), for
example, it is preferably DNA obtained from milt (testis) of fish
such as salmon, sardine and cod, or DNA obtained from thymus of
mammals or birds such as cow, pig and chicken.
[0025] Double-stranded DNA is bonded by hydrogen bond in such
manner that both planar bases having a structural complementation
protrude toward the central part of helix being vertical to the
axis of helix from sugar-phosphoric acid skeleton of two
polynucleotide chains. Between pairs of the bases of two chains of
DNA, in the case of B type structure, there is a gap of about 1.1
nm wide and 0.34 nm high, a small molecule having a planar
structure can penetrate in this gap, which is called
"intercalation." There is a case where this phenomenon is
accelerated by an electric charge or hydrophobicity of a small
molecule. Harmful substances to human such as dioxins are often
composed of a plurality of benzene rings, and these have a planar
structure. Therefore, by utilizing the double-stranded DNA, it is
possible to trap/eliminate harmful substances generated from
mainstream smoke of cigarettes in smoking.
[0026] As a form of the double-stranded DNA, the one which can be
attached onto the external surface of corn cob powder may be
enough, for example, it may be a powder-like, fiber-like or
film-like form, preferably a powder-like, in particular, preferably
a fine powder-like form. By making the double-stranded DNA into a
fine powder-like form, the total surface area of the
double-stranded DNA becomes relatively large, which can further
improve the harmful substance trapping/eliminating capability.
[0027] (2) Corn Cob Powder
[0028] The corn cob powder contained in the harmful
substance-eliminating material of the present invention is the one
obtained by grinding a corn cob part, preferably the one obtained
by grinding a corn cob part. Preferably, the one obtained by
grinding after a corn cob part is dried in the sun or by a dryer is
mentioned.
[0029] The shape of the corn cob powder is not particularly
limited, and it may be various shapes obtained by grinding (for
example, polyhedron such as tetrahedron, hexahedron and octahedron,
sphere, flat sphere or the like). Additionally, it is known that
the internal structure of the corn cob powder is porous and shows a
honeycomb structure (comb of bees) and further has a number of
small holes in the faces of dividing walls forming a hole (by Seiki
Ishigouoka et. al, lecture summary at general convention of
Japanese Association for Experimental Animal Technologists), and it
is assumed that harmful substances are adsorbed in such small
holes. Namely, the harmful substance eliminating capacity of corn
cob powder is thought to be resulted from the internal structure
that it has in itself.
[0030] The particle diameter of the corn cob powder is considered
and suitably chosen so that the powder can be mixed in a filter rod
consisting of a fibrous filter material, or a layer composed of a
harmful substance-eliminating material can be interposed between a
plurality of filter rods consisting of the fibrous filter material
and can have an effective harmful substance eliminating capability
and also maintain the flavor of cigarette and an excellent
air-permeability of cigarette filter. When the particle diameter is
too large, the total surface area of powder becomes relatively
small, a target amount of the foregoing double-stranded DNA
sometimes cannot be attached, which leads to be inferior relatively
in the point of harmful substance eliminating capability, further,
it may become difficult to mix in a filter rod consisting of the
fibrous filter material, and reversely when the particle diameter
is too small, although the attached amount of double-stranded DNA
and the harmful substance eliminating capability are kept in a high
level, air permeability of the whole filter is lowered, and
clogging of a fibrous filter material tends to be caused.
Therefore, in the case where the powder is mixed in a filter rod
consisting of the fibrous filter material, the particle diameter is
preferably in a range of 150 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m. Further, in the
case of being interposed between the filter rods as a layer
composed of corn cob powder, the particle diameter is preferably in
a range of 500 .mu.m to 1000 .mu.m.
[0031] Further, the corn cob powder is preferably in a dried state,
and the water content is preferably 5 mass % or less.
[0032] (3) Method for Producing Harmful Substance-Eliminating
Material
[0033] The harmful substance-eliminating material of the present
invention is preferably the one that a double-stranded DNA is
attached on the surface of corn cob powder, in this case, the
double-stranded DNA can be attached by spraying it onto the corn
cob powder. In this case, the double-stranded DNA can be attached
on the corn cob powder by a physical force, for example, an
intermolecular force, an electrostatic force, or chemical bonds
such as covalent bond, ion bond and coordinated bond, or both bonds
thereof. Additionally, in the present invention, as long as a
double-stranded DNA is present in a state being not dropped from a
corn cob powder, it is deemed that the double-stranded DNA is
attached onto the corn cob powder.
[0034] (4) Method for Setting a Harmful Substance-Eliminating
Material in Cigarette Filter
[0035] The harmful substance-eliminating material of the present
invention may be mixed in a filter rod consisting of a fibrous
filter material, or a layer composed of a harmful
substance-eliminating material is formed, and the layer may be
interposed between a plurality of filter rods consisting of the
fibrous filter material.
[0036] In the case where the harmful substance-eliminating material
is mixed in a filter rod consisting of the fibrous filter material,
regarding the distribution of the harmful substance-eliminating
material in the filter rod, from consideration of exhibition of
effective adsorbing/eliminating effect on harmful substances, it is
preferably distributed partially in one terminal side contacting
cigarette in a cigarette filter.
[0037] Further, in the case where a layer composed of a harmful
substance-eliminating material is formed, and the layer is
interposed between a plurality of filter rods consisting of the
fibrous filter material, namely, in the case of a sandwich
structure that the layer is sandwiched with the fibrous filter
materials, from consideration of exhibition of effective
adsorbing/eliminating effect on harmful substances, it is
preferable to interpose the layer near the central part of a
cigarette filter.
[0038] (5) Amount of Harmful Substance-Eliminating Material
(Double-Stranded DNA and/or Corn Cob Powder)
[0039] The used amount of the harmful substance-eliminating
material of the present invention, namely the used amount of the
double-stranded DNA and/or the corn cob powder is considered and
suitably chosen so that a harmful substance eliminating capability
is effectively obtained in processing into a cigarette filter and
can maintain the flavor of cigarette and excellent air-permeability
of cigarette filter.
[0040] When the used amount of the double-stranded DNA and/or the
corn cob powder is too small, there is a case that a target harmful
substance eliminating capability cannot be achieved, whereas when
too large, air permeability of filter may be deteriorated because
the filter is clogged.
[0041] Therefore, for example, in the case where it is mixed in a
filter rod consisting of the fibrous filter material, the
double-stranded DNA is used in a range of 0.001 mass % to 0.1 mass
% relative to the filter rod, preferably in a range of 0.002 mass %
to 0.05 mass %, and more preferably in a range of 0.005 mass % to
0.01 mass %, and the corn cob powder is used in a range of 0.05
mass % to 10 mass %, preferably in a range of 0.1 mass % to 5 mass
%, and more preferably in a range of 0.3 mass % to 1 mass %.
[0042] Further, in the case where a layer composed of a harmful
substance-eliminating material is formed, and the layer is
interposed between a plurality of filter rods consisting of the
fibrous filter material, the double-stranded DNA is used in a range
of 0.0001 mass % to 0.1 mass % relative to the filter rod,
preferably in a range of 0.001 mass % to 0.05 mass %, and more
preferably in a range of 0.003 mass % to 0.01 mass %, and the corn
cob powder is used in a range of 0.01 mass % to 10 mass %,
preferably in a range of 0.05 mass % to 3 mass %, and more
preferably in a range of 0.1 mass % to 1.5 mass %.
[0043] (6) Fibrous Filter Material
[0044] As raw materials of the fibrous filter material in the
present invention, a raw material commonly used for a cigarette
filter may be used, for example, there may be cellulose fiber,
cellulose ester fiber, for example, organic acid ester such as
cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate and cellulose butyrate;
mixed acid ester such as cellulose acetate propionate and cellulose
acetate butyrate; and cellulose ester derivatives such as
polycaprolactone-grafted cellulose ester. These may be used alone,
or in combination of 2 kinds or more thereof.
[0045] (7) Other Contained Material
[0046] The cigarette filter of the present invention may also
contain a material capable of further eliminating harmful
substances, for example, active carbon, fragrances or the like, as
long as the harmful substance eliminating capability of the
double-stranded DNA and/or corn cob powder is not deteriorated, and
the flavor of cigarette and excellent air-permeability are
maintained.
EXAMPLES
[0047] Next, the present invention will be described further
specifically with reference to Examples. It should not be construed
under any circumstances that the following Examples restrict the
present invention.
[0048] In the present Examples and Comparative examples, four kinds
of cigarettes for test were prepared by using four kinds of
cigarette filters prepared according to the procedure described
below, and elimination effects on various kinds of harmful
substances in mainstream smoke of cigarettes, and smoking tests on
smoking feeling were carried out.
<Preparation of Cigarette Filter for Test>
Example 1
[0049] Onto about 100 g of corn cob powder (manufactured by Rengo
Co., Ltd., particle diameter of 0.6 mm or more), 1.5 g of
double-stranded DNA of fine powder form was sprayed and attached
(DNA concentration: 1.5 mass %). Subsequently, using two pieces of
acetate filter commercially available (0.8 cm width in longitudinal
direction), a granular layer (about 0.5 cm width) composed of the
corn cob powder that the DNA was attached in 114 mg/piece was
sandwiched with the filters to obtain a cigarette filter for
test.
Comparative Example 1
[0050] In the present Comparative example, a cigarette filter for
test was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that
only the corn cob powder used in Example 1 was used as a granular
layer.
Comparative Example 2
[0051] In the present Comparative example, a cigarette filter for
test was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a
granular layer was composed by using an active carbon (manufactured
by Senetin Corporation (Korea), particle diameter of 0.51 mm or
more) in 189 mg/piece.
Comparative Example 3
[0052] In the present Comparative example, a cigarette filter for
test was obtained by using only an acetate filter commercially
available (2.1 cm width in longitudinal direction).
<Preparation of Cigarette for Test>
[0053] The cigarette filters for test prepared in Example 1 and
Comparative examples 1 to 3 were stored under the atmosphere of
relative humidity at 60% and temperature at 22.degree. C. for 48
hours and more.
[0054] As a cigarette part, a commercially available cigarette
(manufactured by JT Corporation, product name: Seven Star) was
used, the cigarette part was also stored under the atmosphere of
relative humidity at 60% and temperature at 22.degree. C. for 48
hours and more, and it was connected with the cigarette filter for
test just before the start of smoking test to give a cigarette for
test.
[0055] The cigarette for test obtained was examined each according
to the test methods in the following Test examples 1 and 2.
<Test Method>
Test Example 1
Test of Harmful Substance Eliminating Capability
[0056] A Hamburg II automatic smoking device was made to smoke, 10
times in total, each mainstream smoke (air: cigarette=7:3) of the 4
kinds of the cigarettes prepared as described above in 1 puff/35
ml/2 sec. by 20 pieces/day. Thereafter, the amount of benzpyrene
contained in the total gases exhausted was measured. The result is
shown in FIG. 1 and Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Outlet flow of benzpyrene Average
concentration of benzpyrene in mainstream smoke Cigarette filter
for test (ng/cig) Acetate filter + DNA-attached 10.6 corn cob
powder Acetate filter + Corn cob 12.0 powder Acetate filter +
Active carbon 15.2 Acetate filter alone 23.0
[0057] As shown in FIG. 1 and Table 1, regarding the cigarette
filter using DNA-attached corn cob powder, the average
concentration of benzpyrene in mainstream smoke decreases by about
54% compared with the case of acetate filter alone, and it
decreases by about 30% compared with active carbon, and about 12%
compared with corn cob powder alone, which made it clear to have a
high adsorbing/eliminating effect on benzpyrene.
Test Example 2
Test of Smoking Feeling
[0058] The four kinds of cigarettes for test prepared in the above
procedure were smoked by 30 subjects, and the results were compared
in the viewpoints of flavor and suction feeling for one that
DNA-attached corn cob powder was added, one that only corn cob
powder was added, one that an active carbon was added, and acetate
filter alone.
[0059] Evaluations were carried out by checking how much flavor and
suction feeling were lowered in comparison with acetate filter
alone for one that DNA-attached corn cob powder was added, one that
corn cob powder was added and one that an active carbon was added
thereby to each calculate the average points:
Not changed, or not perceived at all . . . 3 points Somewhat
uncomfortable feeling . . . 2 points Clearly uncomfortable feeling
. . . 1 point
[0060] The result is shown in Table 2
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Cigarette filter for test Flavor Suction
feeling Acetate filter + DNA-attached corn cob 2.7 2.8 powder
Acetate filter + Corn cob powder 2.7 2.8 Acetate filter + Active
carbon 2.7 2.8
[0061] As shown in Table 2, regarding the cigarette filter using
DNA-attached corn cob powder, the results of flavor characteristic
of cigarette and suction feeling were the almost same as the case
of acetate filter alone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0062] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the detected amount of
benzpyrene in mainstream smoke in different cigarette filters for
test.
* * * * *