Herbal Solution as the Raw Material for the Production of Cigarette Filters that Absorb Carcinogens
INTRODUCTION
Cigarette smoke is composed of two phases: gas and particulate, and consists of a total of 4,000 substances. Nicotine is not a carcinogen and is considered to have a neutral nature.
In current cigarette filter technologies, non-selective physical mechanisms are used to reduce the concentration of nicotine and harmful, carcinogenic substances. However, these methods do not differentiate between the substances, leading to a reduction in nicotine along with other harmful components. Since smokers are accustomed to a certain level of nicotine with each cigarette, reducing the nicotine content leads to an inadequate supply. Consequently, smokers tend to smoke more cigarettes, resulting in increased consumption of carcinogenic substances.
INNOVATION & INVENTION
In this invention, by spraying the formulation on the cellulose acetate strands, these harmful and carcinogenic substances selectively react and get trapped in the filter; however, due to the neutral chemical nature of nicotine, it does not affect the nicotine concentration.
Hence, this concept involves creating a technological raw material for producing cigarette filters. This raw material aims to effectively reduce the side effects of cigarette smoke, aligning with the Department of Science-based goals and producing health-oriented products in the industry.
MECHANISM
Radical scavenging, super antioxidant in low humidity.
CERTIFICATIONS & AWARDS
- Patent certificate from the Industrial Properties Office in Iran;
- Produced by the Iranian Tobacco Company with expert consultation for specialized tests in 2013;
- Confirming the claims of the invention and the possibility of industrial production through economic justification based on the results of the R&D laboratory of the Iranian Tobacco Company;
- Earning a gold medal at the 20th International Exhibition of Innovations, Inventions, and Technology (ITEX 2009) in the health sector under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Malaysia.
ADVANTAGES
- Significant reduction in death and disease caused by smoking;
- Reduction in the high costs of health care;
- Improving the health of smokers;
- Relative decline in cigarette consumption (due to selective mechanism and not affecting the nicotine concentration);
- Very high income and economic feasibility (based on the importance of public health, production of cigarettes and comply with internal policies of health institutions such as the Ministry of Health and international health institutions such as the World Health Organization);
- Standardizing the gas phase of cigarette smoke for the first time in the world.
PROPERTIES
- Absence of any similar sample (with chemical and selective mechanism);
- Use of natural and safe active ingredients in the formulation;
- Low-cost and affordable formulas and filters;
- High stability of the formulation against temperature;
- Non-volatility and high adhesion to cellulose acetate fibers (non-exit of the active ingredients combined with harmful substances from the filter);
- No effect on the smell and taste of cigarettes;
- No effect on the strength of the cigarette suction;
- Simple production process (without changing the filter maker device);
- Absorbing a wide range of harmful substances in the gas phase of cigarette smoke.
