A Clean Process for Obtaining High-Quality Cellulose Acetate from Cigarette Butts.

Anna De Fenzo,Michele Giordano,Lucia Sansone

doi:10.3390/ma13214710

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to introduce a modified method for recovering and recycling huge number of cigarette butts (CBs) and convert them into a fashion product. CBs are non-biodegradable waste, generally, discarded improperly into the environment. CBs consist of cellulose acetate, which can be recovered through extraction and purification processes. CBs are the most numerically frequent form of waste in the world. A relevant portion of CBS are discarded improperly into the environment. The principal filter components are plasticized cellulose acetate fibers that have the slowest degradation rate (up to years). In fact, a limiting step is the hydrolysis of cellulose acetate polymer into cellulose and acetic acid, which is extremely slow under ambient conditions and represents a relevant environmental risk. A number of studies have been realized on recycling cigarette butts with encouraging results, and several methods have been studied, including recycling of cigarette butts in asphalt concrete and fired clay bricks, as a carbon source, sound-absorbing material, corrosion inhibitor, biofilm carrier, and many more. In this study, we propose a novel, green, low cost, simple, and efficient extraction method of cellulose acetate fibers (CA) from discarded cigarette butts (DCBs). CBs extraction procedure involves a two-step process consisting of washings in water and some subsequent washings in ethanol. The obtained samples of CA are dried at 60 °C for 60 min in the oven. The quality and properties of cellulose acetate extracted and purified are comparable to the pure cellulose acetate fiber used for cigarette butts. The preliminary results obtained on the recovered CA look promising to the use of this recovery material from cigarette butts to obtain a wide consumption fashion product, such as eyeglass frames.

Highlights

The preliminary results obtained on the recovered cellulose acetate fibers (CA) look promising to the use of this recovery material from cigarette butts to obtain a wide consumption fashion product, such as eyeglass frames
Cigarette butts are recognized as toxic residue, thanks to containing chemical contaminants and residues produced during combustion reaction; they are frequently improperly disposed, thrown on the ground or on beaches
Our CA extraction method is based on the washing off the discarded cigarette butts (DCBs) in hot water (50 ◦ C) for 60 min, after external paper removal, CBs have been washed in cold water three times, so to extend CA fiber

Summary

Introduction

Cigarette butts are recognized as toxic residue, thanks to containing chemical contaminants and residues produced during combustion reaction; they are frequently improperly disposed, thrown on the ground or on beaches. This way, contaminants of cigarette butts are going to be carried by rain into surface water, in agriculture land and thereby pollute the environment and ecosystems. Cigarettes have a length of 85 or 100 mm, and a diameter of about 8 mm, they are made of a filter, tobacco, additives, and cigarette wrapper. The filter captures and retains toxic substances; they prevent tobacco from entering a smoker’s mouth and supply a mouthpiece that may not collapse because the cigarette is smoked.

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