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A preliminary study on 3D printing feedstock derived from cellulose recovered from cigarette butts
Summary
Not relevant to microplastics — this study describes a process for recovering cellulose acetate from waste cigarette butts and converting it into feedstock for 3D printing, focusing on material recovery rather than microplastic pollution.
Abstract In this work, we describe the recovery of cellulose acetate (r-CA) polymer from waste cigarette butts (CBs) and their subsequent conversion into feedstock for 3D printing technology. The extraction process for CBs includes two stages: initial washes in water, followed by additional washes in ethanol. A final step involves a dissolution and reprecipitation process, resulting in the creation of a fine powder. The recovery polymer has been analysed and compared to commercial cellulose acetate (p-CA) and unsmoked cigarette filter (u-CA) to assess its purity and examine alterations in its physicochemical properties. The CA powder has also been plasticized with different biocompatible plasticizers to improve the mechanical properties of the CA. We analyze the rheological properties to identify the suitable composition as feedstock for 3D printing.
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