We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Preparation of a cellulose acetate membrane using cigarette butt recycling and investigation of its efficiency in removing heavy metals from aqueous solution
ClearRecovery of cellulose acetate bioplastic from cigarette butts: realization of a sustainable sorbent for water remediation
Researchers developed a method to recycle cellulose acetate plastic from discarded cigarette filters — one of the world's most common litter items — and repurpose it into a sponge-like material that removes pollutants from water with over 79% efficiency, turning a major source of microplastic pollution into a useful cleanup tool.
Cigarette filter fibres as a source and sink of trace metals in coastal waters
Spent cigarette filter material, made from cellulose acetate, leaches metals like cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc into river and coastal waters — and also absorbs trace metals from the water column. This dual role as both a source and sink of metal contamination makes cigarette filter microplastic fibers a potentially significant but overlooked contributor to heavy metal cycling in aquatic environments.
Cellulosic Materials from Cigarette Butts for Additive Manufacturing
Researchers recovered cellulose acetate from waste cigarette butts through water and ethanol washes followed by dissolution and reprecipitation, characterised the recovered polymer against commercial and unsmoked filter cellulose acetate, and converted it into feedstock for 3D printing.
The Content of Heavy Metals in Cigarettes and the Impact of Their Leachates on the Aquatic Ecosystem
Researchers analyzed heavy metal content in cigarettes and their leachates, finding that discarded cigarette butts release significant concentrations of metals including cadmium, lead, and chromium into aquatic ecosystems, posing hazards to water quality and living organisms.
Tiny but Deadly: a Threat to Environment
This study quantified toxic metals leaching from discarded cigarette butts — the most common form of plastic litter — finding that both the filter and the whole butt release metals into water. Cigarette filters are made from cellulose acetate plastic and represent a poorly recognized source of chemical pollution in the environment.
The role of cigarette butts as vectors of metals in the marine environment: Could it cause bioaccumulation in oysters?
Researchers leached metals from cigarette butts under simulated marine conditions and then exposed Pacific oysters to the leachate, finding that cigarette butt-leached metals bioaccumulated in oyster tissue, suggesting that cigarette litter in coastal environments represents a pathway for metal contamination of seafood.
Cigarette filters as a major source of microfibers in aquatic environments.
This study found that discarded cigarette butts persistently release cellulose acetate microfibers into aquatic environments, identifying cigarette filters as a major and underappreciated source of microfiber pollution. The research quantified microfiber release rates under simulated environmental conditions.
A review on cigarette butts: Environmental abundance, characterization, and toxic pollutants released into water from cigarette butts
This review examines the environmental impact of discarded cigarette butts, which number in the trillions worldwide each year and are among the most common litter items. Researchers found that cigarette filters release harmful substances including heavy metals, nicotine, and cellulose acetate microplastic fibers when they enter water. The study highlights that cigarette butt pollution represents a significant but often overlooked source of both chemical contamination and microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Upcycling of the Used Cigarette Butt Filters through Pyrolysis Process: Detailed Kinetic Mechanism with Bio-Char Characterization
Researchers pyrolyzed used cigarette butt cellulose acetate filters and characterized the thermochemical decomposition kinetics in detail, successfully valorizing this waste stream into carbon precursor materials through pre-carbonization and carbonization stages.
A preliminary study on 3D printing feedstock derived from cellulose recovered from cigarette butts
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.
Cigarette butt-derived nanocomposites: A win-win approach for microplastic removal and ecological mitigation
Researchers converted discarded cigarette butts into materials capable of removing microplastics from water, turning one form of pollution into a solution for another. The magnetic version of the cigarette-butt-derived material achieved approximately 88% removal of polystyrene microplastics from water. The study demonstrates a creative upcycling approach that simultaneously addresses two of the most common pollutants found in aquatic environments.
Reusable and thermostable multiwalled carbon nanotubes membrane for efficient removal of benz[α]anthracene from cigarette smoke
Researchers developed a reusable multiwalled carbon nanotube membrane filter that removes approximately 90% of benz[a]anthracene — a carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon — from cigarette smoke, with adsorbed compounds removable by simple heat treatment for repeated use.
Transforming Cigarette Wastes into Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalyst: Does Each Component Behave Differently? An Experimental Evaluation
This paper is not about microplastics. It describes a method for converting discarded cigarette butts into electrocatalyst materials for fuel cell applications. While cigarette butt litter is an environmental concern, this study is focused on materials chemistry and energy technology rather than microplastic pollution or health effects.
Degradation Characteristics of Cellulose Acetate in Different Aqueous Conditions
Researchers studied the degradation behavior of cellulose acetate (used in cigarette filters and packaging) under different aqueous conditions, providing fundamental information needed to address its environmental persistence.
Modelling the global economic costs of tobacco product waste
Researchers modeled the global economic costs of improper tobacco product waste disposal, focusing on the cellulose acetate filters in cigarette butts, which are the world's most collected litter item. The modeling estimated substantial municipal cleanup costs and environmental damage costs attributable to cigarette butt waste globally, providing economic arguments for filter bans.
Research on the presence of cigarette butts and their leaching of chemical pollutants and microparticles: the case of Dalian, China
This study quantified toxic substances (heavy metals, PAHs, and microplastics) leached from littered cigarette butts from major Chinese brands, providing data on the pollution contribution of cigarette butt litter in urban Chinese environments.
The Performance of Cellulose Composite Membranes and Their Application in Drinking Water Treatment
This study examined the performance of cellulose composite membranes for drinking water treatment, evaluating their ability to remove contaminants including heavy metals, organic pollutants, and microorganisms. Results showed that cellulose composite membranes provided effective multi-pollutant removal, supporting their application in water purification systems.
Koja je cijena pušenja? – Opasnosti za okoliš
This Croatian paper reviews the environmental hazards of cigarette butt litter, noting that approximately 80% of cigarette butts are discarded into the environment. Cigarette filters are made from cellulose acetate, a polymer that degrades slowly and leaches toxic chemicals into soil and water. The authors discuss biodegradable filter alternatives as a strategy to reduce plastic pollution from tobacco products.
Review on Recycling of Microplastics in Cigarette Butts
This review examined the problem of cigarette butt waste, noting that cellulose acetate filters take approximately 10 years to degrade and represent a globally pervasive source of microplastic pollution. The authors surveyed recycling approaches for cigarette butts including fiber recovery and use in construction materials.
A Review of Environmental Pollution from the Use and Disposal of Cigarettes and Electronic Cigarettes: Contaminants, Sources, and Impacts
Researchers reviewed the environmental pollution caused by the use and disposal of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, including their role as a source of microplastic contamination. Cigarette butts made of cellulose acetate are minimally degradable and represent a major source of both bulk plastic and microplastic pollution, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. The study documents that cigarette butt leachate and nicotine are toxic to a wide range of organisms from microbes to mammals.
Recovery of Cellulose Acetate from Spent Cigarette Filters by Green Solvents for Production of Polymer Films
Researchers developed a sustainable method for recovering cellulose acetate from spent cigarette filters — a persistent microplastic and chemical pollution source — using green solvents including deionised water, sodium chloride solutions, and ethanol under varying temperature and concentration conditions. They found that 75% ethanol was most effective for recovery, and characterised the purified material by FT-IR, TGA-DSC, NMR, and FESEM for use in producing new polymer films.
Cigarette butts as a source of urban ecosystem pollution
Cigarette butts—the world's most littered item at ~4.5 trillion discarded annually—introduce over 4,000 chemicals into ecosystems and are a major source of microplastic fibers from cellulose acetate filters, with this review analyzing the toxicity of cigarette butt filtrate to aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
A review of occurrence and concentrations of cellulose acetate and other artificial cellulose microfibers in aquatic environmental matrices: an indicator of cigarette butts’ contamination?
This review examines the occurrence of cellulose acetate microfibers in aquatic environments, primarily originating from discarded cigarette butts, which are among the most littered items worldwide. The authors found that cellulose acetate is one of the most frequently detected microfiber types in water, sediment, and marine organisms, with higher accumulations in sediment and bottom-dwelling animals. The study suggests that cellulose acetate levels could serve as an indicator of cigarette butt contamination in the environment.
Cigarette butts as a microfiber source with a microplastic level of concern
Researchers investigated whether cigarette butts are a significant source of microfiber pollution by analyzing smoked and unsmoked filters. They found that cigarette filters release large quantities of cellulose acetate microfibers, with smoked filters releasing even more than unsmoked ones due to degradation during use. The study identifies discarded cigarette butts as an overlooked but substantial contributor to microplastic pollution in the environment.