US 11,832,644 B2
Processes for producing filter elements suitable for use in smoking articles
Paolo Saettone, San Giorgio di Piano (IT); Ilaria Monaco, San Giorgio di Piano (IT); Thomas M. Holsen, Potsdam, NY (US); Mohammad Arifur Rahman, Potsdam, NY (US); Philip K. Hopke, Potsdam, NY (US); and Mauro Comes Franchini, San Giorgio di Piano (IT)
Assigned to BIO-ON S.p.A., San Giorgio di Piano (IT)
Filed by BIO-ON S.p.A., San Giorgio di Piano (IT)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/853,444.
Application 17/853,444 is a division of application No. 16/428,507, filed on May 31, 2019, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2022/0322737 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. A24D 3/14 (2006.01); A24D 3/02 (2006.01); A24D 3/06 (2006.01); A24D 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC A24D 3/14 (2013.01) [A24D 3/0229 (2013.01); A24D 3/0254 (2013.01); A24D 3/063 (2013.01); A24D 3/068 (2013.01); A24D 3/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for producing a filter element suitable for use in smoking articles, the process comprising:
embedding a bundle of cellulose acetate fibers with an aqueous suspension of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) to obtain a wet bundle of the cellulose acetate fibers covered by the aqueous suspension of the polyhydroxyalkanoate;
shaping the wet bundle in a form of a continuous elongated element;
heating the continuous elongated element to temperature greater than or equal to 140° C. and less than or equal to 180° C. for time sufficient to melt the polyhydroxyalkanoate and to evaporate water from the continuous elongated element;
cooling the heated continuous elongated element to obtain crystallization of the polyhydroxyalkanoate; and
cutting the continuous elongated element into segments of predetermined length.