Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.

Tayca Corporation

Akira Miyazawa

Masanori Itoh

Makoto Shiga

Teruo Aoe

Mitsuyosi Miyutani

Osamu Ikemoto

A composition comprises a cellulose acetate or other cellulose ester, and an anatase-type titanium oxide having (1) a specific surface area of not less than 30 m.sup.2 /g, (2) a primary particle size of 0.001 to 0.07 .mu.m, or (3) a specific surface area of not less than 30 m.sup.2 /g and a primary particle size of 0.001 to 0.07 .mu.m. For improving the photodegradability and the dispersibility, the surface of the titanium oxide may be treated with a phosphoric acid salt or other phosphorus compound, a polyhydric alcohol, an amino acid or others. Use of a low-substituted cellulose ester with an average substitution degree not exceeding 2.15 insures high biodegradability. The composition may further contain a plasticizer and/or an aliphatic polyester, a biodegradation accelerator (e.g. organic acids or esters thereof). The degradable cellulose ester composition is highly photodegradable and moldable and hence useful for the manufacture of various articles.

Cellulose ester compositions and shaped articles

A tobacco smoke filter for use suitable in cigarettes comprising cellulose acetate filaments which have a C-shaped cross section. Such filter shows a good filtration performance with less impairment of the tobacco taste or flavor.

Tobacco smoke filter

Growing community of inventors

Ashiya, Japan

Akira Miyazawa