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<p>Cellulose acetate (CA) is a widely used polymer with applications ranging from textiles to packaging and filtration. However, the substantial waste generated from its use, particularly from discarded cigarette filters, presents a significant environmental challenge. This study investigates the structural and physicochemical properties of CA films fabricated from post-consumer cigarette filters, examining the effects of smoking and leaching treatments. We employed a multi-modal approach combining various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to identify characteristic functional groups and determine the degree of substitution of the cellulose acetate. To comprehensively characterize defects and surface morphology at multiple scales, we utilized optical, scanning electron (SEM), and atomic force (AFM) microscopies. A central component of this research was the application of terahertz (THz) spectroscopy and terahertz imaging as a non-destructive characterization tool. Our THz spectroscopic analysis revealed that both the complex refractive index and the absorption coefficient of the films are significantly influenced by smoking and leaching processes. Furthermore, THz imaging provided detailed insight into the internal structure of the films, confirming morphological features and defects, such as entrapped particles and thickness variations. This work demonstrates the efficacy of THz-time domain spectroscopy and THz microscopy for detecting subtle&#xa0;molecular and structural&#xa0; changes in CA resulting from smoking and leaching. Our findings not only provide a foundation for new methods of cigarette filter upcycling but also establish a methodology for the advanced characterization of polymer materials using terahertz techniques.</p>

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Spectro-microscopic investigations of cellulose acetate

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月18日

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  • George Youssef,
  • Eric Wilkinson,
  • Wilson Rativa-Parada,
  • Anushka Sarode,
  • Sung-Yong Park,
  • Eunha Hoh

摘要

Cellulose acetate (CA) is a widely used polymer with applications ranging from textiles to packaging and filtration. However, the substantial waste generated from its use, particularly from discarded cigarette filters, presents a significant environmental challenge. This study investigates the structural and physicochemical properties of CA films fabricated from post-consumer cigarette filters, examining the effects of smoking and leaching treatments. We employed a multi-modal approach combining various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to identify characteristic functional groups and determine the degree of substitution of the cellulose acetate. To comprehensively characterize defects and surface morphology at multiple scales, we utilized optical, scanning electron (SEM), and atomic force (AFM) microscopies. A central component of this research was the application of terahertz (THz) spectroscopy and terahertz imaging as a non-destructive characterization tool. Our THz spectroscopic analysis revealed that both the complex refractive index and the absorption coefficient of the films are significantly influenced by smoking and leaching processes. Furthermore, THz imaging provided detailed insight into the internal structure of the films, confirming morphological features and defects, such as entrapped particles and thickness variations. This work demonstrates the efficacy of THz-time domain spectroscopy and THz microscopy for detecting subtle molecular and structural  changes in CA resulting from smoking and leaching. Our findings not only provide a foundation for new methods of cigarette filter upcycling but also establish a methodology for the advanced characterization of polymer materials using terahertz techniques.