| abstract |
An apparatus and associated method for forming a filter rod member of a smoking article, such as a cigarette, is provided. The apparatus comprises a rod-forming unit configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An insertion unit is configured to insert an adsorbent material carried by a carrier material into the rod member. The method comprises forming a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member, and inserting an adsorbent material carried by a carrier material into the rod member such that the adsorbent material is disposed within the rod member. Also provided are cigarette filters including at least one filter segment (32) having one or more composite fiber structures (60) or degradable fibers imbedded therein, the composite fiber structure including a carrier fiber and an adsorbent fiber, the adsorbent fiber including an adsorbent material. |