Overall
- Language
- English
- Conflict of Interest
- In relation to this article, we declare that there is no conflict of interest.
- Publication history
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Received July 20, 2025
Revised October 13, 2025
Accepted November 4, 2025
Available online February 25, 2026
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This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/3.0) which permits
unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Most Cited
A Comprehensive Review on Nanofiber Revolution: Transforming Waste Cigarette Butts into Filter Solutions
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-025-00600-3
Abstract
Cigarette butts (CBs) have emerged as a significant environmental concern due to their widespread pollution, their removal,
however, is a challenging task that requires substantial time and manpower, as they are often scattered across various locations,
including landsides and seashores. Globally, trillions of cigarette butts are generated annually through smoking. The
majority of these butts are disposed of via burning or land-filling, which places a heavy toll on both the environment and
human health. In light of these issues, this review aims to comprehensively examine the toxicity of waste cigarette butts
and explore eco-innovative solutions to tackle the CBs litter problem. Toxicity studies have revealed that the chemicals
present in smoked CBs not only pose a severe threat to the environment but also carry the risk of physical contamination
through the micro- and nanoparticles formed during material combustion. Moreover, a series of technological approaches
have been proposed to uncover the hidden value in used CBs. These include propositions to incorporate this residue into
high-volume production items or even directly recycle them. The utilization of recycled cigarette butts offers a two-fold
benefit: it alleviates environmental and social concerns by reducing waste and provides a long-lasting solution. This review
also emphasizes the necessity for continuous research and development in this area. Specifically, efforts should be made to
enhance the performance and scalability of CB-derived nanofiber membranes for more in-depth applications in filtration
systems. By synthesizing existing literature and suggesting future research directions, this review aspires to contribute to
the advancement of sustainable and efficient filtration technologies.

