ISSN: 0256-1115 (print version) ISSN: 1975-7220 (electronic version)
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Language
English
Conflict of Interest
In relation to this article, we declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Publication history
Received July 20, 2025
Revised October 13, 2025
Accepted November 4, 2025
Available online February 25, 2026
articles 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.
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Most Cited

A Comprehensive Review on Nanofiber Revolution: Transforming Waste Cigarette Butts into Filter Solutions

College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology 1Shandong Haihua Group Co. 2The Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilization 3Shandong Xinhecheng Amino Acid Co.
wangqun87@sdust.eu.cn, wangjian@isdmu.com.cn, liujl44@Haihua.com.cn
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, February 2026, 43(3), 537-576(40)
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.

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