Abstract: To investigate the retention behaviors of filters in electrically heated tobacco products(EHTPs) to the key aerosol components(nicotine, glycerin and 1, 2-propanediol)of EHTPs, the amount of the components retained by different filters and different filter segments(i.e., cavity cellulose acetate section, polylactic acid section and cellulose acetate section)were measured. The retention rates were studied through a linear model and an exponential model to characterize the combined filters of EHTPs. The results showed that:1)Both the linear model and the exponential model could predict the retention rates of the key components in aerosols by the filters of EHTPs. 2)The retention rate by the cavity cellulose acetate section was the lowest, that of the polylactic acid section was moderate and that of the cellulose acetate section was the highest. The relationship between these three sections approximately met 1:2:3. 3)The retention rates of glycerol and 1, 2-propylene by the cavity cellulose acetate section were higher than that of nicotine, and the retention ability of polylactic acid section to glycerol was relatively higher. 4)The retention abilities of cellulose acetate section to the three key components were basically the same. This study provides a mechanistic basis for the structural design and quantitative optimization of filters for EHTPs.