Abstract: In order to simplify the screening procedures of cigarette filter adsorbent,an imitation device for testing the performance of filter adsorbents to reduce the tar and harmful components in cigarette smoke was developed.Its impact on smoking behavior of a cigarette smoking machine(CSM) to which the device was linked was tested,and the reduction of tar and volatile carbonyl compounds(VCCs) in cigarette smoke by activated carbon was determined.The results showed that:1) The CSM's puff profile maximum flow rate and time reaching the maximum flow rate were basically unaffected;2) The measurements of tar,nicotine,CO and moisture contents in cigarette smoke were not obviously changed;3) Comparing with dual filter method,the reduction rates of tar and VCCs by activated carbon determined with the device were higher by 0.6 and 1.6 percentage points,respectively.It is concluded that the device fairly well simulates the behavior of an adsorbent incorporated in a cigarette filter and can be used in rapid adsorbent screening.