Electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber membranes for air filtration application

Abstract

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanoiber membranes of varied thicknesses (20-100 µm) were electrospun at a polymer concentration of 14% (w/v) in N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF); characterized for porosity, pressure drop, air permeability and particle iltration eiciency (PFE). Densities of membranes are found very less (0.11 to 0.21 g/cm 3 ), with porosities in the range of 80-92%, higher porosity was for higher thickness. Membranes were used to measure air pressure drop, which was higher for thicker membranes due to the torturous path encountered by air. Air permeability of membranes decreased with increasing thickness for the same reason. The PFE was higher for thin samples due to less porosity and was lower for thicker samples due to higher porosities and cushion efect. The 20-µm-thick membranes achieved highest PFE of > 99.7% for clearing 0.3 µm particles. Above experiments suggested that PAN nanoiber membranes prepared in this study could be used for face mask in addition to non-woven fabrics.

Electrospun poly (ε-caprolactone)/beeswax based super-hydrophobic anti-adhesive nanofibers as physical barriers for impeding fibroblasts invasion

“…Gravimetric method was used to measure the porosity of all the electropsun membranes. 39 Under ambient conditions, 3–4 circular samples (d = 2 cm) were cut from each membrane and were weighed. The following relations were used to determine density and porosity of NFMs 35 -where, Wd is the dry weight and t is the thickness of NFMs.where, ρp=1.145 g/cm 3 40 is the density of polymer (PCL).…”

Electrospun nanofiber-based respiratory face masks—a review

“…Later in the 1990s, research interest gained momentum [18,19] and subsequently electrospinning seen faster industrial adoption of electrospinning during last decade with rapid progress in technology [20]. The fibers by electrospinning process are obtained in variety of forms, for example, as yarn [21], membranes [22,23], and even as 3-D scaffolds [24].…”

Sustainable Applications of Nanofibers in Agriculture and Water Treatment: A Review

“…The groups of polysaccharides are suitable materials for these environmental issues because of their biobased origins, variety of types, eco-friendly, and renewable nature [78]. In general, the nanofibers have been applied for many environmental problems such as removing pollutants from the air by filtration [79], water treatment [80], antimicrobial treatment [81], environmental sensing [82], for heavy metal removing as adsorbents [83,84], and agricultural/environmental remediation [78,85]. The environmental sustainability of water using cellulose nanofibers-based green nanocomposites is considered one of the most important environmental issues [86].…”