Abstract
Nanofibers have potential applications as filters for particles with diameters <10 μm owing to their large specific surface area, macropores, and controllable geometry or diameter. The filtration efficiency can be increased by creating nanonets (<50 nm) whose diameter is smaller than that of nanofibers. This study investigates the effect of process conditions on the generation of nanonet structures from a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution containing cation surfactants; in addition, the filtration performance is analyzed. The applied electrospinning voltage and the electrostatic treatment of meltblown polypropylene (used as a substrate) are the most influential process parameters of nanonet formation. Electrospun polyacrylonitrile–cetylmethylammonium bromide (PAN–CTAB) showed a nanofiber/nanonet structure and improved thermal and mechanical properties compared with those of the electrospun PAN. The pore size distribution and filter efficiency of the PAN nanofiber web and PAN–CTAB nanofiber/nanonet web with meltblown were measured. The resulting PAN–CTAB nanofiber/nanonet air filter showed a high filtration efficiency of 99% and a low pressure drop of 7.7 mmH2O at an air flow rate of 80 L/min. The process control methods for the nanonet structures studied herein provide a new approach for developing functional materials for air-filtration applications.
Highlights
Air pollution threatens human health and the environment worldwide [1]
We investigated the formation conditions of nanonet structures in PAN nanofibers to obtain optimal filter media
As the filter efficiency inwith the PAN nanofiber web, and to 0.489 up to 3.7 mmH2 O for the media creased, the pressure drop increased to 0.489 up to 3.2 mmH2O for the laminated with the PAN–Cetylmethylammonium bromide (CTAB) nanofiber/nanonet web
Summary
Air pollution threatens human health and the environment worldwide [1]. The manufacturing, transportation, and construction industries are some of the major contributors of air pollution as they release toxic waste and fine particles into the atmosphere [2,3]. Shichao et al [28] produced a PMIA nanofiber/net air filter with a filtration efficiency of 99.9% at a pressure drop of 92 Pa via electrospinning by mixing a surfactant with poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide). Hsiao et al [30] added a surfactant to poly(vinylidene fluoride) to fabricate a nanofiber/nanonet and revealed that the filtration efficiency of the nonwoven fabric was 99.985% at 32 L/min and the pressure drop was 66.7 Pa. the effect of applied voltage on the formation of nanonets was studied. Several studies were conducted on air filters with nonwoven fabrics made of nanofibers/nanonets, and they achieved high efficiencies and low pressure drops. After fabricating a face mask using the PAN-CTAB nanofiber/nanonet web, the filtration efficiency and pressure drop were characterized under an increasing flow rate.
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