Enhancing antibacterial activity and air filtration performance in electrospun hybrid air filters of chitosan (CS)/AgNPs/PVA/cellulose acetate: Effect of CS/AgNPs ratio

Abstract

The increase in particulate matter (PM), especially PM2.5, has become a global threat to human health. To get rid of this severe pollutant, air filtration is forecasted as a promising, cost-effective, and effective method. This study utilized dual-spinneret electrospinning to fabricate the electrospun hybrid nanofibrous membranes (EHMs) of chitosan (CS)/silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/cellulose acetate (CA). The effect of CS/AgNPs ratios was also investigated to obtain high-efficient air filtration membranes with outstanding antibacterial activity. Results disclosed that EHMs containing high AgNPs content improved the filtration performance and antibacterial properties while decreasing the wettability and tensile strength of EHM membranes. In addition, the EHM1 was found to be the most effective air filter membrane due to its high filtration efficiency of 99.78 % (PM2.5), low-pressure drop of 61.15 Pa, high-quality factor of 0.09 Pa−1, and enhanced inhibition zone of 100–141 %. Thus, this study suggests that the EHMs of CS/AgNPs/PVA/CA with a high AgNPs/CS ratio fabricated via a dual-electrospinning technique are expected to be a promising material choice for an air filter with efficient filtration performance and excellent antibacterial activity, resulting in a more sustainable and healthier future.