Green electrospun nanofiber membranes filter prepared from novel biomass thermoplastic copolyester: Morphologies and filtration properties

Abstract

Abstract High-performance and eco-friendly nonwoven-nanofiber filters comprising renewably sourced bio-based polyesters were fabricated by electrospinning (ES). Typical commercial nonwoven filters are thick, with uneven fiber distributions and low recovery. Bio-based polymers made of raw plant materials have soft textures. Over 75% of the polyester used herein was sourced renewable. We observed variations in its morphology under different operating conditions in scanning electron microscope images by tuning the operating parameters of ES and using different DMF/CHCl3 solvent ratios. We produced various types of ES nanofibers with uniform fiber diameters ranging from 400 to 2000 nm, which increased filter efficiency and helped overcome existing shortcomings in filter applications. A scanning mobility particle sizer and NaCl aerosol particles of sizes 30–300 nm were used to test the prepared nanofiber filters. Owing to their high specific surface areas/volume ratios and small-fiber diameters, the nanofiber filters with fiber diameters smaller than 500 nm forcefully resisted the majority of suspended particles. The averaged penetration ability of ES fiber was decreased from 30% to 4%, with increasing heating temperature and annealing time. Thicker ES fibers with beaded morphologies exhibited average penetration