Filter Media Research Articles

Bicomponent core/sheath melt-blown fibers for air filtration with ultra-low resistance.

With the escalating air pollution and frequent outbreaks of airborne diseases, there is a growing demand for personal protective filtration media. Melt-blown nonwovens have proven to be highly effective in capturing tiny particles, but their tightly packed fiber assemblages are more resistant to airflow and less comfortable to breathe. Here, we present a one-step melt-blown spinning process for the production of bicomponent core/sheath (BCS) crimped fibers and their application in high-efficiency, low-resistance air filtration. Fiber curl is caused by unbalanced internal stresses resulting from differences in the structure components, resulting in uneven shrinkage inside and outside the fibers. The resulting CM@S-2 filtration media features a uniform fiber curl and a porous fiber mesh structure, which reduces air filtration resistance. Under the same filtration conditions, the filtration efficiency of CM@S-2 (96.58% vs. 95.58%), filtration resistance (56.1 Pa vs. 108.0 Pa), quality factor (0.061 Pa-1vs. 0.029 Pa-1), and dust holding capacity (10.60 g m-2vs. 9.10 g m-2) were comparable to those of the single-component polypropylene filters. The filtration efficiency of the CM@S-2 remained above 94.0% after 30 days of indoor storage. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation demonstrated that crimped fibers effectively reduce pressure surges on the filter media caused by fiber accumulation. In comparative tests with commercial masks, the CM@S-2 cartridge masks demonstrated superior air permeability compared to commercial masks under similar filtration conditions. In conclusion, the bicomponent core/sheath melt-blown fibers significantly reduce air resistance and show excellent potential for application in protective masks.

Ocena pokazatelja kvaliteta semena hibrida paprike tokom klijanja

The aim of the research was to evaluate the influence of the hybrid and the medium for germination testing on indicators of pepper seed quality. The obtained results should provide an answer as to whether the application of different growing media for testing seed germination can lead to discrepancies between test results in quality indicators for hybrid seeds. The seed quality of three pepper hybrids: KG 2025 F1, KG 2129 F1 and KG 2032 F1 was tested on two growing media (filter paper and substrate). Statistical analysis of germination energy, total germination, diseased seedlings and dead seeds showed highly significant differences (r<0.01) under the influence of the hybrid factor. The growing media factor also had a highly significant effect on all examined quality indicators , except for total germination. A significantly lower number of abnormal and diseased seedlings was found on the filter paper compared to the substrate. A highly negative significant correlation (r =-0.90951, p≤0.001) was recorded only between total germination and diseased seedlings. The obtained results indicate that the application of different media for testing the germination of hybrid pepper seeds can lead to inconsistencies in the obtained values for all evaluated quality indicators.

Determination of absorption properties of natural sorbents under dynamic conditions

The relevance of research on the absorption properties of sorbents is due to the need for an individual approach in the selection of filter media for wastewater treatment, depending on their chemical composition. In the presented article sorption properties of sorbents were studied under dynamic conditions. For this purpose, a laboratory-experimental installation for the treatment of natural and waste water was mounted. In the research three types of filtering loads were used: 1 - homogeneous load from activated carbon of BAU-A mark; 2 - combined load from activated carbon and zeolite with particle size of 5 mm; 3 - zeolite with fraction of 5 mm, 3 mm, and 1 mm. Among the studied samples of sorbents, zeolite loading with particle sizes of 5 mm, 3 mm, and 1 mm showed the best performance. Other types of loadings, such as activated carbon BAU-A and combined carbon loadings with zeolite were ineffective, because the sorption coefficient did not meet the MAC requirements.

Removal of turbidity from lake water using novel Chrysopogon zizanioides and Hemidesmus indicus

The primary objective of the research is to investigate the efficacy of the natural filtration process utilising the novel species Chrysopogon zizanioides and Hemidesmus indicus for turbidity reduction. The novel Chrysopogon zizanioides and Hemidesmus indicus serve as filter media for the purpose of eliminating turbidity in lake water. The features of the natural fibres were determined using SEM analysis, EDS analysis, and FTIR analysis. There are two groups being considered: group 1 consists of the unique Chrysopogon zizanioides, and group 2 consists of Hemidesmus indicus. There are 18 samples in each category. The sample size is N = 36. The pretest power is determined using a significance level of 0.05 and a confidence level of 95%, resulting in a power of 80%. The turbidity level of the lake water is 25.5 NTU. Upon completion of the process, the new Chrysopogon zizanioides demonstrates a turbidity removal percentage of 77.24%, while Hemidesmus indicus achieves a turbidity removal percentage of 80.23%. The statistical analysis conducted using SPSS yielded a significance level of 0.224 (P < 0.5). The average NTU values of groups 1 and 2 are 6.50 and 5.65 correspondingly. The standard deviation for the two cases is 4.36939 and 4.02502, respectively. Hemidesmus indicus is more effective at removing turbidity than Chrysopogon zizanioides.

Effects of PTFE-coated membrane on polyester needle-punched filter media for the control of industrial air pollution

Effects of PTFE-coated membrane on polyester needle-punched filter media for the control of industrial air pollution

Heavy metal leaching from stormwater control measures – insights into field and lab prestressed media and road-deposited sediments

Heavy metals bound to filter media from stormwater control measures can leach out under unfavorable conditions. The potential overestimation due to different prestressing (lab vs. field) was evaluated with respect to the potential mobile fraction.

Effects of simulated acid rain on hydrochemical factors and microbial community structure in red soil aquifers.

Acid rain can lower the pH of groundwater and affect its hydrogeochemistry and microbial ecology. However, the effects of acid rain on the hydrogeochemistry and microbial ecology of red soil groundwater systems in southern China are poorly understood. Previous research had mainly investigated the sources and patterns of groundwater acidification, but not the microbial mechanisms that contribute to this process and their associations with hydrochemical factors. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a soil column experiment to simulate the infiltration of acid rain through various filter materials (coarse, medium, and fine sand) and to examine the hydrochemical and microbial features of the infiltrate, which can reveal how simulated acid rain (pH 3.5-7.0) alters the hydrochemistry and microbial community composition in red soil aquifers. The results showed that the pH of the leachate decreased due to simulated acid rain, and that the leaching efficiency of nitrogen and metal ions was influenced by the particle size of the filter media. Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the leachate was dominated by Proteobacteria, Patescibacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria, with Proteobacteria accounting for 67.04-74.69% of the bacterial community and containing a high proportion of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. Additionally, several genera with heavy metal tolerance, such as Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Delftia, Methylversatilis, Aquicella, and Ralstonia, were widely distributed in the leachate, indicating the strong adaptive capacity of the microbial population. A correlation analysis between the hydrochemical factors and the microbial community structure revealed that pH was the most influential factor, followed by NO2--N, Fe, Al, Cu, Mn, and others. These results indicate that acidification modifies the hydrochemical conditions of the aquifer, creating an environment that is unfavorable for microbial growth and survival. However, some microorganisms may acquire resistance genes to cope with environmental changes.

Assessment of up-flow and down-flow dual media filters for secondary treated wastewater

Assessment of up-flow and down-flow dual media filters for secondary treated wastewater

The Use of Augmented Reality Social Media Filters and Inter¬est to Pursue Aesthetic Procedures: Is There A Link?

Background and Aims: Social media plays a critical role in the way people perceive beauty standards. Through filtered photos and augmented reality, people are exposed to idealized images of beauty that can influence their desire to pursue cosmetic surgery. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that social media is directly responsible for the increasing number of people seeking cosmetic surgery, but the trend is worth observing. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of augmented reality social media filters on users’ pursuit of aesthetic procedures Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online anonymous questionnaire between February and March 2022, to assess the effect of augmented reality social media filters on users’ pursuit of aesthetic procedures. Inclusion criteria were a variety of populations above 18 years of age, both men and women who were living in Saudi Arabia. While exclusion criteria were people who were not living in Saudi Arabia and were under 18 years of age regardless of their sex. The survey was delivered through Google sheets, and the questionnaire data were exported into an Excel file. We used R Studio (v.4.1.2.) for summarizing, visualizing, and analyzing the data. Results: The majority of the respondents (52%) used social media for an average of two to five hours per day, while 33% spent more than five hours a day. A total of 473 (29%) respondents had previously had at least one cosmetic intervention which mostly included taking a cosmetic injection (OBT-A, filler, etc.) Moreover, 61% of the participants followed one or more social media influencers, of which 165 (10%) followed more than 10 influencers. Similarly, gender, previous cosmetic intervention, number of influencers followed, and wanting an appearance similar to the filters in real life showed a very high statistical difference (p-value &lt; 0.001). This study found that men were more likely than women to choose surgery as a cosmetic intervention, and that people who had undergone previous cosmetic interventions were more likely to choose the same intervention again. Conclusions: The use of social media filters can be a significant factor in pursuing cosmetic procedures, especially among young women. While it may be used as a tool to help estimate the results of procedures, cos¬metic surgeons should be aware of the potential dangers and be sure to prioritize patient safety.

An eco-friendly solution for greywater treatment via date palm fiber filter

Greywater reuse emerges as a promising solution, being a renewable resource with relatively low treatment costs due to its low pollutant content. In Saudi Arabia, ablution water (AW) serves as a significant example of greywater due to its substantial quantities. This study introduces an assessment of a pilot scale sustainable filtration system for treating AW for reuse purposes and its water savings potential in mosques. Various AW samples were collected from 24 mosques distributed across Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, considering geographic location and local activity. The collected samples underwent measurement and comparison of total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, conductivity and turbidity. A filtration process was conducted using date palm fibers (DPFs) as a green filtration media with varying thicknesses to achieve optimal TDS and turbidity removal. The findings exhibited significant decreases in turbidity, up to 90%, while TDS and conductivity lowered by up to 15%. pH levels varied based on the surrounding area's activities, decreasing for domestic and increasing for commercial and industrial regions, meeting the standard pH environmental levels. This study sheds light on the potential of greywater recycling, contributing to efforts in mitigating water scarcity and promoting sustainable water management practices.

Microstructure-dependent particulate filtration using multifunctional metallic nanowire foams.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the urgent need for the development of efficient, durable, reusable and recyclable filtration media for the deep-submicron size range. Here we demonstrate a multifunctional filtration platform using porous metallic nanowire foams that are efficient, robust, antimicrobial, and reusable, with the potential to further guard against multiple hazards. We have investigated the foam microstructures, detailing how the growth parameters influence the overall surface area and characteristic feature size, as well as the effects of the microstructures on the filtration performance. Nanogranules deposited on the nanowires during electrodeposition are found to greatly increase the surface area, up to 20 m2 g-1. Surprisingly, in the high surface area regime, the overall surface area gained from the nanogranules has little correlation with the improvement in capture efficiency. However, nanowire density and diameter play a significant role in the capture efficiency of PM0.3 particles, as do the surface roughness of the nanowire fibers and their characteristic feature sizes. Antimicrobial tests on the Cu foams show a >99.9995% inactivation efficiency after contacting the foams for 30 seconds. These results demonstrate promising directions to achieve a highly efficient multifunctional filtration platform with optimized microstructures.

Assessing the effectiveness of low-cost materials to act as filter media for phosphate sorption

In this research, an assessment was conducted for several materials to examine their efficiency for sorption phosphate and their potential use as filter media. This work focuses on seeking materials that can achieve high, rapid, and robust phosphate retention. To assess the phosphate removal efficiency, batch-mode testing was conducted. The capability of the selected materials for effectively removal the phosphate is largely influenced by their inherent properties. Therefore, this research determines the effectiveness of the material by examining its physical and chemical characteristics. The selection method for these materials was guided by the understanding that the sorbents that have the most effective behavior for phosphate tend to contain easily soluble Ca/Mg compounds or Fe/Al hydroxides. The findings of the batch experiments demonstrated that material such as Bio ash (Bio-A) exhibited superior phosphate removal performance throughout the entire duration of the experiments. In contrast, materials calcium carbonate (C-C) and conventional silica (C-S) displayed relatively poor removal performance compared to Bio-A.

Determination of the thermal state of a block gravel filter during its transportation along the borehole

Purpose. Development of a methodology for determining the thermal state of block inverse gravel filters manufactured using low-temperature technology during their transportation in a well based on computer and mathematical modeling. Methods. The study of hydrodynamic processes occurring during the transportation of the filter in the borehole, as well as the calculation of thermal fields in the filter body, was performed using the Ansys Fluent software package. To determine the effective thermophysical characteristics of the filter, the approaches of the heat transfer theory in porous media were applied. To investigate the thermal conditions of the filter at heat exchange with well fluid, the use of analytical solution of the heat conduction problem in a cylindrical shell, taking into account the properties of porous dispersed water-saturated medium, is proposed. Findings. The methodology for calculating the thermal state of a gravel filter during its operation in a well has been developed. For estimation of the filter surface temperature, the expression obtained on the basis of the analytical solution of the heat conduction equation, taking into account the characteristics of the porous filter medium, is proposed. Hydrodynamic and thermal fields in the borehole and the filter body during the filter transportation process in the borehole have been obtained. Originality. For the first time, the problem of heat exchange of a gravel inversion filter, manufactured by low-temperature technology in a well is considered. The influence of hydrothermal conditions in the well on the process of filter heating during its transportation in the well is shown. The hydrodynamic fields during the flow of the drilling mud around the inverse gravel filter are determined. Practical implications. The proposed approaches and results of the study allow to determine and can be used in the development of technological regulations for the use of block gravel filters produced by low-temperature technology for the equipment of hydrogeological wells. The methodology for modelling the process of two-phase inversion transition of aggregate state of the binding agent during transportation of inverted block-type gravel filter during well construction has been developed.

Effect of pre-cladding dust layer on filtration and pulse-jet cleaning performance of filter media

Pleated cartridge with triangular structure is prone to clogging when filtering sticky dust, leading to a significant reduction in filtration capacity. In this paper, a method of pre-cladding low-viscosity dust was introduced to promote the filtration and cleaning performance on sticky dust. The adhesion of six types of dusts was tested by both reverse blowing and pulse-jet cleaning. The effect of dust feeding rate, filtration velocity and pre-cladding pressure drop on the dust layers was investigated. Through comparative tests, the cleaning cycles reduce rates of two loading methods were 45.99% and 15.89%, while dust emission concentrations were 1.83 and 2.03 mg/m3, which reveals that the pre-cladding method can increase the filtration efficiency in the early stage and improve the cleaning performance. The increased pressure drop with hybrid and pre-cladding methods under two times cleaning process were 8.8, 15.8, 8.4 and 14.8 Pa, which demonstrated that hybrid method is applicable in industrial application. This study is aiming to provide an efficient filtration and cleaning method to avoid clogging during filtering sticky dust.

Kemampuan Filter Alami Berbasis Kulit Pisang (Musa paradisiaca L.) dalam Penjernihan Air

Waste from male banana peels (Musa paradisiaca Var. Paradisiaca), Ambon banana peels (Musa paradisiaca Var. Sapientum), and kepok banana peels (Musa acuminate L.) can be used as natural water filtration. The content of pectin, galacturonic acid and cellulose in banana peels can absorb heavy metals in water. This research aims to determine the filtration ability of natural waste materials such as kepok banana peels, Ambon banana peels and male banana peels which are most effectively used as water filtration media. This research consists of the sample preparation stage, carbonization stage, activation stage, and trial stage. The method used is an experimental method on a laboratory scale to measure Potential Hydrogen (pH), Total Dissolve Solid (TDS), and the level of clarity in water. The data obtained was tested using the Anova test with a significance level of 5% and the BNT test. Based on the BNT test which shows that male banana peels are not significantly proportional to the TDS of well water. Meanwhile, Ambon banana peel and Kepok banana peel are significantly proportional to TDS, and for Kepok banana peel, Ambon banana peel and male banana peel, it is significantly proportional to the pH of well water, because the significance results are less than 0.05%. From these findings it can be concluded that Kepok banana peels and Ambon banana peels are the most effective water filtration media to use.

Performance Evaluation of Various Filter Media for Multi-Functional Purposes to Urban Constructed Wetlands

The escalating demand for innovative solutions is driven by the challenges posed by water quality degradation and the pervasive impacts of climate change. As such, this study evaluated the performance of filter media to mitigate these challenges through multi-functional applications in urban constructed wetlands (UCWs). Column testing of organic filter media, including biochar (BC), woodchip (WC), anthracite (AT), and activated carbon (AC), as well as inorganic filter media, such as ceramic balls (CB), basalt (BS), and porous sand (PS), with synthetic stormwater runoff influent was conducted to assess their performance through water quality parameters and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis for carbon storage potential. Among the media tested, AC exhibited high pollutant removal efficiencies amounting to 84%, 54%, 56%, and 44% for total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP), respectively. For inorganic media, PS had the highest TSS and TN removal, whereas BS exhibited the highest COD and TP removal. Overall performance rating revealed that AC and BS, despite their efficient pollutant removal, are associated with higher costs, resulting in a lower ranking compared to AT and PS. SEM-EDX analysis identified PS and AC as standout media for potential carbon storage, attributed to their extensive surface areas and pore structures providing abundant adsorption sites. The results from this study highlighted the potential applications of various filter media in UCW designs with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality and sustainable urban development.

Penurunan BOD5 dan COD pada Air Permukaan Pasar Umum Negara dengan Metode Filtrasi Sederhana

The surface water of the Mertasari River (upstream) in Jembrana Regency, Bali is polluted with waste water due to the activities of the Negara Public Market (PUN). So that the quality of surface water decreases which is characterized by increasing levels of pollutant parameters. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of simple filtration tests with variations in the arrangement of filter media to reduce BOD5 and COD that exceed quality standards. The research method uses purposive sampling to determine the sampling location. From the results of water quality, the values of 8 mg/L and 29 mg/L respectively were obtained, which did not meet the quality standards based on Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia No. 22 of 2021. The arrangement used for filter media consists of palm fiber, sand, gravel, activated carbon, and zeolite. The filtration test treatment was carried out with three sampling times for each parameter with the amount of removal obtained BOD5 by 93.75% and COD by 96.14%. From these results, the final value of the BOD5 parameter is 0.9 mg/L and COD is 1.12 mg/L. So from the test results, simple filtration with the specified media arrangement is considered effective in reducing BOD5 and COD pollutant levels in surface water bodies around the State Public Market.

Efektivitas Kombinasi Slow Sand Filter Media Geotekstil dan Karbon Aktif untuk Menyisihkan Nilai Permanganat dan Total Coliform

The water of Kali Jagir, Surabaya, used as a raw water source, has been contaminated with high levels of BOD, COD, and permanganate. Therefore, this research seeks to address these issues by combining slow sand filtration with various media, including geotekstil and activated carbon. The study aims to optimize this combination in reducing parameters such as permanganate and total coliform in the raw water. The research methodology includes literature review, testing of raw water characteristics, preparation of slow sand filter reactors, preparation of filter media, and testing of media variations with an observation of organic and bacteriological pollutant removal efficiency. The results show that the combination of filter media involving sand, activated carbon, and geotekstil is effective in reducing organic pollutants. Geotekstil aids in the growth of the schmutzdecke layer and facilitates cleaning, while sand and activated carbon tend not to support such growth. Moreover, the optimum schmutzdecke growth time varies depending on the type of media used. These findings have significant implications for raw water treatment in industrial areas vulnerable to pollution, resulting in quality drinking water and addressing the frequent clogging issues in slow sand filters.

Woven filter media used in wet filtration processes: investigation of pore size distribution, air and water permeability and finding correlations between them

Currently, methods for evaluating the performance of woven filter media used for filtration processes are mainly reduced to air permeability and filtration resistance. However, filtration processes are not limited to dry filtration only. Moreover, critical performance-related factors such as the pore size distribution and liquid permeability are studied but often omitted and ignored in the characterization process. The present study aims to investigate and analyze three characteristics, namely air and liquid permeability and pore size distribution, and to examine correlations between the studied characteristics. The results of the present study show that correlations between the studied characteristics do exist. Polynomial and exponential functions could describe the correlation between the mean flow pore diameter and permeability. At the same time, the dependency between air and water permeability is characterized by a logarithmic function. Consequently, the characterization and selection of filter cloths should be done by analyzing several different parameters simultaneously. These correlations could become the basis of a system of media indexing in the future.

Contaminants of emerging concern reduction and microbial community characterization across a three-barrier advanced water treatment system

This research investigated the removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and characterized the microbial community across an advanced water treatment (AWT) train consisting of Coagulation/Flocculation/Clarification/Granular Media Filtration (CFCGMF), Ozone-Biological Activated Carbon Filtration (O3/BAC), Granular Activated Carbon filtration, Ultraviolet Disinfection, and Cartridge Filtration (GAC/UV/CF). The AWT train successfully met the goals of CECs and bulk organics removal. The microbial community at each treatment step of the AWT train was characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform generated from DNA extracted from liquid and solid (treatment media) samples taken along the treatment train. Differences in the microbial community structure were observed. The dominant operational taxonomic units (OTU) decreased along the treatment train, but the treatment steps did impact the microbial community composition downstream of each unit process. These results provide insights into microbial ecology in advanced water treatment systems, which are influenced and shaped by each treatment step, the microbial community interactions, and their potential metabolic contribution to CECs degradation.