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Cimini A, Imperi E, Picano A, Rossi M. Electrospun nanofibers for medical face mask with protection capabilities against viruses: State of the art and perspective for industrial scale-up. APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY 2023; 32:101833. [PMID: 37152683 PMCID: PMC10151159 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmt.2023.101833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Face masks have proven to be a useful protection from airborne viruses and bacteria, especially in the recent years pandemic outbreak when they effectively lowered the risk of infection from Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or Omicron variants, being recognized as one of the main protective measures adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO). The need for improving the filtering efficiency performance to prevent penetration of fine particulate matter (PM), which can be potential bacteria or virus carriers, has led the research into developing new methods and techniques for face mask fabrication. In this perspective, Electrospinning has shown to be the most efficient technique to get either synthetic or natural polymers-based fibers with size down to the nanoscale providing remarkable performance in terms of both particle filtration and breathability. The aim of this Review is to give further insight into the implementation of electrospun nanofibers for the realization of the next generation of face masks, with functionalized membranes via addiction of active material to the polymer solutions that can give optimal features about antibacterial, antiviral, self-sterilization, and electrical energy storage capabilities. Furthermore, the recent advances regarding the use of renewable materials and green solvent strategies to improve the sustainability of electrospun membranes and to fabricate eco-friendly filters are here discussed, especially in view of the large-scale nanofiber production where traditional membrane manufacturing may result in a high environmental and health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cimini
- Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome 00161, Italy
- LABOR s.r.l., Industrial Research Laboratory, Via Giacomo Peroni, 386, Rome, Italy
| | - E Imperi
- LABOR s.r.l., Industrial Research Laboratory, Via Giacomo Peroni, 386, Rome, Italy
| | - A Picano
- LABOR s.r.l., Industrial Research Laboratory, Via Giacomo Peroni, 386, Rome, Italy
| | - M Rossi
- Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome 00161, Italy
- Research Center for Nanotechnology for Engineering of Sapienza (CNIS), University of Rome Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy
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Fabrication of Laminated Micro/Nano Filter and Its Application for Inhalable PM Removal. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15061459. [PMID: 36987239 PMCID: PMC10052305 DOI: 10.3390/polym15061459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of 0.3 µm is inhalable and brings great threats to human health. Traditional meltblown nonwovens used for air filtration need to be treated by high voltage corona charging, which has the problem of electrostatic dissipation and thus reduces the filtration efficiency. In this work, a kind of composite air-filter with high efficiency and low resistance was fabricated by alternating lamination of ultrathin electronspun nano-layer and melt-blown layer without corona charging treatment. The effects of fiber diameter, pore size, porosity, layer number, and weight on filtration performance were investigated. Meanwhile, the surface hydrophobicity, loading capacity, and storage stability of the composite filter were studied. The results indicate that the filters (18.5 gsm) laminated by 10 layers fiber-webs present excellent filtration efficiency (97.94%), low pressure drop (53.2 Pa), high quality factor (QF 0.073 Pa−1), and high dust holding capacity (9.72 g/m2) for NaCl aerosol particles. Increasing the layers and reducing individual layer weight can significantly improve filtration efficiency and reduce pressure drop of the filter. The filtration efficiency decayed slightly from 97.94% to 96.48% after 80 days storage. The alternate arrangement of ultra-thin nano and melt-blown layers constructed a layer-by-layer interception and collaborative filtering effect in the composite filter, realizing the high filtration efficiency and low resistance without high voltage corona charging. These results provided new insights for the application of nonwoven fabrics in air filtration.
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Kim KJ, Chae Y, An SJ, Jo JH, Park S, Chi WS. Microphase-separated morphology controlled polyimide graft copolymer membranes for CO2 separation. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Cheng Z, Wang H, Li Z, Yang C, Zhang B, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Jia C, Li L, Wu H. Processing Nomex Nanofibers by Ionic Solution Blow-Spinning for Efficient High-Temperature Exhausts Treatment. ADVANCED FIBER MATERIALS 2022; 5:497-513. [PMID: 36530771 PMCID: PMC9735215 DOI: 10.1007/s42765-022-00231-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hard-to-dissolve polymers provide next-generation alternatives for high-performance filter materials owing to their intrinsically high chemical stability, superior mechanical performance, and excellent high-temperature resistance. However, the mass production of hard-to-dissolve nanofibers still remains a critical challenge. A simple, scalable, and low-cost ionic solution blow-spinning method has herein been provided for the large-scale preparation of hard-to-dissolve Nomex polymeric nanofibers with an average diameter of nearly 100 nm. After rapidly dissolving Nomex microfibers in the lithium chloride/dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc) solution system, the conductive solution can be stably and conductivity-independently processed into nanofibers. The method optimizes electrospinning and avoids spinnability degradation and potential safety hazards caused by high electrical conductivity. Owing to nanofibrous structure and high dipole moment, Nomex nanofibrous filters show a stable high filtration efficiency of 99.92% for PM0.3 with a low areal density of 4.6 g m-2, as well as a low-pressure drop of 189.47 Pa. Moreover, the flame-retardant filter can work at 250 °C and 280 °C for a long and short time without shrinking or burning, respectively, exhibiting a high filtration efficiency of 99.50% for PM0.3-10.0. The outstanding properties and low cost enable the efficient capture of PM from various high-temperature exhausts, making Nomex nanofibrous membrane an even more ideal industrial-grade air filter than polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyimide, and ceramic nanofibrous filters. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT Hard-to-dissolve nanofibers provide alternatives for high-efficiency and low-resistant air filtration but are limited by the universality and economics of fabrication methods. A scalable and efficient ionic solution blow-spinning strategy has herein been proposed in preparing hard-to-dissolve nanofibrous filters. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42765-022-00231-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zekun Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
| | - Haiyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
| | - Ziwei Li
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
| | - Chong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
| | - Baopu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
| | - Yiqian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
| | - Yuxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
| | - Chao Jia
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620 China
| | - Lei Li
- National Engineering Research Center of Electric Vehicles, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Hui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
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Hu Y, Ni R, Lu Q, Qiu X, Ma J, Wang Y, Zhao Y. Functionalized multi-effect air filters with bimodal fibrous structure prepared by direction growth of keratin nanofibers. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Mo J, Gu Y, Tian E. Efficiently remove submicron particles by a novel foldable electrostatically assisted air coarse filter. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.120631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Zhou Y, Liu Y, Zhang M, Feng Z, Yu DG, Wang K. Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Air Filtration: A Review. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:1077. [PMID: 35407195 PMCID: PMC9000692 DOI: 10.3390/nano12071077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nanomaterials for air filtration have been studied by researchers for decades. Owing to the advantages of high porosity, small pore size, and good connectivity, nanofiber membranes prepared by electrospinning technology have been considered as an outstanding air-filter candidate. To satisfy the requirements of material functionalization, electrospinning can provide a simple and efficient one-step process to fabricate the complex structures of functional nanofibers such as core-sheath structures, Janus structures, and other multilayered structures. Additionally, as a nanoparticle carrier, electrospun nanofibers can easily achieve antibacterial properties, flame-retardant properties, and the adsorption properties of volatile gases, etc. These simple and effective approaches have benefited from the significate development of electrospun nanofibers for air-filtration applications. In this review, the research progress on electrospun nanofibers as air filters in recent years is summarized. The fabrication methods, filtration performances, advantages, and disadvantages of single-polymer nanofibers, multipolymer composite nanofibers, and nanoparticle-doped hybrid nanofibers are investigated. Finally, the basic principles of air filtration are concluded upon and prospects for the application of complex-structured nanofibers in the field of air filtration are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangjian Zhou
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (M.Z.); (Z.F.)
| | - Yanan Liu
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (M.Z.); (Z.F.)
| | - Mingxin Zhang
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (M.Z.); (Z.F.)
| | - Zhangbin Feng
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (M.Z.); (Z.F.)
| | - Deng-Guang Yu
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (M.Z.); (Z.F.)
- Shanghai Engineering Technology Research Center for High-Performance Medical Device Materials, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Ke Wang
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (M.Z.); (Z.F.)
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Moon J, Cho S, Song E, Park KW, Chae Y, Park JT. Designing double comb copolymer as highly lithium ionic conductive solid-state electrolyte membranes. REACT FUNCT POLYM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2021.105093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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