Electrospun nanofiber air pollution filters: An experimental study

The aim of this study is to develop and assess the performance of electrospun nanofiber air pollution filters for removing particles and gaseous compounds. The performance of the novel filters will be evaluated in terms of electrospinning processes, nanofiber characterization and the filters´ pressure drop. Polyurethane (PU) was used to fabricate the nanofibers. The nanofiber surfaces were functionalized using activated carbon (AC) and titanium dioxide TiO2 to enhance the filters’ ability to capture and degrade pollutants. The nanofibers presented different morphologies depending on the presence of the additives. The use of additives decreased the filter pressure drop. Toluene was used to assess the removal of gaseous pollutants from the air stream while ultrafine particles were monitored to quantify particle filtration. The PU filter recorded the highest particle filtration efficiency of 98.1% but it has at the same time a very high pressure drop (3092 Pa), whereas PU/AC achieved a high efficiency of 93.7% with a lower pressure drop of 809 Pa. PU/TiO2 showed better reactivity towards Toluene while PU/AC has not shown any adsorption probably due to the mixing of AC inside the polymer solution prior to electrospinning.