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Toptaş A, Çalışır MD, Kılıç A. Production of Ultrafine PVDF Nanofiber-/Nanonet-Based Air Filters via the Electroblowing Technique by Employing PEG as a Pore-Forming Agent. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:38557-38565. [PMID: 37867706 PMCID: PMC10586252 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Particles with diameters smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) can penetrate the respiratory system and have negative impacts on human health. Filter media with a porous surface and nanofiber/nanonet structure demonstrate superior filtration performance compared to traditional nano- and microfiber-based filters. In this study, nanostructured filters were produced using the electroblowing method from solutions containing different ratios of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers for the first time. By increasing the water-soluble PEG ratio in PVDF/PEG blend nanofibers and employing a water bath treatment to the produced mat afterward, a more porous fibrous structure was obtained with a lower average fiber diameter. Notably, the removal of PEG from the PVDF/PEG (3-7) sample, which had the highest PEG content, exhibited clustered nanofiber-/nanonet-like structures with average diameters of 170 and 50 nm at the points where the fibers intersect. Although this process resulted in a slight decrease in the filtration efficiency (-1.3%), the significant reduction observed in pressure drop led to a 3.2% increase in the quality factor (QF). Additionally, by exploiting the polarizability of PVDF under an electric field, the filtration efficiency of the nanostructured PVDF filters enhanced with a ratio of 3.6% after corona discharge treatment leading to a 60% improvement in the QF. As a result, the PVDF/PEG (3-7) sample presented an impressive filtration efficiency of 99.57%, a pressure drop (ΔP) of 158 Pa, and a QF of 0.0345 Pa-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Toptaş
- TEMAG
Laboratories, Textile Technol. and Design Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, 34437 Istanbul, Turkey
- Safranbolu
Vocational School, Karabuk University, 78600 Karabuk, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Durmuş Çalışır
- TEMAG
Laboratories, Textile Technol. and Design Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, 34437 Istanbul, Turkey
- Faculty
of Engineering and Architecture, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan University, 53100 Rize, Turkey
| | - Ali Kılıç
- TEMAG
Laboratories, Textile Technol. and Design Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, 34437 Istanbul, Turkey
- Areka
Advanced Technologies LLC, 34467 Istanbul, Turkey
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Gungor M, Selcuk S, Toptas A, Kilic A. Aerosol Filtration Performance of Solution Blown PA6 Webs with Bimodal Fiber Distribution. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:46602-46612. [PMID: 36570188 PMCID: PMC9773963 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c05449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A bimodal web, where both nanofibers and microfibers are present and distributed randomly across the same web, can deliver high filter efficiency and low pressure drop at the same time since in such a web, filter efficiency is high thanks to small pores created by the presence of nanofibers and the interfiber space created by the presence of microfibers, which is large enough for air to flow through with little resistance. In this work, a bimodal polyamide 6 (PA6) filter web was fabricated via a modified solution blowing (m-SB) technique that produced nanofibers and microfibers simultaneously. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the webs were used to analyze the fiber morphology. Additionally, air permeability, solidity, porosity, filtration performance, and tensile strength of the samples were measured. The bimodal filter web consisted of nanofibers and microfibers with average diameters of 81.5 ± 127 nm and 1.6 ± 0.458 μm, respectively. Its filter efficiency, pressure drop at 95 L min-1, and tensile strength were 98.891%, 168 Pa, and 0.1 MPa, respectively. Its quality factor (QF) and tensile strength were 0.0268 Pa-1 and 0.1 MPa, respectively. When compared with commercially available filters, the bimodal web produced had superior filter performance, constituting a suitable alternative for air filter applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melike Gungor
- TEMAG
Lab., Textile Technol. and Design Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul34437, Turkey
- Areka
Advanced Technologies Ltd. Co., Istanbul34467, Turkey
| | - Sule Selcuk
- TEMAG
Lab., Textile Technol. and Design Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul34437, Turkey
| | - Ali Toptas
- TEMAG
Lab., Textile Technol. and Design Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul34437, Turkey
- Safranbolu
Vocational School, Karabuk University, Karabuk78050, Turkey
| | - Ali Kilic
- TEMAG
Lab., Textile Technol. and Design Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul34437, Turkey
- Areka
Advanced Technologies Ltd. Co., Istanbul34467, Turkey
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Preparation and Application of High Performance PVDF/PS electrospinning film-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator. Chem Phys Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2022.140276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Lordelo R, Botelho JRS, Morais PV, de Sousa HC, Branco R, Dias AMA, Reis MS. Evaluation of the Microbiological Effectiveness of Three Accessible Mask Decontamination Methods and Their Impact on Filtration, Air Permeability and Physicochemical Properties. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116567. [PMID: 35682153 PMCID: PMC9180249 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The need to secure public health and mitigate the environmental impact associated with the massified use of respiratory protective devices (RPD) has been raising awareness for the safe reuse of decontaminated masks by individuals and organizations. Among the decontamination treatments proposed, in this work, three methods with the potential to be adopted by households and organizations of different sizes were analysed: contact with nebulized hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); immersion in commercial bleach (NaClO) (sodium hypochlorite, 0.1% p/v); and contact with steam in microwave steam-sanitizing bags (steam bag). Their decontamination effectiveness was assessed using reference microorganisms following international standards (issued by ISO and FDA). Furthermore, the impact on filtration efficiency, air permeability and several physicochemical and structural characteristics of the masks, were evaluated for untreated masks and after 1, 5 and 10 cycles of treatment. Three types of RPD were analysed: surgical, KN95, and cloth masks. Results demonstrated that the H2O2 protocol sterilized KN95 and surgical masks (reduction of >6 log10 CFUs) and disinfected cloth masks (reduction of >3 log10 CFUs). The NaClO protocol sterilized surgical masks, and disinfected KN95 and cloth masks. Steam bags sterilized KN95 and disinfected surgical and cloth masks. No relevant impact was observed on filtration efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Lordelo
- Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; (R.L.); (R.B.)
| | - José Rafael S. Botelho
- Chemical Process Engineering and Forest Products Research Centre (CIEPQPF), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, Pólo II—Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal; (J.R.S.B.); (H.C.d.S.); (A.M.A.D.)
| | - Paula V. Morais
- Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; (R.L.); (R.B.)
- Correspondence: (P.V.M.); (M.S.R.)
| | - Hermínio C. de Sousa
- Chemical Process Engineering and Forest Products Research Centre (CIEPQPF), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, Pólo II—Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal; (J.R.S.B.); (H.C.d.S.); (A.M.A.D.)
| | - Rita Branco
- Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; (R.L.); (R.B.)
| | - Ana M. A. Dias
- Chemical Process Engineering and Forest Products Research Centre (CIEPQPF), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, Pólo II—Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal; (J.R.S.B.); (H.C.d.S.); (A.M.A.D.)
| | - Marco S. Reis
- Chemical Process Engineering and Forest Products Research Centre (CIEPQPF), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, Pólo II—Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal; (J.R.S.B.); (H.C.d.S.); (A.M.A.D.)
- Correspondence: (P.V.M.); (M.S.R.)
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Cuthbert TJ, Ennis S, Musolino SF, Buckley HL, Niikura M, Wulff JE, Menon C. Covalent functionalization of polypropylene filters with diazirine-photosensitizer conjugates producing visible light driven virus inactivating materials. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19029. [PMID: 34561486 PMCID: PMC8463589 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98280-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the weaknesses of relying on single-use mask and respirator personal protective equipment (PPE) and the global supply chain that supports this market. There have been no major innovations in filter technology for PPE in the past two decades. Non-woven textiles used for filtering PPE are single-use products in the healthcare environment; use and protection is focused on preventing infection from airborne or aerosolized pathogens such as Influenza A virus or SARS-CoV-2. Recently, C-H bond activation under mild and controllable conditions was reported for crosslinking commodity aliphatic polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Significantly, these are the same types of polymers used in PPE filtration systems. In this report, we take advantage of this C-H insertion method to covalently attach a photosensitizing zinc-porphyrin to the surface of a melt-blow non-woven textile filter material. With the photosensitizer covalently attached to the surface of the textile, illumination with visible light was expected to produce oxidizing 1O2/ROS at the surface of the material that would result in pathogen inactivation. The filter was tested for its ability to inactivate Influenza A virus, an enveloped RNA virus similar to SARS-CoV-2, over a period of four hours with illumination of high intensity visible light. The photosensitizer-functionalized polypropylene filter inactivated our model virus by 99.99% in comparison to a control.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Cuthbert
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8008, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Schools of Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Metro Vancouver, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - S Ennis
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - S F Musolino
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3V6, Canada
| | - H L Buckley
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3V6, Canada
| | - M Niikura
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - J E Wulff
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3V6, Canada
| | - C Menon
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8008, Zürich, Switzerland
- Schools of Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Metro Vancouver, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
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