Enhanced Filtration Efficiency of Natural Materials with the Addition of Electrospun Nanofibers

Published in Materials, vol. 16(6), 2314 (2023) · MDPI · Open access, CC BY
DOI: 10.3390/ma16062314

Summary

Respiratory masks became universal during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with them a mountain of non-recyclable waste, since most are single-use and made of synthetic meltblown layers. This study takes natural filter materials and improves their efficiency by adding an electrospun nanofibre layer, so that the finished mask relies on a thin functional coating rather than a bulk synthetic filter. The approach keeps filtration performance while shifting the material balance towards recyclable and natural components.

Authors & Affiliations

  • Gregor Filipič
    Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • Luka Pirker
    Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • Andreja Šutka Krajnc
    Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • Marjan Ješelnik
    smartMelamine d.o.o., Kočevje, Slovenia
  • Maja Remškar Corresponding
    Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Linari Electrospinning Systems

Linari high voltage generator with grounded foil collector
A Linari Engineering generator (Pisa, Italy) was attached to the needle, with electrically grounded aluminium foil serving as the collector - the simplest configuration for depositing a nanofibre layer directly onto a substrate. See our range of systems.

Topics

Air Filtration Respiratory Masks Sustainable Materials Industrial Collaboration

Materials

Natural filter media Electrospun nanofiber layer
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