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Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes for Air Filtration: A Critical Review

Compounds 2023 25 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
M.F. De Riccardis

Summary

This review examines how electrospun nanofiber membranes can be used for air filtration, offering high surface area and tunable pore sizes to capture fine particulate matter. Researchers compared materials ranging from pure polymers to organic-inorganic composites and bio-based alternatives. The study highlights recent innovations in layered filter designs that aim to overcome the inherent fragility of nanofiber membranes while maintaining excellent filtration performance.

Air filtration is an urgent global need because, in many countries and regions, the high concentration of inhalable suspended particles in the air is causing irreversible damage to human health. The use of nanofibrous membranes can help to reduce airborne particulate matter because of their large surface area, extremely porous structure, and adjustable pore size. However, despite their unique properties, the main drawbacks of nanofibre membranes are their poor mechanical properties. This review focuses on nanofibrous membranes prepared by electrospinning, a versatile technique in which the process parameters allow control of the morphology and dimensional characteristics of the nanofibres. Recent literature on air filtration is reviewed, focusing on the performance of materials such as pure or mixed polymers, organic–inorganic composites, and ‘green’ materials in the form of nanofibrous membranes. Finally, the recently proposed layered structures for nanofibre-based air filters are reviewed, offering the latest and most innovative solutions.

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