We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Nanocellulose-based membrane as a potential material for high performance biodegradable aerosol respirators for SARS-CoV-2 prevention: a review
Summary
Researchers reviewed nanocellulose-based membrane materials as biodegradable alternatives to synthetic face mask filters, finding that cellulose nanofibers and nanocrystals offer promising filtration efficiency, biocompatibility, and environmental safety compared to single-use plastic-based respirators.
The controversy surrounding the transmission of COVID-19 in 2020 has revealed the need to better understand the airborne transmission route of respiratory viruses to establish appropriate strategies to limit their transmission. The effectiveness in protecting against COVID-19 has led to a high demand for face masks. This includes the single-use of non-degradable masks and Filtering Facepiece Respirators by a large proportion of the public, leading to environmental concerns related to waste management. Thus, nanocellulose-based membranes are a promising environmental solution for aerosol filtration due to their biodegradability, renewability, biocompatibility, high specific surface area, non-toxicity, ease of functionalization and worldwide availability. Although the technology for producing high-performance aerosol filter membranes from cellulose-based materials is still in its initial stage, several promising results show the prospects of the use of this kind of materials. This review focuses on the overview of nanocellulose-based filter media, including its processing, desirable characteristics and recent developments regarding filtration, functionalization, biodegradability, and mechanical behavior. The porosity control, surface wettability and surface functional groups resulting from the silylation treatment to improve the filtration capacity of the nanocellulose-based membrane is discussed. Future research trends in this area are planned to develop the air filter media by reinforcing the filter membrane structure of CNF with CNCs. In addition, the integration of sol-gel technology into the production of an air filter can tailor the pore size of the membrane for a viable physical screening solution in future studies.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Antiviral/antibacterial biodegradable cellulose nonwovens as environmentally friendly and bioprotective materials with potential to minimize microplastic pollution
Biodegradable cellulose nonwoven materials incorporating antiviral and antibacterial agents were developed as a sustainable alternative to polypropylene face masks, demonstrating comparable filtration performance with significantly faster environmental degradation, reducing the microplastic pollution burden of disposable PPE.
Face masks and respirators: Towards sustainable materials and technologies to overcome the shortcomings and challenges
This review examines the limitations of current face masks and respirators, including low filtration efficiency and non-biodegradability, and explores sustainable materials and emerging technologies such as nanofibers and biodegradable polymers to address these shortcomings.
Biodegradable Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes as Promising Candidates for the Development of Face Masks
This review examines the development of biodegradable electrospun nanofiber membranes as alternatives to conventional plastic face masks. Researchers summarize progress on materials including silk fibroin, polylactic acid, chitosan, cellulose, and zein, which can achieve strong filtration performance. The study highlights that degradable nanofiber filters offer a promising solution to reduce the environmental burden of plastic pollution from disposable face masks.
Electrospun nanofiber-based respiratory face masks—a review
Researchers reviewed advances in face mask materials during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on electrospun nanofiber membranes with nano-sized pores that offer high filtration efficiency at low weight, and highlighting the integration of metal-organic frameworks, graphene, and 3D-printing as pathways to multifunctional and reusable mask designs.
Tuneable and biodegradable poly(ester amide)s for disposable facemasks
Scientists developed biodegradable face mask filters made from novel bio-based poly(ester amide) polymers that fully degrade within 35 days. The filters matched the particle capture efficiency and breathability of commercial mask filters, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to standard disposable masks that contribute to microplastic pollution.