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High-Efficiency Antimicrobial Air Filter Electrospun ZnO/Biochar/PAN Nanofiber
Summary
Researchers developed an electrospun nanofiber air filter combining biochar and zinc oxide that achieved approximately 95% filtration efficiency for 0.1-micron particles, demonstrated antibacterial activity, and biodegraded within five months without releasing zinc ions. Designing filters that degrade without generating persistent microplastic debris addresses an overlooked source of indoor microplastic contamination from conventional synthetic filter materials.
An innovative approach utilizing electrospun polymer nanofibers enhanced with biochar derived from corncob waste and zinc oxide (ZnO) is proposed to address the need for highly efficient and antimicrobial air filters, particularly for air purification and industrial filtration applications. This study details the development of such a nanofiber-based filter, in which the incorporation of biochar enhances the mechanical integrity of the polymer nanofibers, improves water vapor permeability, and significantly boosts the filtration efficiency to approximately 95% for 0.1-µm particles, representing a substantial improvement over conventional synthetic filters (~ 70%). The addition of ZnO imparted effective antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, with safety confirmed by the absence of detectable zinc ion release over a 14-day period. In addition, the developed nanofibers were shown to be biodegradable within approximately 5 months, offering an environmentally responsible alternative that avoids microplastic pollution. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of this biochar/ZnO-enhanced electrospun nanofiber filter as a high-performance, safe, and sustainable solution for improving air quality in stationary air filtration and industrial air-cleaning systems.