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Fabrication and Characterization of Nanofiber Membranes for Indoor Air Filtration
1  Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan
Academic Editor: Marco Stoller

Abstract:

With rapid urbanization and industrialization, air pollution has become a global concern due to its harmful effects on public health and the environment. Among various pollutants, airborne particulate matter (PM) poses significant health risks. This study aims to develop sustainable filtration materials using cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) nanofibers modified with a Ag-rGO/[BMIM]BF₄ composite to effectively capture fine particulates. Electrospun nanofiber membranes were selected due to their small diameter, high surface area, and porosity, making them ideal for air filtration. The impact of electrospinning parameters, including solution concentration, collector-to-needle distance, flow rate, voltage, and duration, was analyzed to optimize the production process. The fabricated membranes were characterized using XRD, FTIR, EDX, BET, and SEM. The results showed that the absorption efficiency of a blank cellulose acetate proionate nanofiber membrane for particulate matter PM1.0, PM10, and PM2.5 increased from 65.24%, 68.61%, and 68.42% to 99.05%, 96.07%, and 97.30% for cellulose acetate propionate nanofibers modified with 0.4 mg of Ag-rGO/[BMIM]BF₄, attributed to the high surface area, oxygen-functionalized surface, and nanoplatelet morphology of graphene oxide. The modified membranes exhibited a quality factor of 0.22927 Pa⁻¹. These findings demonstrate that the cellulose acetate propionate-loaded silver-reduced graphene oxide/[BMIM]BF₄ nanofiber filters offer a sustainable, high-efficiency solution for reducing air contamination and protecting human health.

Keywords: Graphene Oxide, Nanofibers, Air Filtration, Particulate Matter

 
 
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