Nanofiber Air Filter Materials for Efficient Particulate Matter Removal

Human health is harmed by both brief and prolonged period exposure to PM2.5 pollution. Particulate Matter (PM) is commonly divided into two groups, PM2.5 is particles with an aerodynamic diameter lower than 2.5 ¿m, and if the particles' aerodynamic diameter is between 2.5 to 10 ¿m then it is PM10. PM2.5 particles are generated by different man-made and natural sources such as vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, power generation emissions, cooking, house cleaning, forest fire, volcano eruption etc. Especially, PM2.5 particles are critically dangerous particles which is capable to interpenetrate into human lungs and bronchi; which causes respiratory diseases like cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis, asthma etc., to human beings.

Thus one-third of the effects of PM2.5 pollution is associated with lung cancer, stroke, and chronic vascular disease. Majority of the particulate pollutants consist of organic compounds, such as carbon-derived compounds and also nitrogen and sulfur-based inorganic compounds.

Some other sort of primary pollutant is bio-aerosols, which include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Because they are easily spread by contaminated air, this significantly enhances the risk to human health. These biological pollutants will induce toxigenic, allergic, infectious, and other disorders in both chronic and acute forms. To protect humans from PM2.5 pollution filtration of the air is the best preservation. Resultantly, interest in high-proficiency air filtration technologies which could collect dangerous particles, toxic gases and biological contaminants all at the same time is growing. Also, these high-efficiency air filter media with different multi functionalities that can work in various temperature and humidity conditions for real-time applications is gathering a lot of attention in the past few years.