Polycarbonate nanofiber filters with enhanced efficiency and antibacterial performance

Abstract

The need for clean and safe air quality is a global priority that extends to diverse environments, including households, industrial spaces, and areas requiring respiratory personal protection. In this study, polycarbonate (PC) nanofiber filters coated with a coating containing a silver salt were prepared by the electrospinning process and a subsequent dipping–extraction method. These nanofiber filters presented the enhancement of air filtration efficiency and reinforcement of antibacterial properties. The research includes diverse PC filter structures, assessing beaded and non-beaded structures and varying areal weights. The study evaluated filtration efficiency across NaCl particle sizes (50–400 nm) and pressure drop outcomes. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the coated filters against E. coli and other coliforms was investigated by the filtration membrane method. Repetitive testing consistently yields high efficiencies, reaching 100% in thicker filters, and minimal air resistance in beaded filters, presenting an advantage over the current systems. Furthermore, the new properties of the filters will enhance environmental safety, and their time of use will be increased since they prevented the growth of bacteria, and no significant colonies were seen. Considering all these factors, these filters presented promising application in environments with harmful microorganisms, for the development of advanced industrial filtering systems or even hygienic masks.This research was funded by Gobierno Vasco ELKARTEK (grant number: KK2023/00028) and Grupos Consolidados (IT1756-22