DEVELOPMENT OF DISPOSAL FACE MASK NANOFIBERS MEMBRANE THROUGH ELECTROSPINNING TECHNIQUEFOR SMOKE PARTICULATE REMOVAL

Abstract

Nanomaterials have played a unique role for effective filtration. Due to the effectiveness of large surface area to volume ratio, nanofibers have ability to absorb contaminants from air easily. Due to the fabrication of cellulose acetate on face mask some harmful bacteria and air particulates are not able to enter nose and mouth. However, without fabrication of cellulose acetate nanofibers the bacteria and air particulates may easily pass through the face mask due to their larger pores diameter. The advantage of fabrication is that the pore size of middle layer of face mask which is used for filtration has been reduced that increases the filtration efficiency. In this article middle layer of commercial disposable face mask having larger pores diameter used for filtration purpose has been replaced by development of cellulose acetate nanofibers having thickness of 60 µm, 35µm and 15µm.Morphology of membrane was characterized by SEM, chemical structure through FTIR, mechanical strength through tensile tester, air permeability through air permeability tester M021Sand smoke test was performed through self-designed smoke tester. It was found that membrane with thickness of 60 µm have highest filtration efficiency but air permeability was compromised but nanofiber membrane with thickness between 15-35 µm have better air permeability and filtration resistance than commercial face mask