Anti-deformed Polyacrylonitrile/Polysulfone Composite Membrane with Binary Structures for Effective Air Filtration

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Effective airborne particle filtration relies on porous structures with small pores and low packing density.
• Maintaining structural integrity under stress is critical for reliable filtration, but remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an anti-deformed composite membrane for effective air filtration.
• To create a stable filtration medium with tunable pore size and packing density.
• To address safety hazards associated with structural collapse in filtration materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a combination of multijet electrospinning and physical bonding to create poly(ethylene oxide)@polyacrylonitrile/polysulfone (PEO@PAN/PSU) composite membranes.
• Engineered a binary structure featuring PAN nanofibers, PSU microfibers, and interpenetrating PEO bonding structures.
• Optimized bimodal fiber construction for tunable pore size and packing density.

Main Results:

• Achieved a stable filtration medium with high porosity and small pore size.
• Demonstrated robust mechanical properties (8.2 MPa).
• Exhibited high filtration efficiency (99.992%), low pressure drop (95 Pa), and a quality factor of 0.1 Pa(-1).
• Successfully prevented structural collapse under service stress.

Conclusions:

• The PEO@PAN/PSU composite membrane offers a promising solution for PM2.5 air pollution control.
• The developed strategy provides a versatile approach for designing stable porous membranes for diverse applications.
• The anti-deformed nature ensures reliable and safe performance in demanding filtration scenarios.