Multifunctional filter membrane for face mask using bacterial cellulose for highly efficient particulate matter...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Particulate matter (PM) pollution and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pose significant global health risks.
• PM can act as a vector for airborne pathogens like COVID-19.
• Effective filtration solutions are crucial for public health protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a novel filter membrane for face masks.
• To assess the membrane's efficiency in removing particulate matter and its antimicrobial properties.
• To develop a protective barrier against airborne pollutants and viruses.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a bacterial cellulose and fingerroot extract (BC-FT) membrane using an immersion technique.
• Analysis of membrane surface area, pore size, and volume via Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method.
• Characterization of physiochemical properties using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD).

Main Results:

• The BC-FT membrane demonstrated a significant decrease in crystallinity from 63.7% (pure BC) to 52.4%.
• Young's modulus increased from 1277.02 MPa (pure BC) to 2251.17 MPa in the BC-FT membrane, indicating enhanced mechanical strength.
• The fabricated membrane achieved an excellent PM0.1 removal efficiency of 99.83% and exhibited antimicrobial activity.

Conclusions:

• The developed BC-FT filter membrane offers superior protection against PM2.5 inhalation.
• The membrane effectively prevents the transmission of COVID-19 respiratory droplets.
• This novel material presents a promising solution for enhanced respiratory protection in public health applications.