Enhancing the filtration performance of common substrates used in the Covid-19 respiratory protection equipment with nanofiber coatings

Mobina Khezrian ¹, Adel Jafari ^2,3, Majid Habibi Mohraz ^2,3

⁰Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.

Heliyon +

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February 3, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Nanofiber coatings significantly improve facemask filtration efficiency, especially on SSMMS fabric, offering enhanced protection against aerosols. Tetron fabric is not recommended due to high pressure drop.

Area Of Science

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Filtration Technology

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for effective facemasks and respiratory protection equipment (RPEs).
Existing RPE materials often lack sufficient protection against aerosols and bioaerosols.
Nanofiber coatings show potential for enhancing RPE protective capabilities.

Purpose Of The Study

To investigate the impact of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and PAN/CuBTC nanofiber coatings on the filtration properties of common RPE substrates.
To evaluate filtration efficiency, pressure drop, and quality factor of coated and uncoated materials.

Main Methods

Coating seven common RPE substrates (melt-blown, spunbond, SSMMS, activated carbon, and Tetron fabrics) with PAN and PAN/CuBTC nanofibers.
Measuring initial filtration efficiency, pressure drop, and quality factor of the prepared filtration media.
Analyzing the performance at the most penetrating particle size (MPPS) of 300 nm.

Main Results

PAN and PAN/CuBTC nanofiber coatings significantly boosted filtration efficiency across all substrates, exceeding 90% and 95% respectively at 300 nm.
SSMMS fabric demonstrated the highest quality factor after nanofiber coating (0.094 Pa⁻¹), while Tetron fabric showed the lowest (0.021 Pa⁻¹).
SSMMS fabric exhibited superior performance, followed by melt-blown, spunbond, and activated carbon fabrics.

Conclusions

Nanofiber coatings are effective in enhancing the filtration performance of RPE materials.
SSMMS fabric is the optimal substrate for nanofiber applications in RPEs due to its high quality factor.
Tetron fabric is unsuitable for nanofiber coating in RPEs due to excessive respiratory pressure drop.

Keywords:

Filtration efficiency Nanofibers Pressure drop Quality factor