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Bifunctional Electrospun PAN/ε-Polylysine Composite Membranes for High-Efficiency PM2.5 and PM10 Filtration with
Mintra Muadtrap1, Thitikan Khampieng2, Chasuda Choipang1,3
1The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
ACS Omega
|November 17, 2025
Summary
This study developed a novel air filter combining electrospun nanofibers and an antimicrobial coating for enhanced respiratory protection. The bifunctional membrane effectively captures fine particles and inactivates airborne pathogens, outperforming commercial masks.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Environmental Health Engineering
Background:
- Airborne particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and bioaerosols present significant respiratory health risks.
- Existing air filtration technologies often lack dual functionality for both particulate capture and antimicrobial activity.
- There is a critical need for advanced materials that offer simultaneous protection against diverse airborne contaminants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and characterize a bifunctional composite air filter membrane with integrated particulate filtration and antimicrobial properties.
- To optimize electrospinning parameters for achieving high filtration efficiency and low pressure drop.
- To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the ε-poly-l-lysine coating against common pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers via electrospinning onto nonwoven substrates.
- Immobilization of ε-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) antimicrobial coating using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
- Characterization of nanofiber morphology, filtration efficiency (PM2.5, PM10), pressure drop, surface wettability, and antimicrobial activity (time-kill assays).
Main Results:
- Optimized electrospinning (10 wt% PAN, 15 min) produced uniform nanofibers with high filtration efficiencies (99.39% for PM2.5, 99.50% for PM10) and low pressure drop (175 Pa).
- The ε-PL coating rendered the membrane surface hydrophilic (contact angle reduced from 108° to 48°) and demonstrated potent bactericidal effects (>6-log reduction within 24 h at 10 mg/mL).
- The developed membrane outperformed commercial masks in filtration efficiency and demonstrated a superior quality factor, indicating an optimal balance of filtration and breathability.
Conclusions:
- The developed bifunctional membrane synergistically integrates high-efficiency particulate filtration with robust antimicrobial protection.
- This advanced material offers a promising solution for applications requiring simultaneous removal of airborne particles and pathogen inactivation.
- Potential applications include personal protective equipment, HVAC systems, and healthcare settings.
