A B S T R A C TFull 3D particle filtration modeling at low pressures considering slip/transition/free molecular flow regime, particle-fiber interactions, air/particle slip, sieve and homogenous flow field has been performed for the polyurethane nanofiber filter prepared by electrospinning process and the obtained theoretical predictions for the filtration efficiency have been compared with the corresponding experimental data. Moreover, the effect of air velocity, viscosity, temperature, pressure and particlefiber friction coefficient on the produced polyurethane nanofiber filter efficiency has been investigated in more details. In order to take all real structure features of the nanofiber filter into account (such as varying fiber diameter, curvature along its length, inhomogeneity and mat defects), a new approach for 3D nano fiber mat model construction from corresponding SEM images has been proposed and utilized.

Abstract. In this work, novel 3D filtration model for nanofiber based filters has been proposed and tested. For the model validation purposes, filtration efficiency characteristics of two different polyurethane nanofiber based structures (prepared by the electrospinning process) were determined experimentally in the ultrafine particle size range (20-400 nm). It has been found that the proposed model is able to reasonably predict the measured filtration efficiency curves for both tested samples.

Abstract. In this work, novel 3D filtration model for nanofiber based filters has been proposed and tested. For the model validation purposes, filtration efficiency characteristics of two different polyurethane nanofiber based structures (prepared by the electrospinning process) were determined experimentally in the ultrafine particle size range (20-400 nm). It has been found that the proposed model is able to reasonably predict the measured filtration efficiency curves for both tested samples.

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We developed a simple and fast microplate assay for evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of electrospun nanofiber filtration membranes or similar porous materials for water treatment technologies. Resazurin (alamarBlue®) was used as an indicator of the amount of viable experimental microorganisms Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis, and natural wastewater treatment plant effluent bacteria. A bacterial inoculum of concentration 1–3 × 105 CFU mL−1 was pipetted onto the surface of assessed both functionalized and respective control membranes and incubated in 12-well plates for 4 h at 37 °C. Kinetics of resazurin metabolization, i.e. its reduction to fluorescent resorufin, was evaluated fluorimetrically (λex520/λem590 nm). A number of viable bacteria on the membranes expressed as CFU mL−1 was calculated from the kinetic curves by using calibration curves that were constructed for both experimental bacterial species. Antimicrobial activities of the membranes were evaluated by either resazurin assay or modified ISO 20743 plate count assay. Results of both assays showed the significant antimicrobial activity of membranes functionalized with silver nanoparticles for both bacterial species and wastewater treatment plant effluent bacteria as well (log CFU reduction compared to control membrane > 4), while membranes containing specific quaternary ammonium salts were inefficient (log CFU reduction < 1). The suitability of resazurin microplate assay for testing nanofiber filtration membranes and analogous matrices has proven to be a faster and less demanding alternative to the traditionally used approach providing comparable results.