Bacteria Elimination and SO₂ Filtration Using Spacer Fabric Loaded With Natural Zeolite‐Nanosilver Composites

Abstract

A spacer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric is produced for SO2 elimination along with antibacterial properties as textile filter. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are first in‐situ synthesized on natural zeolite (Z) by wet chemical reduction using silver nitrate and sodium borohydride at room temperature. The prepared composite powder is characterized by energy dispersive X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Z/AgNPs powder is uniformly fabricated on the spacer polyester fabric through a new electro‐deposition method. It is then cured at 160 °C for 3 min and named PET‐Z/AgNPs. SO2 adsorption of PET‐Z/AgNPs is confirmed using a gas analyzer. The ability of the treated fabric to eliminate airborne Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram‐negative bacterium, and Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram‐positive bacterium, is also evaluated using the modified shake flask method (AATCC‐100). No bacterial growth is observed on PET‐Z/AgNPs after 2 h. Furthermore, the breakthrough time of the treated fabric for SO2 with 5 ppm concentration was 12 min at room temperature. In addition, the treated 3D filter fabric shows suitable air permeability for application in air filtration systems.

Research of electret air filter: A review

“…Researchers have explored various air filtration materials, including zeolites, 11,12 carbon nanotubes, 13 nanofiber materials, 14,15 nonwoven textiles, 16 and needle-felt materials. 17 Zeolite serves as a natural filtering medium that can effectively adsorb airborne odors and harmful gases, such as formaldehyde.…”