Development of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) based nanofibrous webs via solution-blow spinning technology for N95 respiratory filters

Abstract

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, millions of people are wearing face masks (including disposable surgical face masks), and many used masks, particularly disposable masks, are entering the environment and increasing pollution. The applicability of nanofibers in the field of filtration is considerable, and it has replaced environmentally friendly materials in research in this area. Solution-blown spinning (SBS) is an efficient and straightforward method for creating micro and nanofibers that allow quick fiber deposition on any substrate. Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is an environmentally safe biopolymer with unique properties, such as processability and flexibility, that has piqued the interest of industry and researchers. Hence, an eco-friendly air filter based on PBS nanofibers was fabricated using SBS. This solution-blown spun PBS filter was demonstrated as an air filter for the first time. The findings demonstrated that a weight of around 19.3 g/m2 PBS webs with a mean diameter of 199 nm was adequate to produce a filtering performance of 95.26% with a pressure drop of 251 Pa at a flow rate of 85 L/min. The fast and economic features of the SBS process, as well as the environmentally friendly nature of the PBS polymer, may be a considerable contribution to the development of green filters.