title: Multifunctional hybrid porous filters with hierarchical structures for simultaneous removal of indoor VOCs, dusts and microorganisms.
abstract: Air purification often requires multiple layers of filters with different functions to remove various air pollutants, which lead to high pressure drop, high air flow path and frequent filter replacement. In this work, a novel multifunctional Ag@MWCNTs/Al2O3hybrid filter with a depth-type hierarchical structure for simultaneous removal of fine particles, microorganisms and VOCs was designed and fabricated. The novel hybrid air filter showed leading air purification performances to date, achieving 82.24% degradation of formaldehyde at room temperature, 99.99% formaldehyde degradation at 55 °C and complete retention of indoor airborne microorganisms. The complete particle retention rate (100% retention) based on the most penetrating particle size (MPPS, aerodynamic diameter ≦300 nm) of Ag@MWCNTs/Al2O3was achieved at an only 35.60% pressure drop compared with the pristine Al2O3filter, leading to the highest quality factor (Qf) ever reported. Furthermore, the Ag@MWCNTs/Al2O3hybrid filter showed excellent water repellency (water contact angle of 139.6 ± 2.9°), prolonging the service life of the filters and improving the air purification efficiency. The novel Ag@MWCNTs/Al2O3hybrid filter exhibits remarkable air purification performance in both laboratory synthetic conditions as well as in the "real world" and shows great promise as an effective single replacement for multiple layers of air purifying filters.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Special Separation Membrane, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, China. njutzzx@163.com.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ze-Xian
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Shasha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Zhaoxiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D061808:Air Filters; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D004391:Dust; D005374:Filtration; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D010316:Particle Size; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D004391:Dust; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D000099192:CD69 Antigens