In Situ Growth of Cu-BTC on Polypropylene for High-Efficiency Antibacterial Air Filters

Abstract

In many countries and regions, air pollution has become an environmental problem that cannot be ignored. Therefore, air filters with high efficiency, low resistance and strong antibacterial activity should be developed. In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan was impregnated on the surface of PP melt-blown layer to enhance the adsorption of copper ions on PP non-woven fabric. The porous nanomaterial Cu-BTC nanoparticles were loaded on the fibre surface of PP non-woven fabric by in-situ growth method. The micro–nano-composite membrane was prepared by electrospinning TPU on the surface of PP@Cu-BTC. The micro–nano-composite membrane could capture PM2.5 efficiently, and the filtration efficiency of PM2.5 particles was 97.7%. The composite membrane also exhibited excellent antibacterial properties. The inhibition rate of the composite membrane to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli reached 99.9%. In addition, the composite membrane demonstrated strong stability, and the corresponding inhibition rate did not decrease after washing and drying five times. The membrane featured high-efficiency filtration, excellent antibacterial performance and stability. The PP@Cu-BTC/TPU composite membrane provides a new idea for preparing stable, efficient and antibacterial air filtration membranes.