In the current era where environmental pollution is becoming increasingly severe, people's demand for clean air and water has become more urgent, which has driven the rapid development of the filtration material market. However, traditional petroleum-based filtration materials are difficult to degrade after use and can easily cause secondary pollution. Therefore, it is urgent to find environmentally friendly alternatives. The team from Wuhan Textile University has developed silk nanofiber (SNF) aerogel, which, with its outstanding air filtration performance and sustainable characteristics, has become a new focus in the field of materials science and environmental protection. This achievement was published in the journal 《Small》.
Unique structure lays the foundation for filtration performance
The preparation of SNF aerogel is based on the solvent-mediated ice crystal growth technology, which can produce large blocks of aerogel with adjustable structures on a large scale. By adding a small amount of chitosan to the SNF, the mechanical properties and water resistance of the aerogel have been significantly improved, enabling it to function stably in complex and variable actual environments.
The internal structure of this aerogel is a three-dimensional porous network composed of a large number of nanofibers, providing a physical basis for efficient air filtration. The fine nanofibers can effectively intercept tiny particles in the air, while the porous network ensures smooth air flow, avoiding the impact on filtration efficiency due to excessive resistance, achieving a good balance between filtration efficiency and air flowability.
Efficient filtration of air pollutants
In terms of air filtration, SNF aerogel demonstrates extraordinary capabilities. It can efficiently filter PM0.3 and smoke and other air pollutants. PM0.3, as tiny particles, pose a great threat to human health. Traditional filtration materials have limited filtering effects on them.
However, SNF aerogel, with its nanoscale fiber structure, can precisely capture these tiny particles, significantly reducing the concentration of particulate matter in the air, creating a healthier breathing environment for people. Whether it is the large amounts of smoke generated by industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust in cities, or harmful gases and particles in indoor environments such as second-hand smoke, SNF aerogel can effectively filter them. Its filtering effect has been fully verified in relevant experiments, providing strong support for improving air quality.
Sustainability advantages contribute to environmental protection
Compared with traditional petroleum-based filtration materials, the sustainability advantages of SNF aerogel are particularly prominent. In the natural environment, SNF aerogel can be safely biodegraded.
Compared with the commercial PP melt-blown fabric, which does not degrade significantly after landfill for one year, the SNF aerogel waste has a degradation rate of over 70% after one year of direct landfill, significantly reducing the long-term pressure on the environment from waste. This characteristic not only aligns with the current environmental protection concept but also conforms to the development trend of future filtration materials, providing new ideas for solving the environmental problems of filtration materials.
In air filtration applications, using SNF aerogel can effectively reduce environmental pollution caused by the replacement and disposal of filtration materials, achieving the dual goals of air purification and environmental protection.
Silk nanofiber aerogel, with its unique structure, efficient air filtration performance, and outstanding sustainability, demonstrates great potential and value in the field of air filtration. In the future, KLC will continue to innovate, explore, upgrade production processes, and improve quality, making positive contributions to the global low-carbon economic development and green ecological civilization construction.