COMPARISON OF FILTRATION PERFORMANCE BETWEEN NEAT AND PLASMA-TREATED PAN / MGO NANOFIBERS IN THE REMOVAL OF 10 TO 1000 NM PARTICLES

Introduction: The present study aimed to compare the filtration performance between neat hybrid electrospun nanofibers consisting of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles and plasma treated ones in removing fine particles from the air stream. Methodology: The upper surface of the nanofibers were processed by cold-plasma with a radio frequency power supply (13.56 MHz with a power of 20 watts), argon gas and operating pressure of 0.2 torr. Initial efficiency tests for numerical removal of particles have been done in accordance with standards ISO 29463 and EN 779. Pressure drop and quality factor were determined for the fabricated media. In order to confirm the presence of magnesium oxide nanoparticles in the nanofibers, X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) was prepared. Analysis algorithms of SEM images were used to calculate the porosity of filters using MATLAB software. Result: The mean initial efficiency of neat and plasma-treated media was 90.77 ± 6.7 % and 73.66 ± 8.86 % for collecting particles from 10 to 1000 nm, respectively. The initial mean pressure drop of the neat and treated media at the test face velocity was 78.22 ± 3.11 pa and 22.00 ± 2.33 pa, respectively, and their mean quality factor for collecting 10 to 1000 nm particles was 0.029 and 0.010 (Pascal/1), respectively. Conclusion: By performing plasma treatment, collection efficiency of particle decreased, but with a significant decrease in pressure drop, so neat media ultimately presented the higher score of quality factor than treated one