Production of air filter with high antibacterial, mechanical, and filtration properties

Air pollution is an increasing concern all over the world due to its adverse effects on human health. Particulate matter (PM) and various gaseous pollutants in the air cause many different diseases such as asthma, skin irritation, high blood pressure, cancer, birth defects. As a result of a study, it has been revealed that more than 3.2 million people in the world die every year due to toxic substances such as PM2.5. Turkey is among the countries where early death cases caused by PM2.5 and other air pollutants are high. One of the most effective ways to improve air quality is to reduce the amount of harmful substances such as PM2.5 in the air. Air filters play a crucial role in solving such problems, but currently available commercial air filters cannot achieve the expected effect due to some disadvantages. Nanofibers are used in many different fields due to their properties. One of these usage areas is air filters. Depending on the nanofiber used, improvements in mechanical, antibacterial, filtration, and other properties can be achieved. In this thesis study, a 3-layer (PVA @ Chitosan / PVA @ Cellulose / PVA @ Chitosan) air filter that has antibacterial properties and recycling features was produced for the first time via the electrospinning method. The obtained nanofiber surfaces were tested in terms of antibacterial, air permeability, and filtration efficiency. Within our knowledge, the new nanofiber-based 3-layer (PVA @ Chitosan / PVA @ Cellulose / PVA @ Chitosan) air filter, which is not included in the literature and is not commercially available, was produced for the first time. With the new 3-layer air filter formulation, an environmentally friendly nanofiber air filter with high antibacterial, mechanical, and filtration properties has been developed to be an alternative product to the existing filters in this field has been made. Hence, many harmful particles in the air will be captured, and the rate of diseases caused by air pollution will be reduced.