Fabrication of low-cost and high-performance coal fly ash nanofibrous membranes via electrospinning for the control of harmful substances. (1st February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ge, Jun Cong; Kim, Ju Yeon; Yoon, Sam Ki; Choi, Nag Jung
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 237(2019)
• Page Start: 236
• Page End: 244
• Publication Date: 2019-02-01
• Subjects: Electrospinning -- Coal fly ash -- Silver nanoparticles -- Volatile organic compounds -- Antibacterial activity; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2018.09.068
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Multifunctional composite coal fly ash membranes are fabricated via electrospinning. VOCs adsorption effect is related to their own molecular structure and weight. Antibacterial activity mechanism of PAN/CFA/AgNO3 membranes has been summarized. Electrospun coal fly ash membranes have huge potential in further application. Abstract: The use of a high-performance and low-cost electrospun nanofiber membrane to remove harmful pollutants from the air is highly valuable in terms of commercial applications. In this paper three functional materials were successfully fabricated into a low-cost, high-performance fibrous mat via a simple and one-step electrospinning technology. These materials included coal fly ash (CFA), which is an industrial waste mainly derived from coal-fired power plants with an adsorption capacity for adsorbing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); silver nitrate (AgNO3 ), which imparts excellent antibacterial ability; and polyacrylonitrile (PAN), which serves as an electrospun substrate with high spin-ability. The binding properties of different amounts of CFA powder, AgNO3 and PAN were observed and analyzed in detail by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), biological transmission electron microscopy (Bio-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and other experimental analyses. The results show that the PAN nanofibers containing 40 wt% CFA (relative to the weight of PAN) had the highest VOCs adsorption capacity compared with other membranes. Furthermore, 2 wt% AgNO3 (relative to the weight of PAN) and 40 wt% CFA powder can be easily fabricated with and PAN nanofibers, and this electrospun PAN/CFA/AgNO3 composite membrane has excellent antibacterial ability on Gram-negative Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) (ATCC 52922) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) (ATCC 29231) bacteria. These electrospun fibrous mats currently stand as an emerging material that has huge development potential for treatment of environmental pollutants.