Nanofibrous Mats for Particulate Matter Filtration

Biomass consumption and fossil fuel combustion are key contributors to particulate matter (PM) pollution, resulting in ecological disturbances, climate change, and an increase in serious global health problems, related to common respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Strategies have been initiated to curb the filtration of PM. Specifically, nanofibrous mats render high filtration efficiency for removing PM from the gas stream due to their low basis weight, wide area to volume ratio, and small pore size. In this review, we holistically took into account the raw materials and fabrication techniques of nanofibrous filters constituting electrospinning, blow spinning, and natural/freeze-drying. We highlighted the mechanism of PM capture and the basic parameters for PM filtration which entail efficiency removal, pressure drop, quality factor, and reusability. Additionally, challenges in filter cleaning, low airflow rate, and filtration efficiencies, coupled with future perspectives using biobased nanofiber mats still need to be addressed going forward.