Fabrication of fabric-like bacterial cellulose/activated carbon membrane for filtering layer applications of face masks by using textile padding method
Abstract
Purpose
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an ideal alternative filtering material. However, current functionalization approaches for BC have not been fully discovered industrially as well as academically applying textile processing. This study aims to create a sustainable fabric-like membrane made of BC/activated carbon (AC) for applications in filtration using textile padding method, to protect people from respiratory pandemics.
Design/methodology/approach
Fabric-like BC is first mechanically dehydrated then AC is loaded via a textile padding step. The finishing efficacy, properties of fabric-like BC/AC and NaOH pretreatment are analyzed and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), CIELab color space, color strength (K/S), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm including Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) pore size and volume.
Findings
This research results in a fabric-like BC/AC with pore diameters of 3.407 ± 0.310 nm, specific surface area of 115.28 m2/g and an efficient scalable padding process, which uses 8 times less amount of chemical and nearly 30 times shorter treating duration than conventional methods.
Practical implications
Our globe is now consuming an alarming amount of non-degradable disposable masks resulting in massive trash buildup as a future environmental problem. Besides, current disposable masks requiring a significant upfront technological investment have posed challenges in human protection from respiratory diseases, especially for countries with limited conditions. By combining a sustainable material (BC) with popular padding method of textile industry, the fabric-like BC/AC will offer sustainable and practical values for both humankind and nature.
Originality/value
This research has offered an effective padding process to functionalize BC, and a unique fabric-like BC/AC membrane for filtration applications.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research is funded by MURATA SCIENCE FOUNDATION under grant number 22VH10. We acknowledge Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), VNU-HCM for supporting this study.
Conflict of Interest: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.
Author’s contributions: Conceptualization: Hung Ngoc Phan, Huong Mai Bui; Methodology: Hung Ngoc Phan; Formal analysis and investigation: Hung Ngoc Phan; Writing – original draft preparation: Hung Ngoc Phan; Writing – review and editing: Hung Ngoc Phan, Huong Mai Bui, Nguyen Khanh Vu; Funding acquisition: Phan Ngoc Hung, Bui Mai Huong; Supervision: Huong Mai Bui, Nguyen Khanh Vu.
Citation
Phan, H.N., Bui, H.M. and Vu, N.K. (2023), "Fabrication of fabric-like bacterial cellulose/activated carbon membrane for filtering layer applications of face masks by using textile padding method", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-06-2022-0071
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited