Effect of Nylon-6 Concentration on Morphology and Efficiency of Nanofibrous Media

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6531, Tehran, Iran

2 Nuclear science and Technology Research Institute, Nuclear Science Research School, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Electrospinning is a method of nanofiber filter media production. By this method, it is possible
to produce media with nanofiber in the range of nanometer to micrometer. Nanofibrous media provide a large specific surface area in a finite volume thus they are suitable for filtration applications. In this study, nanofiber non-woven membranes production of Nylon-6 by electrospinning method is investigated. It is demonstrated that the total filter efficiency and pressure drop increases by increasing the thickness of filer media. The objective of this experimental study was to find out the effect nylon concentration and thickness of nanofilter media.Samples by different Nylon-6 concentrations and time of electrospinning were made. The filtration characterizations of these media were investigated in different laboratory conditions. The SEM micrographs of specimens treated by ImageJ software reveal that the porosity passes by a minimum at 10% concentration. The diameter of nanofiber varied in the range of 47 to 89 nm when the nylon concentration varied from 7.5% to 15% respectively. The efficiency was improved more than three times by electrospinning operation for all three concentration samples. Our results showed that the highest efficiency obtained in this study was 99.96% belonging to 10% Nylon-6 concentration for 45 minutes electrospinning time.

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