The synthesis of nanofiber membranes from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) waste using electrospinning for use as air filtration media

Abstract

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) waste has been successfully recycled into nanofiber membranes by an electrospinning method for air filter applications. The ABS precursor solutions were made by dissolving the ABS waste in three different solvents, DMAc, DMF, and THF, with various concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 wt%. The solvent and solution concentrations affected the fiber properties (size and morphology) and membrane properties (wettability, crystallinity, and mechanical). Accordingly, we tested the fabricated membranes using SEM, FTIR, XRD, water contact angle, and tensile strength test measurements. The SEM images depicted three different morphologies, i.e. beads, beaded fibers, and pure fibers. The FTIR spectra showed that the solvents completely evaporated during the electrospinning process. The water contact angle test exhibited the hydrophobic properties of all the membrane samples. The XRD spectra showed the amorphous structures of all the membranes. The tensile strength test showed that the membranes fabricated using DMF and DMAc solvents had the best mechanical properties. Considering the fiber size, wettability, and mechanical properties, the membranes fabricated using DMAc and DMF solvents had the best criteria as air filter media. Filtration tests on the membranes fabricated using DMAc and DMF solvents with various solution concentrations depicted that the beads affected the membrane pressure drop and efficiency. The beads gave more space among the fibers, which facilitated the air flow through the membrane. The beads greatly reduced the pressure drop without an overly reduced membrane filtration efficiency. This led to a high-quality factor of the membranes that demonstrated their applicability as potential air filter media.