Titanium Dioxide-Decorated and Silanized Electrospun Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Fibers for Filtration

Abstract Electrospinning methods have produced polymer-based non-woven fibers that have excellent filtration for use as air filter media, however most work have been focused on producing thinner fibers by reducing polymer loading. In this work, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic from used soda plastic bottles was electrospun and decorated with nano-TiO 2 to produce nonwoven media with antimicrobial properties. Electrospinning parameters were optimized to maintain higher loading percentage of PET to as much as 30% (w/v) with resulting fibers having an average diameter of 1.8 μm. Electrospun fiber mats were then treated with a silane-based binder for surface-decoration with nano-TiO 2 coating to impart antimicrobial properties to these fibers. XRF mapping showed uniform coating of the nanoparticles. Atomic ratios from XRF of Ti to Si did not significantly change before and after ultrasonication washing signifying the covalent coating of the nanoparticles onto the fiber matrix.