Development of Activated Charcoal-Treated Polyester Cotton Blend Fabric for improving Pollutant Removal Efficiency

Air pollution has become a critical global issue, particularly in urban environments, due to the increasing prevalence of industrial activities and vehicular emissions. Conventional air filtration systems, although effective against particulate matter (PM), struggle to capture gaseous pollutants such as total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and CO 2 , necessitating advanced filtration materials. Activated charcoal, with its high surface area and porous structure, is an effective adsorbent for both particulate and gaseous pollutants, making it a valuable component for air filtration technologies. In this study, the prime challenge was to optimize different parameters to enhance filtration efficiency without affecting the fabric’s usability. Thereby, this study explored the enhancement of polyester-cotton (PC) blend fabric filtration efficiency by applying activated charcoal. Optimization of parameters, viz. activated charcoal concentration (1-5%), acrylic binder concentration (0-20%), and exhaustion time (5- 40 minutes), resulted in a balance between filtration performance and fabric usability. The optimal conditions were found to be 3.5% activated charcoal, 10% acrylic binder, and 25 minutes of exhaustion time, yielding improvements in water contact angle (>135°), air permeability (10.75 ft³/min/ft²), and wetting time (3600s). The treated fabric exhibited significant improvements, achieving 17.75% enhancement in PM2.5 filtration, 21.19% in PM10, 12% in CO₂ reduction, and an impressive 24.77% in TVOC removal. Additionally, the treated fabric demonstrated a 95% and 93% reduction in the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. Overall, the study has resulted in the development of activated charcoal-treated PC fabric that offers a practical solution to the health risks posed by indoor air pollution while also offering antimicrobial properties, making it suitable for diverse applications in air purification and healthcare.