Performance and Regeneration Evaluation of rGO Filter Materials During Ultrasonic Cleaning with Different Cleaning Solutions

The regeneration of air filter materials can extend the service life of filters, and also reduce resource waste and air pollution caused by replacements, which directly lower carbon emissions. This paper focuses on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) filter materials, investigating the effects of ultrasonic cleaning utilizing water, lemon acid, and a cleaning agent. Regeneration performances were also tested and discussed and analyzed. Results show the synergistic effect of the cleaning agent and ultrasonic cleaning yields the most optimal regeneration performance. Compared to the water and lemon acid, filtration efficiency of rGO materials for PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_1.0 increased by 2.0%~12.15% and 0.42%~7.13%, 0.04%~5.67% and 0.03%~2.35%, and 0.02%~3.47% and 0.16%~2.02%, respectively. Filtration efficiency recovery rates for PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_1.0 using the cleaning agent exceeded 70%. Counting filtration efficiency exhibited significant changes for particle sizes from 0.265 to 1.0 μm. The resistance after water cleaning was higher than that of cleaning agent cleaning and lemon acid cleaning. After 10 cleaning cycles, the cleaning agent exhibited QF values that were 0.0012 Pa^-1, 0.0003 Pa^-1, and 0.0001 Pa^-1 higher for PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_1.0, respectively, compared to the water, and 0.0007 Pa^-1, 0.0001 Pa^-1, and 0.0001 Pa^-1 higher compared to the lemon acid. It provides data references for the efficient regeneration of rGO materials and promotes the green application of air filter materials.