Sustainable material for filter fabric manufacturing: properties and feasibility

Abstract Textile filters retain solid particles in fluids, necessitating fibres compatible with operational and environmental conditions. Organic and recycled materials like Luffa cylindrica (vegetable loofah) offer sustainable alternatives to synthetic polymers. This study evaluated loofah's viability by comparing its properties to conventional filter materials through a systematic review (45 articles) and experimental characterization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and N2 adsorption/desorption analyses revealed loofah's smooth, low-porosity fibres (mean diameter: 160 µm) composed of carbon and oxygen, with thermal stability to 300°C. FT-IR confirmed cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The mesoporous structure exhibited a 23.57 m2 g−1 surface area and 0.033 cm3 g−1 pore volume. Fabricated filters had a basis weight of 291 g m−2, thickness of 4.32 mm, and mean breaking strength of 5.25 N (peak: 10.96 N). Results demonstrate loofah's potential for sustainable textile filters, aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 9 and 12. Further research is needed to assess performance in diverse operational contexts.