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As environmental pollution becomes increasingly serious, people's demand for clean air and water becomes more urgent, which has promoted the rapid development of the filter material market. However, traditional petroleum-based filter materials are difficult to degrade after use and are prone to secondary pollution. It is urgent to find environmentally friendly alternatives. The silk nanofiber (SNF) aerogel developed by the Wuhan Textile University team has become a new focus in the field of materials science and environmental protection with its excellent air filtration performance and sustainable characteristics.

 Unique structure lays the foundation for filtration performance 

The preparation of SNF aerogel is based on solvent-mediated ice crystal growth technology, which can produce large aerogels with adjustable structures on a large scale. By adding a small amount of chitosan to SNF, the mechanical properties and water resistance of the aerogel are significantly improved, so that it can also play a stable role in complex and changeable actual environments.

The three-dimensional porous network structure of the aerogel, which is interwoven by a large number of nanofibers, provides a physical basis for efficient air filtration. The tiny nanofibers can effectively intercept tiny particles in the air, while the porous network ensures the smooth flow of air, avoiding the influence of excessive resistance on the filtration effect, and achieving a good balance between filtration efficiency and air circulation.

 Efficient filtration of air pollutants 

In terms of air filtration, SNF aerogel has demonstrated extraordinary capabilities. It can efficiently filter air pollutants such as PM0.3 and smoke. PM0.3 is a fine particle that is extremely harmful to human health, and traditional filter materials have limited filtering effects on it.

SNF aerogel, with its nano-scale fiber structure, can accurately capture these tiny particles, greatly reducing the concentration of particulate matter in the air and creating a healthier breathing environment for people. Whether it is a large amount of smog generated by industrial emissions and automobile exhaust in the city, or harmful gases and particles such as secondhand smoke indoors, SNF aerogel can effectively filter them. Its filtering effect has been fully verified in relevant experiments, providing strong support for improving air quality.

 Sustainability advantages help environmental protection 

Compared with traditional petroleum-based filter materials, the sustainability advantages of SNF aerogel are particularly prominent. In the natural environment, SNF aerogel is safely biodegradable.

Commercial PP meltblown cloth basically does not degrade after one year of landfill, while the degradation rate of SNF aerogel waste after direct landfill is over 70%, greatly reducing the long-term pressure of waste on the environment. This feature not only fits the current environmental protection concept, but also conforms to the development trend of future filter materials, providing a new idea for solving the environmental problems of filter materials.

In air filtration applications, the use of SNF aerogel can effectively reduce environmental pollution caused by the replacement and disposal of filter materials, and achieve the dual goals of air purification and environmental protection.

Silk nanofiber aerogel has shown great potential and value in the field of air filtration due to its unique structure, high-efficiency air filtration performance and excellent sustainability. In the future, KLC will continue to innovate, explore, upgrade production processes, and improve quality, and make positive contributions to the development of the global low-carbon economy and the construction of green ecological civilization.