(481g) Bio-Based Nanofibers from Food Waste for Enhanced Performance By Removal of Particulate Matter and VOCs and Its Comparative Analysis

Air pollution has significant impacts on human health and the environment. Air filters are important for maintaining healthy, and clean particle free indoor air quality at homes. There are several issues with available air filters/purifiers for homes such as high cost, low life span due to exponential increase in pressure drop and end-of-life solid waste disposal. Therefore, we are investigating green electrospinning for synthesis of a novel biodegradable electrospun nanofibers (EN) from food waste materials and offering a closed loop circular solution. We have fabricated EN from banana peel extract (BPE), egg shell membrane, chitosan and starch blended with PVA. Of the multiple food waste preliminarily studied, the BPE/PV nanofiber showed most efficient result with minimum pressure drop (156-160 Pa), highest filtration efficiency (> 98%), capturing VOCs from the air, and highest quality factor (Qf) in comparison with other ENs. It also improved nanofiber property such as decrease in nanofiber diameter, reduced hydrophilicity, increases surface area and additional functional group with respect to air filters. Without loss of nanofiber morphology, we have demonstrated successful regeneration and reuse of BPE/PV filter up to 3 cycles. The filtration efficiency of fabricated BPE/PV is higher than the conventional HEPA filters. Banana peel extraction leftover material was used to improve soil water holding capacity and showed approximately 55% soil water retention capacity. By using food waste materials and reducing the need for disposable filters, we contribute to sustainability efforts by reducing the environmental footprint associated with air filtration. This fabricated air filters can be considered for deploying into household air purifiers.