IMMOBILISATION OF METAL ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS IN ELECTROSPUN POLYSTYRENE NANOFIBERS

Abstract

The current technology of air-filtration materials for protection against highly toxic chemicals is primarily based on the broad and effective adsorptive properties of hydrophobic activated carbons. However, adsorption does not prevent these materials from behaving as secondary emitters once they are contaminated. Thus; the development of efficient self-cleaning filters is of high interest. The present work deals with the use of electrospinning technology to develop fibers incorporating metal organic framework molecules (MOFs) that exhibit the potential to selectively capture gases such as toxic industrial chemicals, providing a filtration system that can help protect first responders and others at high risk for exposure to such substances. MOFs are crystalline porous compounds that can be customized via nano-level manipulation to trap specific gases. In the present work, we have immobilised a highly celebrated metal organic framework i.e. MOF-5 in polystyrene (PS) fibers using the electrospinning technique. MOF-5 (Zn4O(BDC)3) was chosen as an adsorbent in view of its exceptionally high surface area and its stability under the operating conditions employed during electrospinning. Nano-fibrous webs, being much lighter allows sufficient savings in terms of weight along with providing necessary strength and increased surface area can result in an exceptional increase in ability to attach or release, absorbed molecules, catalytic moieties, functional groups etc. thus can be used to make air filters or functional textiles. [1]This thesis focuses on establishing the effect of increasing concentration of the polymer on the morphology of the electrospun fibers of polystyrene using Hamilton needle. The effect of increasing amounts of MOFs on electrospun fibers of polystyrene has also been studied in detail for potential application in the field of air filtration. Non-wovens mat were produced and characterized with regard to their stability, porosity and morphology.