An efficient atmospheric pollution control using hierarchical porous nanofibers containing zeolitic-imidazolate-frameworks and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

Air pollution due to contaminants such as particulate matter (PM) and bacteria has become a global atmospheric pollution issue. Identifying effective methods for removing PM and other contaminants such as bacteria is an important challenge, and several efforts are being made to resolve it. In this study, we introduced a polystyrene (PS) hierarchical porous nanofiber (HAP/ZIF-8 @PS HPNF) containing a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) and hydroxyapatite (HAP) for PM (PM2.5, PM10) filtration and antibacterial applications. HAP/ZIF-8 @PS HPNF was manufactured by electrospinning of ZIF-8, which has a synergistic effect on the adsorption of PM and HAP that have antibacterial properties. The modified nanofibers improved the filtration performance and antibacterial activity by adsorbing PM (efficiency = 96.68% for PM2.5 and 96.98% for PM10) and reducing microbial populations (S. aureus and E. coli.). Thus, the well-dispersed ZIF-8 and HAP on the nanofibers, the multifunctional nanofibers are appropriate for use in environments with harmful PM as well as bacteria.