US EPA

1624443 

Journal Article 

Effect of Solvent Exposure on the Filtration Performance of Electrostatically Charged Polypropylene Filter Media 

Kim, J; Hinestroza, JP; Jasper, W; Barker, RL 

2009 

1 

Textile Research Journal
ISSN: 0040-5175
EISSN: 1746-7748 

79 

4 

343-350 

English 

10.1177/0040517508090887 

WOS:000263542200007 

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-60149107174&doi=10.1177%2f0040517508090887&partnerID=40&md5=845b0b6b3bf94d0ff70a95f71278aba8
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Solvent-induced performance deterioration in corona charged polypropylene electret filter media was studied. Electret media, exposed to isopropanol (IPA) in the liquid phase, exhibited reduced filtration efficiency with negligible changes in the pressure drop across the media. Scanning electron microscopy imaging indicated no observable morphological changes after IPA exposure. Solvent-induced efficiency deterioration of electret filter media was hypothesized to originate from charge deterioration rather than charge masking. The charge of the individual fibers in filter media was characterized using electrostatic force microscopy (EFM). EFM investigation produced evidence that exposure to IPA in the liquid phase affected the electrostatic charges on fibers. Exposure to organic solvents such as xylene, toluene, and ethyl benzene has been reported to increase charge mobility in polypropylene fibers, thereby reducing the electrostatic charge and the ability of the fibers in the electret filter media to capture particulates. 

electret filter media; electric force microscopy; filtration