Effect of Glutaraldehyde on the Properties of PEO/Chitosan Nanofiber Membranes for AC Air Filters

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) chitosan (CS) nanofiber membranes are promising for air filtration due to their biodegradability and antibacterial properties. However, limited mechanical strength restricts their use in high airflow systems like air conditioners (AC). This study investigated the influence of glutaraldehyde (GA) crosslinking on the morphology and mechanical performance of PEO/CS nanofiber membranes fabricated by electrospinning. Membrane morphology and fiber diameter were analyzed using SEM and optical microscopy, while tensile properties were evaluated following ASTM D882. More GA made the fibers thinner and more uniform. The membrane with 2% GA had the highest tensile strength (2.24 MPa) and modulus (15.56 MPa) because it had more crosslinking. The PEO/CS/GA-2 membrane was used as an AC air filter for three, six, and ten days in a row. After 3 days, the membrane still showed structural integrity, but significant degradation occurred by day 6, and by day 10 it became brittle and non-reusable. A 3-day usage period is recommended to maintain filtration efficiency and mechanical stability. Noted that this study is the first study to apply GA-crosslinked PEO/CS nanofiber membranes in a real AC filtration system.