Sustainable biomass-based filter for high-efficiency PM0.3 filtration
Abstract Biomass materials have been widely used in various industries to achieve a carbon-neutral and sustainable society. Here, we show a heterogeneous corn-based precursor strategy that transforms low-value agricultural waste into structural air filters composed of alternating microfibers (2.61 ±...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61863-2 |
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| _version_ | 1849332159859392512 |
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| author | Qingxiang Wang Zhaoxuan Niu Wanli Cheng Ming Yang Jie Yan Jiqing Lu Haijiao Yu Yiying Yue Yen Wei Dong Wang Shichao Zhang Bin Ding Guangping Han |
| author_facet | Qingxiang Wang Zhaoxuan Niu Wanli Cheng Ming Yang Jie Yan Jiqing Lu Haijiao Yu Yiying Yue Yen Wei Dong Wang Shichao Zhang Bin Ding Guangping Han |
| author_sort | Qingxiang Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Biomass materials have been widely used in various industries to achieve a carbon-neutral and sustainable society. Here, we show a heterogeneous corn-based precursor strategy that transforms low-value agricultural waste into structural air filters composed of alternating microfibers (2.61 ± 1.11 µm) with grooved surface and nanofibers (0.29 ± 0.18 µm). Utilizing a green solute-solvent system of zein derived from corn and cellulose extracted from corn straw, the process ensures sustainability across raw material sources, fabrication, filtration, and end-of-life degradation. By tailoring relative humidity and incorporating cellulose, an incomplete nonsolvent-induced phase separation is triggered, leading to a corn-based dual-network filter with high filtration performance (>99.99% PM0.3 removal) and low pressure drop (45 Pa). The life cycle assessment demonstrates that the corn-based filter results in lower carbon emissions and environmental impacts than petroleum-based filters. This work provides a promising pathway toward the development of sustainable and disposable filtration materials. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-39e7be9467b44aa79ed1b7de8f8bb0d2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-39e7be9467b44aa79ed1b7de8f8bb0d22025-08-20T03:46:17ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-61863-2Sustainable biomass-based filter for high-efficiency PM0.3 filtrationQingxiang Wang0Zhaoxuan Niu1Wanli Cheng2Ming Yang3Jie Yan4Jiqing Lu5Haijiao Yu6Yiying Yue7Yen Wei8Dong Wang9Shichao Zhang10Bin Ding11Guangping Han12Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Material Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry UniversityKey Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Material Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry UniversityKey Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Material Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry UniversityState Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Material Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry UniversityKey Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Material Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry UniversityKey Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Material Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry UniversityCollege of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry UniversityKey Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Material Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry UniversityState Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua UniversityState Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Material Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry UniversityAbstract Biomass materials have been widely used in various industries to achieve a carbon-neutral and sustainable society. Here, we show a heterogeneous corn-based precursor strategy that transforms low-value agricultural waste into structural air filters composed of alternating microfibers (2.61 ± 1.11 µm) with grooved surface and nanofibers (0.29 ± 0.18 µm). Utilizing a green solute-solvent system of zein derived from corn and cellulose extracted from corn straw, the process ensures sustainability across raw material sources, fabrication, filtration, and end-of-life degradation. By tailoring relative humidity and incorporating cellulose, an incomplete nonsolvent-induced phase separation is triggered, leading to a corn-based dual-network filter with high filtration performance (>99.99% PM0.3 removal) and low pressure drop (45 Pa). The life cycle assessment demonstrates that the corn-based filter results in lower carbon emissions and environmental impacts than petroleum-based filters. This work provides a promising pathway toward the development of sustainable and disposable filtration materials.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61863-2 |
| spellingShingle | Qingxiang Wang Zhaoxuan Niu Wanli Cheng Ming Yang Jie Yan Jiqing Lu Haijiao Yu Yiying Yue Yen Wei Dong Wang Shichao Zhang Bin Ding Guangping Han Sustainable biomass-based filter for high-efficiency PM0.3 filtration Nature Communications |
| title | Sustainable biomass-based filter for high-efficiency PM0.3 filtration |
| title_full | Sustainable biomass-based filter for high-efficiency PM0.3 filtration |
| title_fullStr | Sustainable biomass-based filter for high-efficiency PM0.3 filtration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sustainable biomass-based filter for high-efficiency PM0.3 filtration |
| title_short | Sustainable biomass-based filter for high-efficiency PM0.3 filtration |
| title_sort | sustainable biomass based filter for high efficiency pm0 3 filtration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61863-2 |
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