Biodegradable polymer composite for filtration applications

Traditional filters for water, fuel, and process fluids require replacement and disposal, raising environmental concerns. The growing need for sustainable waste management has spurred research into biodegradable filter materials that decompose naturally without releasing harmful substances into the environment. This study aimed to synthesize a novel, biodegradable polymer composite for filtration applications. For this purpose, the authors developed a unique method for producing highly porous polymer materials by spraying a colloidal solution on a substrate. The resulting polymer composite was analyzed using a SIMEX FT-801 FTIR spectrometer with a diamond ATR accessory. Component distribution within the composite was analyzed with a BIOMED-2 microscope and an eyepiece camera. The synthesis yielded a new biodegradable composite material composed of polylactide (PLA), BNK-28 AMN butadiene-nitrile rubber, and resorcinol. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of cis- and trans-substituted aromatic compounds, phenols, esters, and isonitriles in the composite material, indicating a complex mixture of polymer fibers. This suggests that some PLA macromolecules interact with resorcinol, while others interacted with the rubber component. Microscopic analysis revealed a highly porous structure with 20,750 pores/cm² and an average pore size of 31 microns. These results demonstrate the promising prospects of this novel biodegradable composite polymer as a sustainable filter material for air, water, and other liquids.

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