Development of Activated Charcoal-Treated Polyester Cotton Blend Fabric for improving Pollutant Removal Efficiency

Air pollution has become a critical global issue, particularly in urban environments, due to
the increasing prevalence of industrial activities and vehicular emissions. Conventional air
filtration systems, although effective against particulate matter (PM), struggle to capture
gaseous pollutants such as total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and CO 2 , necessitating
advanced filtration materials. Activated charcoal, with its high surface area and porous
structure, is an effective adsorbent for both particulate and gaseous pollutants, making it a
valuable component for air filtration technologies. In this study, the prime challenge was to
optimize different parameters to enhance filtration efficiency without affecting the fabric’s
usability. Thereby, this study explored the enhancement of polyester-cotton (PC) blend fabric
filtration efficiency by applying activated charcoal. Optimization of parameters, viz. activated
charcoal concentration (1-5%), acrylic binder concentration (0-20%), and exhaustion time (5-
40 minutes), resulted in a balance between filtration performance and fabric usability. The
optimal conditions were found to be 3.5% activated charcoal, 10% acrylic binder, and 25
minutes of exhaustion time, yielding improvements in water contact angle (>135°), air
permeability (10.75 ft³/min/ft²), and wetting time (3600s). The treated fabric exhibited
significant improvements, achieving 17.75% enhancement in PM2.5 filtration, 21.19% in
PM10, 12% in CO₂ reduction, and an impressive 24.77% in TVOC removal. Additionally,
the treated fabric demonstrated a 95% and 93% reduction in the growth of Staphylococcus
aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. Overall, the study has resulted in the
development of activated charcoal-treated PC fabric that offers a practical solution to the
health risks posed by indoor air pollution while also offering antimicrobial properties, making
it suitable for diverse applications in air purification and healthcare.