FILTER AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME

• US 20100050872A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
• Original Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
• Inventors: LEE, Kwangyeol
• Application Number:
  US12/202,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20100050872A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/279
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/025 comprising nanofibres apparatus incorporating such gas filtering material see B01D46/546
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0258 comprising nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0442 Antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal additives apparatus incorporating such gas filtering material B01D46/0028
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0485 on particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/064 The fibres being mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/10 Filtering material manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/2031 the material being particulate
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/2055 Carbonaceous material solid sorbent compositions comprising free carbon B01J20/20
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/2082 the material being filamentary or fibrous
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/546 using nano- or microfibres

Abstract

The filter provided herein includes one or more nanofibers. In some examples of the filter, the nanofibers include one or more nanoparticles, in which the nanoparticles are at least partially surrounded by pockets.

Claims

1. A filter, comprising:

one or more nanofibers;

one or more nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are at least partially embedded in the one or more nanofibers; and

one or more pockets, wherein the pockets at least partially surround the one or more nanoparticles.

2. The filter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the nanoparticles and at least one of the pockets are at least partially exposed to the outside of the nanofiber.

3. The filter of claim 1, wherein the one or more nanofibers include a material selected from the group consisting of silica, carbon, and a combination thereof.

4. The filter of claim 1, wherein the one or more nanofibers include silica.

5. The filter of claim 1, wherein the one or more nanofibers include carbon.

6. The filter of claim 1, wherein the one or more nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of silver (Ag), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti) and combinations thereof.

7. The filter of claim 1, wherein the one or more nanoparticles comprise silver (Ag).

8. An air-filtering mask comprising the filter of claim 1.

19. A method of regenerating the filter of claim 1, comprising:

heating the filter containing a filtrand; and

contacting the heated filter with H₂ gas.

20. A method of regenerating the filter of claim 1, comprising:

exposing the filter containing a filtrand to radiation selected from the group consisting of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, X-ray, microwave, and combinations thereof.

21. A method of filtering, comprising:

contacting the filter of claim 1 with a material to be filtered.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of gas, liquid, gel and the combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, and combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, a saline solution, a medical solution, a biological solution, a pharmaceutical solution, and combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the method of filtering is performed at a place selected from the group consisting of a residential area, a commercial area, a non-commercial area, a school, a hospital, a vehicle, a car, an air-plane, a train, a subway, and a watercraft.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the filter is positioned in an air-filtering mask.

9. A device selected from the group consisting of an air-conditioner, an air-purifier, an air-cleaner, a water-filtering system, and a water-purification system, comprising a filter, wherein the filter comprises one or more nanofibers, one or more nanoparticles at least partially embedded in the nanofibers, and one or more pockets which at least partially surround the nanoparticles.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said device is utilized at a place selected from the group consisting of a residential area, a commercial area, a non-commercial area, a school, a hospital, a vehicle, a car, an airplane, a train, a subway, and a watercraft.

11. A method of manufacturing a filter comprising:

heating one or more nanoparticles coated with a surfactant in an organic solvent;

mixing a molten nanofiber source material together with the one or more nanoparticles in the organic solvent;

evaporating the organic solvent from the mixture of molten nanofiber source material and the heated nanoparticles;

making a nanoparticle-embedded nanofiber from the mixture of molten nanofiber source material and heated nanoparticles;

removing the surfactant from the nanofiber; and

forming the filter from the one or more nanofibers.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein removing the surfactant comprises:

heating the nanofiber with the at least partially embedded nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are coated with the surfactant.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein heating the nanofiber comprises:

providing heat having a temperature ranging from about 350°

C. to about 550°

C. to the nanofiber.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the nanofiber source material is selected from the group consisting of silica, carbon, and a combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the nanoparticle is selected from the group consisting of silver (Ag), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti) and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of dodecane thiol, trioctylphosphine, oleic acid, cetyltrimethyl ammoniumbromide (CTAB), hexadecyltrimethyl ammoniumbormide (HTMAB2), P123, Triton X-100, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, acetone, benzene, cyclohexane, t-butyl alcohol, any known organic solvent, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of 11, wherein at least one of the nanoparticles and at least one of the pockets are exposed to the outside of the nanofiber.