Fabrication of Biodegradable and Sustainable Hemp Hurds/PVA Composite Membrane and Application to Particulate Matter Filtration

Abstract

Particulate matter (PM) pollution has emerged as one of the most serious environmental problems, because of its detrimental impact on the well-being of people. Consequently, the development of a PM removal filter that is both economical and energy-efficient is imperative. This study investigates the fabrication and performance evaluation of biodegradable and sustainable nanofiber membranes composed of waste hemp hurds and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for particulate matter PM filtration. The fabrication of the hemp/PVA composite membranes was accomplished via electrospinning, with the hemp hurds powder content ranging from 1 to 20 wt%. A comprehensive analysis was subsequently performed on the morphology, thermal properties, and filtration performance of the resulting membranes. Filtration tests using cigarette smoke revealed exceptional PM removal efficiencies, with the 15 wt% HH/PVA membrane achieving the highest efficiency of 98.74% for PM2.5 and 98.73% for PM10, alongside a superior quality factor of 0.049 Pa-1. The membranes demonstrated enhanced PM capture due to increased surface roughness and particle collision probability. These findings suggest that hemp-doped membranes are viable eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based filters, providing efficient PM filtration with sustainable benefits.