Fabrication of Antibacterial Ag/Graphene-Integrated Non-woven Polypropylene Textile for Air Pollutant Filtering

Waste and Biomass Valorization https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-023-02101-y ORIGINAL PAPER Fabrication of Antibacterial Ag/Graphene‑Integrated Non‑woven Polypropylene Textile for Air Pollutant Filtering Duong Duc La1 · Kieu Trang Thi Pham2,3 · Hoan Thi Lai4 · Duc Luong Tran5 · Cong Van Bui3 · Phuong Hong Thi Nguyen2 · S. Wong Chang6 · Myoung‑Jin Um6,7 · D. Duc Nguyen6,8 Received: 21 July 2022 / Accepted: 25 February 2023 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2023 Abstract Air pollution and infectious diseases (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) have attracted considerable attention from governments and scientists worldwide to find the best solutions to address these issues. In this study, a new simultaneous antibacterial and particulate matter (PM) filtering Ag/graphene-integrated non-woven polypropylene textile was fabricated by simply immersing the textile into a Ag/graphene-containing solution. The Ag/graphene nanocomposite was prepared by reducing Ag ions on the surface of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) using the leaf extract. The prepared Ag/graphene textile was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), and contact angle measurements. The results showed excellent integration of the Ag/GNP nanocomposite into the nonwoven polypropylene textile matrix. The prepared textile exhibited superhydrophobicity with a contact angle of 152°. The maximum PM removal percentage of the Ag/GNP-integrated textile was determined to be 98.5% at an Ag/GNP content of 1.5% w/w and a silicon adhesive of 1% w/w. The Ag/GNP textile exhibited high antibacterial activity toward Escherichia coli with no sign of bacteria on the surface. Remarkably, the as-prepared Ag/GNP textile was highly durable and stable and could be reused many times after washing. Graphical Abstract Keywords Graphene nanoplatelets · Antibacterial textile · Particulate matter · Silver nanoparticles · Ag/GNPs-coated textile Extended author information available on the last page of the article 13 Vol.:(0123456789) Waste and Biomass Valorization Statement of Novelty The novelty of this research lies in the development of a cutting-edge air pollutant filtering solution - a novel Ag/ graphene-integrated non-woven polypropylene textile. This textile exhibits unparalleled, simultaneous abilities to filter particulate matter (PM) and eradicate bacteria. What makes this fabrication process even more exciting is that it employs a green synthesis approach using leaf extract as a reducing agent, promoting environmental sustainability. Integration of the Ag/graphene nanocomposite into the non-woven polypropylene textile matrix was accomplished via a cost-effective, simple immersion technique, further advancing the practicality of this solution. The resulting textile demonstrated exceptional PM removal, high antibacterial activity, and durability, making it an extremely promising tool for air pollution control, particularly during pandemics like COVID-19. Introduction Modernization, industrialization, and rapid population growth have caused severe air pollution that threatens human health and ecosystems [1, 2]. Among these, particulate matter (PM) derived from smog, transportation, construction dust, fossil combustion, and emissions are considered major threats that can easily penetrate human organs, causing headaches, cancers, and even death [3–6]. Escherichia coli, a water-borne pathogenic bacterium, is one of the most common pathogens recognized worldwide, posing a severe risk to human health, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries [7–12]. Thus, it is necessary to find effective and practical solutions to prevent the intrusion of PMs and E. coli into the human body. Many materials, such as metal–organic frameworks, carbon-based materials, and non-woven textiles have been employed to effectively filter PMs from polluted air [13–16]. Non-woven textiles have been widely used in many practical applications for PM filtering, such as protective masks and in-line filtering membranes [17, 18]. However, non-woven textiles can be a suitable medium for bacteria to grow and reside, which may further lead to infections. Many nanomaterials with antimicrobial effects have been utilized to kill and inhibit the growth of bacteria, including u2O, CuO, and CdO [19–25]. ZnO, Fe3O4, TiO2, MgO, Ag, C Among these, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been demonstrated to be the most effective for controlling the growth of gram-negative foodborne pathogens, especially E. Coli [26]. Thus, Ag NPs are considered a promising material for controlling multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria. However, silver metal at the nanoscale can easily release 13 g+ ions, which are cytotoxic to humans; as a result, their A application in biofields is limited [27]. To overcome this disadvantage, Ag NPs can be synthesized and composited with several supporting materials, such as activated carbon, metal–organic frameworks, graphene, carbon nanotubes, and aerogel, which considerably enhance the antibacterial efficiency and stability of the Ag NPs [22, 28–31]. Graphene, a 2D structured, novel carbon-derived advanced material, has made its presence in several promising applications, including sensing, environmental remediation, additives, energy storage, supercapacitors, and conductive ink [32–35]. With remarkable mechanical properties, electron transfer property, hydrophobicity, and high surface area, graphene is effective in the removal of PM and is often utilized as supporting material for nanomaterials [16, 30, 36–38]. For example, copper mesh-coated graphene foam was successfully prepared, and on the application of an electrical current, demonstrated a PM removal percentage up to 99% [39]. In another study, Li’s group fabricated an air filter by integrating graphene oxide (GO) into the polyacrylonitrile's (PAN) network, which had high PM removal percentage of up to 99.97% with low-pressure dropping of 8 Pa [40]. However, the hydrophilic nature of GO could restrict the application of filtering materials in a highly humid environment; especially, because the filter could encourage the growth of microbes. Silver nanoparticles could be an appropriate candidate to enable the antimicrobial properties of the graphene-based filter. To do this, the graphene/Ag NPs composite could be fabricated separately before integrating into the textile. Several methods have been effectively employed to prepare the graphene/Ag NPs composite, including, but not limited to, biological, chemical, and microwave irradiation methods [41–43]. The chemical method is the most widely used approach to preparing the composite [44–47]. However, the graphene/Ag NPs composite preparation uses a chemical reducing agent, resulting in serious environmental issues and human health. Thus, the alternative green synthesis for the graphene/Ag NPs composite using environmentally friendly reducing agents h (...truncated)