UTILIZATION OF NATURAL FIBER AS NONWOVEN AIR FILTRATION MEDIA

• Main Author: Suriaman, Irwan
• Format: Dissertations
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/68820
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Pollution in big cities increases every year along with economic and population growth. Currently, the sources of pollution are dominated by vehicles and industry. In addition, other sources of pollution come from household activities and natural processes on the earth. Pollutant products consist of harmful chemical compounds and small solid particles called Particulate Matter (PM). PM research generally measures 2.5 ?m and 10 ?m or known as PM2.5 and PM10. PM2.5 dimensions are very fine which is difficult to filter during the inhalation process, so that it will enter the lungs along with oxygen. The PM2.5 air particles can contain inorganic and organic substances. Inorganic substances in air particles can be metal ions, salts, and other solids, while organic substances found in PM2.5 can be germs, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Pollutants produced in ambient air will have an impact on decreasing indoor air quality. This decrease in air quality has a negative impact on the quality of human health. These health effects range from respiratory tract infections to the onset of cancer which can lead to death. One thing that can be done to improve indoor air quality is to filter PM2.5 so that the air is clean and healthy. The general aim of this research is synthesize (manufacture) nonwoven air filtration media made from natural fiber. The synthesized air filtration media is expected to be able to filter PM2.5 air particles. The selection of natural fibers as raw material for air filtration media aims to balance synthetic fibers which are currently dominant as raw materials for air filtration media. In addition, synthetic fibers have disadvantages because they come from petroleum residues, contain lots of harmful chemicals, non biodagradable, and high production cost. The research consists of four stages, the first stage of research carried out is the characterization of natural fibers to be considered as raw materials for the synthesis of nonwoven air filtration media. There are three types of natural fiber used as research material, namely ramie fiber (Boehmeria nivea), sugar palm (Arenga vinnata), and coir (Coconus nucifera). The three types of fiber were chosen with consideration of their abundant availability in Indonesia. Furthermore, the three fibers were analyzed for their chemical, thermal, morphological, and mechanical properties. Chemical properties were analyzed through the Chesson Datta test and Fourier ransformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) testing. Thermal properties were analyzed through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Morphological were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the mechanical properties were analyzed through a single fiber tensile strength test (ultimate) according to the ASTM D3822-07 standard. Based on the results of the analysis of the chemical, thermal, morphological, and mechanical properties of the three types of natural fibers, ramie fiber was then selected as a raw material to be synthesized into nonwoven air filter media. The second stage of research is synthesis of the nonwoven air filtration media according to the standards of Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) T205 sp-02. First, providing hemp raw materials obtained from Garut, West Java. After that the flax was treated with an alkaline which aims to increase its mechanical strength and thermal resistance. Then the hemp is softened by a softopening machine. The manufacture of nonwoven air filter media is carried out by varying grammage, freeness, and alkali treatment (treated and untreated). The process of making nonwoven air filtration media begins with mashing the ramie fibers into pulp with a beater machine, then diluting it, then printing it with a handsheet machine then reducing the moisture content using a press machine without heat treatment, and then drying it at room temperature. The prototype stage for the laboratory scale has resulted in three product patent applications. In addition, nonwoven air filtration media characterization tests were carried out. The third stage of research is testing the prototype of nonwoven air filtration media through efficiency and pressure drop testing based on ASHRAE 52.2-2017 standards conducted at the Physical Instrument Laboratory of Institut Teknologi Bandung. The filter paper test results showed good performance, with an efficiency of about 60%. This test uses an injection of PM2.5 particles resulting from burning incense, considering into account the size and content of incense particles that represent air pollution particles based on research from the reviewed literature. The fourth stage of this research is for statistical analysis of the entanglement between variables that affects the performance of the nonwoven air filtration media. The dependent variables used: are efficiency and pressure drop, while the independent variables consist of: alkaline treatment, grammage, and freeness. The analysis was performed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Significant results for high efficiency and small pressure drop values on air filter media from ramie fiber with optimal alkali and grammage treatment.