Elaboration of Polymeric Membranes using Phase Inversion Technique for the Removal of Particulate Matter (PM) from Air

Air pollution, particularly the presence of fine particulate matter (PM) pollutants, poses a significant environmental and public health threat. Recent research has placed a substantial focus on membrane technology as an effective filtration method to capture organic compounds emitted from industrial sites. In our investigation, we concentrated on the development of polymeric membranes utilizing the phase inversion technique. This method entails dissolving polymer solutions such as PMMA and TAC in chloroform, with the added modification of incorporating specific plasticizers. The membranes created were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The PM_2.5 samples were collected on the achieved membranes (TAC-based membranes) to assess their efficiency with that of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filters, during a 24-hour sampling at an industrial site known for its high levels of pollution.