DEVICES AND METHODS FOR WATER FILTRATION
The instant disclosure is directed to devices and methods for water filtration. A filter may comprise electrospun polymer fibers comprising an effective amount of an additive. The additive may be configured to react with chlorine. A method of manufacturing such a filter may comprise mixing a homogeneous solution comprising a polymer, a solvent, and an effective amount of an additive. The method may further comprise electrospinning the mixture onto a mandrel to form a scaffold comprising electrospun polymer fibers and the additive, and removing the scaffold from the mandrel to form a filter. A method of filtering a chlorine-containing liquid may comprise exposing the chlorine-containing liquid to such a filter, and exposing the chlorine-containing liquid to the filter may produce a purified liquid. The method may further include collecting the purified liquid. The purified liquid may contain about 85% less chlorine than the chlorine-containing liquid.
1 .- 38 . (canceled)
39 . A filter comprising:
electrospun polymer fibers comprising an effective amount of an additive;
wherein the additive is configured to react with chlorine.
40 . The filter of claim 39 , wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and ascorbic acid, and wherein the electrospun polymer fibers comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of nylon 6,6; polycaprolactone; and combinations thereof.
41 . The filter of claim 39 , wherein the effective amount of the additive is from about 40 wt % to about 400 wt % based on the weight of the electrospun polymer fibers.
42 . The filter of claim 39 , wherein the electrospun polymer fibers have a diameter of about 300 nm to about 1,300 nm.
43 . The filter of claim 39 , wherein the electrospun polymer fibers comprise nylon 6,6, and wherein the additive comprises activated carbon nanoparticles.
44 . The filter of claim 39 , wherein the filter is configured to be placed in a container capable of holding a liquid.
45 . A method of manufacturing a filter, the method comprising:
mixing a homogeneous solution comprising a polymer, a solvent, and an effective amount of an additive, wherein the additive is configured to react with chlorine;
electrospinning the mixture onto a mandrel to form a scaffold comprising electrospun polymer fibers and the additive; and
removing the scaffold from the mandrel to form the filter.
46 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and ascorbic acid, and wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of nylon 6,6; polycaprolactone; and combinations thereof.
47 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the effective amount of the additive is from about 40 wt % to about 400 wt % based on the weight of the electrospun polymer fibers.
48 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the homogeneous solution comprises from about 5 wt % to about 10 wt % of the polymer, and about 40 wt % of the additive based on the weight of the polymer.
49 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the polymer is nylon 6,6; wherein the additive is activated carbon; and wherein the homogeneous solution comprises about 7 wt % of the polymer, and about 40 wt % of the additive based on the weight of the polymer.
50 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the electrospun polymer fibers have a diameter of about 300 nm to about 1,300 nm.
51 . A method of filtering a chlorine-containing liquid, the method comprising:
exposing the chlorine-containing liquid to a filter, the filter comprising:
electrospun polymer fibers comprising an effective amount of an additive;
wherein the additive is configured to react to chlorine;
wherein exposing the chlorine-containing liquid to the filter produces a purified liquid suitable for drinking; and
collecting the purified liquid suitable for drinking.
52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the purified liquid contains about 85% less chlorine than the chlorine-containing liquid.
53 . The method of claim 51 , wherein exposing the chlorine-containing liquid to the filter is done at a flow rate of at least about 550 mL/min.
54 . The method of claim 51 , wherein exposing the chlorine-containing liquid to the filter is done at a pressure of at most about 4.6 psi.
55 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and ascorbic acid, and wherein the electrospun polymer fibers comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of nylon 6,6; polycaprolactone; and combinations thereof.
56 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the effective amount of the additive is about 40 wt % based on the weight of the electrospun polymer fibers.
57 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the electrospun polymer fibers have a diameter of about 300 nm to about 1,300 nm.
58 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the electrospun polymer fibers comprise nylon 6,6, and wherein the additive comprises activated carbon nanoparticles.