Separation of aerosol particles using polymeric membranes

This diploma thesis deals with the separation of aerosol particles on membranes from polypropylene hollow fibers. As a source of particles, a desktop 3D printer using polymer filaments was used. Filtration efficiency and a pressure drop on a hollow polypropylene fiber membrane and a high efficiency particulate filter (HEPA filter) were monitored during filtration of particles from 3D print using filaments of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, polylactic acid and polyethylene terephthalate glycol at nearly the same air flow. The results achieved by both filer media are then compared and discussed. The results show that the hollow fiber membrane achieves better filtration efficiency at higher particle concentrations, while using the less emitting materials, the efficiency of the HEPA filter was higher or the same. The total filtration efficiency calculated from all experiments with all filaments was higher for the hollow fiber membrane with higher pressure drop at the same time