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Water Collection from Air by Electrospinning Hygroscopic Nanofibers

Shang, Zhihao
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1549363835073664

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Science, University of Akron, Polymer Science.
Nanofibers have a high surface to mass ratio. If nanofiber surface is hygroscopic it will provide a very effect way to collect water molecules from ambient air. Materials used in experiments include polyurethane (PU), polylactic acid (PLA) and cellulose acetate (CA). Water absorption ability was measured. In one case superabsorbent particles (SAP) were mixed with the nanofibers. It is necessary to know how fast the absorption onto nanofibers is. Calculation to estimate the diffusion coefficient is a way to estimate the rate. Instead of using electronic balance to measure nanofibers weight directly, picoammeter and voltammetry were used to design a new experimental method. Moisture content as a function of time is very precise in this indirect method. Equations derived from Fick’s law were used to calculate diffusion coefficients in the first half-sorption and the second half-sorption. The method is valuable for measuring moisture content in nanofiber mats at high humidity air. This experiment also shows clearly that removing the sample from a moist chamber to measure its weight is not precise. Another problem is the release of the collected water from the nanofibers mat. Microwave heating was used in this case. Water molecules are more effectively heated by microwave ovens, while many polymers are not heated by microwaves. This is a fast and powerful method to release collected water molecules from a hygroscopic nanofiber mat. A custom-made apparatus was designed, built and used. Relative humidity and pressure drop between inlet and outlet were measured. Knowledge of hydromechanics was used to create mathematic model describe pressure drop. Calculated results matched experimental results well.
Darrell Reneker (Advisor)
Mesfin Tsige (Committee Member)
50 p.
Nanoscience; Nanotechnology; Polymers

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Shang, Z. (2019). Water Collection from Air by Electrospinning Hygroscopic Nanofibers [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1549363835073664

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Shang, Zhihao. Water Collection from Air by Electrospinning Hygroscopic Nanofibers. 2019. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1549363835073664.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Shang, Zhihao. "Water Collection from Air by Electrospinning Hygroscopic Nanofibers." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1549363835073664

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1549363835073664
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© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.