Fabrication of Polyaniline Coated Plasma Modified Polypropylene Filter for Antibioaerosol Application

ABSTRACT

The present study describes the fabrication of polyaniline (PANI) coated high power plasma treated polypropylene (PP) filter for antibioaerosol application. PANI was synthesized by emulsion polymerization method. PP filter was modified by plasma treatment followed by coating of PANI was performed by dip coating method and successfully characterized using SEM and FT-IR analysis. Antibioaerosol property of PANI coated plasma modified PP filter was assessed against E. coli, B. subtillis and S. aureus bioaerosols. Results revealed that water absorption property of plasma modified PP filter was significantly increased (2488%) as compared to unmodified PP filter (404%). Stability study shows that PANI coating is highly stable; concentration of PANI is higher on modified PP filter than the unmodified counterpart. PANI coated modified PP filter showed higher antibacterial efficiency than unmodified filter. It revealed nearly 100% inhibition efficiency against E. coli and B. subtillis and lower for S. aureus, but completely inhibited at high PANI concentration. Bioaerosol filtration study showed that after 120 min standing both E. coli and B. subtillis were completely inhibited by PANI coated modified PP filter. It is concluded that PANI coated plasma modified PP filter is an efficient antibioaerosol agent for above mentioned bioaerosols under given reaction conditions, could be further applied in the indoor air quality control.