Compressed Cellulose Filter Material for Biodegradable Air Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter materials, such as those used in cigarette filters and air/gas cleaning systems, face challenges in balancing effective filtration with biodegradability, as they often rely on non-biodegradable materials like cellulose acetate that are difficult to decompose and persist in the environment.
Innovation Solution
A filter material composed of compressed cellulose fibers, arranged in a nonwoven structure with specific embossed areas to enhance strength and permeability, which is biodegradable and meets European composting standards, allowing for effective retention of suspended matter and gases while being environmentally friendly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellulose acetate is used as filter material, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but biodegradability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the filter material from cellulose acetate to natural cellulose fibers, transforming the material's biodegradability parameter while maintaining filtration performance through optimized fiber structure and arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite filter material combining natural cellulose fibers with specific structural characteristics (fluffiness, interfiber spaces) to achieve both effective filtration and biodegradability, replacing the homogeneous cellulose acetate structure
2Strength
If cellulose fibers are compressed to increase strength, then mechanical strength is improved, but permeability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local compression to specific regions of the cellulose fiber material rather than uniform compression throughout, creating zones of increased density for strength while preserving zones of high porosity for gas permeability and filtration effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The filter material is structured as a nonwoven mat with segmented, randomly arranged cellulose fibers creating interconnected void spaces, allowing gas flow paths to be maintained even when certain fiber regions are compressed for structural integrity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The filter material achieves a good retention effect for suspended matter and gases while being biodegradable, meeting environmental standards for composting and recycling, and can be adapted for various applications including cigarette filters and air/gas cleaning systems.
Implementation Method 1
The fiber material used comprises a fiber layer made of cellulose fibers, which are connected to one another in certain areas by pressing with compression of the cellulose fibers in the pressed areas
Implementation Method 2
Filter materials for cleaning air and gases, called gas filters for short, are used to filter out unwanted suspended matter such as pathogens, pollen, dust or foreign gases from the air or gas
Implementation Method 3
The cellulose or cellulose fibers from which the filter material is made are inexpensive and commercially available materials. In addition, they are easy to process
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a filter material for cleaning air and gases, comprising a fiber layer (2) made of cellulose fibers bonded to each other in segments by pressing, thus compacting the cellulose fibers in the pressed areas (4).