Metal Organic Framework - Fabric Based Filters for Particulate Matter Filtration Using Large Scale Production Methods

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been utilized as adsorbents and filters for a wide range of materials, including gases, small molecules, proteins, etc. MOFs can be utilized as particulate matter filters if the MOFs are integrated into fabrics other polymeric membranes. However, the scalability of creating MOF-fabrics to obtain large area, high throughput production is one of the significant issues preventing a widespread adoption of MOF-fabrics for particulate matter filtration. Chiefly, there are few simple methods of obtaining rapid MOF growth in a manner suitable for large area MOF-fabric production. Here, we show a novel method of rapidly synthesizing the prototypical MOF UiO-66 on different fabrics using multiple cycles of sequential dip coating and the utility of these MOF-fabrics for particulate air filtration. We show that UiO-66 can be integrated into the fibers of multiples fabrics, with varying levels of efficacy. From these, we take the best-performing and industrially relevant fabrics, cotton and polyester, and study the impact of performing dip-coating using an industrial roller coater to be utilized in the future in roll-to-roll coating processes. These MOF-fabrics show continued efficacy even after 25 washing cycles. These results show reusable, rewashable MOF-fabrics for air filtration can be created using industrial roll-to-roll coating techniques.