Investigation on filtration properties of polyester needle-punched dust filter

In nonwoven filter fabrics, virgin polyester fibre is mostly used. Therefore, this study has been conducted with the use of virgin polyester fibre and recycled polyester fibre which is obtained after recycling of post-consumer bottle flakes to reduce the cost of filter fabric. The study is concerned to examine the effect of fabric GSM (grams/m(2)), needling density and depth of needle penetration on filtration efficiency and also to see the suitability of recycled polyester fibre in place of virgin polyester fibre. The study has shown that the increase in fabric weight resulted in increase in the filtration efficiency percentage. The increase in the depth of needle penetration resulted in increase in the extent of filtration efficiency initially; subsequently, it decreased. Similar trends were observed in case of both recycled polyester filter fabrics and virgin polyester filter fabrics. Though the filtration efficiency of filter fabrics prepared from virgin polyester fibre was slightly higher, the filtration efficiency of fabrics prepared from recycled polyester fibre was lower by only 2 to 3 per cent due to close difference in values of molecular weight (Mw) and polydispersity index (PDI). Therefore, looking to the filtration efficiency percentage, it may be suggested that recycled polyester fibre can be used in place of virgin polyester fibre for the manufacturing of needle-punched nonwoven filter fabrics.