The objective of the ARIS project is to develop and validate innovative air filtration membranes based on electrospun silk fibroin nanofibers, coming from cocoons discarded by the textile industry, and enriched with polyphenols extracted from olive oil production wastewater.

To achieve optimal performance, Design of Experiments (DOE) methodologies will be employed to systematically evaluate and optimize the electrospinning parameters, ensuring that the membranes provide the best balance between filtration efficiency and antimicrobial properties. These membranes are designed to combine high efficiency in capturing pollutant particles with antimicrobial properties, providing a sustainable and biodegradable solution for air filtration in a number of applications.

The filtration of indoor air is crucial for ensuring air quality in enclosed environments, where people spend most of their time. An adequate filtration system is essential for removing particles, allergens, pathogens, and pollutants present in outdoor air, preventing them from compromising the healthiness of indoor environments. This is particularly important in settings such as homes, offices, hospitals, and schools, where air quality directly impacts the health and well-being of occupants. Moreover, proper filtration is vital for reducing the spread of airborne diseases, as highlighted during the pandemic.

Traditional fiber-based filter materials, such as melt-blown, spunbonded, and fiberglass, have long been used in various industries due to their porous structure, which allows particulate matter (PM) to be captured while permitting airflow. However, these materials have limitations in effectively removing finer particulate pollutants like PM 2.5 due to structural constraints such as micron-scale fiber diameter, pore size, and low porosity. Moreover, these filters are primarily made from non-sustainable, fossil-derived plastics like polyethylene, polyester, and polyamide, which resist natural decomposition and accumulate in the environment, posing significant ecological risk, particularly highlighted by the recent surge in disposable masks.

In recent years, various degradable materials have been tested for air filtration applications, though progress remains in the early stages, especially for multicomponent filters.

The ARIS project seeks to address these challenges by creating fully biodegradable membranes that not only improve air quality but also reduce the environmental impact associated with current filtration technologies.