Air pollution control for indoor environments using nanofiber filters: A brief review and post-pandemic perspectives

Air pollution control has been a recurrent challenge, given the several harmful effects on human health and the environment. Indoor air quality is an issue that needs attention due to the long-time people spend in indoor environments and the various industrial processes that require clean air in these places. In recent years, there has been an increase in innovative technologies capable of retaining fine particles, including microorganisms, such as the new coronavirus-2019. This brief review presents the development, use, and perspectives regarding electrospun nanofibers as air filter media, considering the unbelievable impacts arising from COVID-19. We remark that nanofiber filters produced by electrospinning are an efficient alternative for controlling nanometric bioaerosols and other hazardous pollutants in indoor environments since it is possible to combine desirable characteristics to control them. Finally, we recommend a better collaboration between academia and industry to accelerate the technology transfer processes.