Air contaminants are absorbed by modified cotton

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) have created improved cotton textiles that are said to be capable of absorbing air pollutants.

The two textiles, ZIF-8@CM Cotton and ZIF-67@CM Cotton, are Zeolite Imidazolate Framework (ZIF)-modified and are believed to retain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as nitrous oxides, sulphur oxides, and carbon oxides – which in excessive amounts can impair breathing and cause eye discomfort.

The team used a method of in-situ growth of nanocrystals on the cotton to impart this functionality, enabling the material to adsorb 400-600 per cent more VOCs. The research team cites that the cotton can withstand harsh laundering cycles and can be repeatedly washed after use without compromising the materials' performance. They also believe the cotton variations could be leveraged to adopting air pollutants in cars, offices and airplanes.