**5. Chitosan nanofiber**

Recently, along with the expanding area of nanotechnologies, the area of nanofibers has been gaining interest [92]. Nanofibers with diameter in the range *Innovative Separation Technology Utilizing Marine Bioresources: Multifaceted Development… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95839*

from several micrometers down to tens of nanometers have useful properties such as high specific surface area, porosity, as well as biocompatibility [93, 94]. Nanofibers made from chitosan have not yet been fully established as compared with other nanofibers [95–97]. Chitosan nanofibers have diameter around 10 nm and amino groups on its surface with positive charge [98]. Accordingly, chitosan nanofibers possess unique characteristics and advantages that other nanofiber does not have, that has been expected to be used in various sorts of industrial fields, for instance, filtrations, recovery of metal ions, adsorption of proteins, drug release, enzyme carriers, wound healing, cosmetics, and biosensors have been developed [99–106].

In particular, chitosan nanofiber can be expected as an alternative to air filter media (**Figure 9**). The particle collection performance across chitosan nanofiber media decreased with increase in the amount of chitosan nanofibers on the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) non–woven, as shown in **Figure 10**. In addition, it was

**Figure 9.** *SEM photograph of chitosan nanofibers filter media.*

**Figure 10.** *Comparison of the fractional penetrations of various sorts of test filter media.*

abundant amine and sufficient surface area. Moreover, chitosan aerogel can immobilize various functional particles hence it is expected to develop as new adsorbent

*(b) Isothermal adsorption of anionic dye (methyl Orange) and cationic dye (methylene blue) onto chitosan aerogel.*

*Chitosan aerogel prepared with glutaraldehyde as a cross-linker. (a) Morphology observed by FE-SEM.*

*Chitin and Chitosan - Physicochemical Properties and Industrial Applications*

Recently, along with the expanding area of nanotechnologies, the area of nanofibers has been gaining interest [92]. Nanofibers with diameter in the range

media [88, 90].

**Figure 8.**

**216**

**5. Chitosan nanofiber**

found that the particle collection performance of filter media with high weight of chitosan nanofibers (Weight of sheet (*W*s*)* = 6.0 g/m2 ) is compatible to commercial electret filter media.
