Bacterial cellulose aerogels with sensitive indication and high adsorption capacity for indoor formaldehyde removal

Formaldehyde (or HCHO) is a typical indoor air pollutant known for its toxicity and severe impacts on human health. From the perspective of users, it is highly desired to realize efficient HCHO removal and easy perception of HCHO removal effect in a single unit. Herein, the concept of perceptual purification is proposed, in which the contaminants can be effectively removed and the removal effect can be easily precepted by users through vision and/or smell. For perceptual purification of indoor air containing low-concentration HCHO, the bacterial cellulose aerogels coated with polydopamine (PDA/BC aerogels) are designed as effective and environment-friendly adsorbents for HCHO removal, which are incorporated with an indicative layer to make users perceive the working state of PDA/BC aerogels by color variation. In addition, the color change of the indicative layer from indigo to yellow directly indicates the adsorption saturation state of the PDA/BC aerogels. Such a work suggests an alternative research direction for indoor environmental treatment technologies.