Basalt fiber

Basalt fiber is a continuous fiber drawn from natural basalt. It is formed by melting basalt material at temperatures between 1450℃ and 1500℃, and then rapidly drawing it through a platinum-rhodium alloy wire-drawing die. Pure basalt fiber typically has a brown color. Basalt fiber is a new type of inorganic, environmentally friendly, high-performance fiber material, composed of oxides such as silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, iron oxide, and titanium dioxide. Basalt continuous fibers are not only highly strong but also possess excellent properties such as electrical insulation, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature resistance. Moreover, the production process of basalt fiber ensures minimal waste generation, low environmental pollution, and the ability of the product to degrade directly in the environment without any harm, making it a genuinely green and eco-friendly material. China has listed basalt fiber as one of the four key fibers for development (carbon fiber, aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and basalt fiber), achieving industrial-scale production. Basalt continuous fibers have been widely applied in various fields, including fiber-reinforced composites, friction materials, shipbuilding materials, thermal insulation materials, the automotive industry, high-temperature filtration fabrics, and protective applications.

Basalt fiber surfaces are relatively smooth and have low surface energy. After surface modification, nano-SiO2 particles are added to the surface, effectively increasing the roughness of the fiber surface and enhancing the effective contact area between microorganisms and the carrier. The presence of cations on the modified surface raises the surface potential of the carrier, making it positively charged. This promotes the fixation of microorganisms through electrostatic attraction, which is conducive to the immobilization of microorganisms. The active functional groups on the modified surface increase the surface energy of the carrier, containing hydroxyl, carbonyl, or carboxyl groups, etc., which have a positive effect on the adhesion and growth of microorganisms on the carrier surface. By modifying the surface of basalt fiber carriers, they achieve good hydrophilicity and microbial loading performance, allowing for the loading of more biomass and maintaining high microbial activity for a long time, thereby enabling more effective biofilm degradation of pollutants in water bodies.