Cellulose cross-linking with folic acid at room via diverse-based coupling reagents attaining multifunctional features.

Here, cellulose was cross-linked with folic acid (FA) using tetrafluoroborate (TBTU) and carbodiimide (DIC) as coupling reagents through the pad method at room temperature. The interactions between FA and cellulose were proposed and determined with FTIR, and UV-visible also confirmed with nitrogen content. The newly formed ester peak showed the grafting of FA to the cellulose through esterification followed by cellulose cross-linking. The surface morphology of treated fabrics indicated no significant changes and also remained similar after 5 washing cycles. This had no negative impacts on the various physical and mechanical fabric features. The fabric color was changed with reasonable fastness to laundering and light. More FA showed higher N content indicating more bacterial killing for Pseudomonas aeroginosa (Psa) and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA). The reasonable viability of L929 and MCF-7 cells showed for treated fabric with FA below 5 %.

In situ synthesis and characterization of nano ZnO on wool: influence of nano photo reactor on wool properties.

This study has been carried out to synthesize nano ZnO on wool fabric and also to investigate influences of nano photo reactors on wool fabric characteristics. Zinc acetate has been used as a precursor and the synthesis process has been done in water and water/ethanol media. The treated wool fabrics were heated at 80°C for 10 h to dehydrate Zn(OH)2 obtaining ZnO. The fabric samples were then subjected to daylight for 7 days to examine the influence of nano ZnO photo reactor on the fabric properties. SEM images revealed the embedding of ZnO nanoparticles on the fabrics and X-ray diffraction verified the nanoparticles composition. The Yellowness Index (YI) of the fabrics was measured with Color Eye XTH that has been reduced with increasing pH, Zn(CH3COO)2 concentration, ethanol and heating. The lower water contact angle and time of water absorption confirmed higher hydrophilic properties of the treated fabrics. Interestingly, a higher tensile strength obtained on the wool fabrics proved the interaction of ZnO with protein chains of wool, which was verified through lower alkali solubility of treated fabric with nano ZnO and confirmed more benefits of the in situ synthesis process.