Surface modification of bamboo fibers using chitosan and functionalization with AuNPs

Abstract

In this work, a new surface modification of the bamboo substrate with chitosan was studied, followed by subsequent treatment with gold nanoparticles (AuNP) by the exhaustion method, aiming at obtaining a technical textile with ultraviolet (UV) protection. The treatment with chitosan in the bamboo substrate induced an increase in the AuNP adsorption due to the electrostatic interactions between the chitosan amino groups and the citrate ion that surrounds the AuNP. The nanoparticles were obtained by the chemical reduction method, with some adaptations, using sodium citrate as a reducing agent/stabilizer and chlorouronic acid as precursor. The AuNP were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and reflection, showing an average size of 35 nm. The presence of AuNP on the fiber surface was confirmed by SEM and XRD, with crystallographic peaks characteristic of gold. The UV protection factor was tested on the material, demonstrating excellent results.