Cellulosic fabrics bio-finishing with natural products

Abstract

[Excerpt] Results: Propolis (a byproduct of beehives), Kraft lignin (extracted from trees or plants), and olive pomace (a byproduct of olive oil production) were used to confer antimicrobial properties to cotton (CO), linen (CL), and hemp (CH) fabrics. Fabrics functionalized with propolis can be classified as weak disinfectants, and olive pomace fabrics are considered strong decontaminants, both against Staphylococcus aureus. CH/KL fabrics have excellent antioxidant activity and can be classified as weak disinfectants against both tested bacteria (Figure 3). Diatomaceous earth (DE) and mordenite zeolite (MOR) (SiO2 -based natural compounds), in combination with biopolymers sodium alginate (ALG) and chitosan (CHI), achieved flame retardance up to 62%. Pine rosin (residue from the paper industry) was used to obtain a fluorocarbon-free hydrophobic fabric, with contact angles of 124.0±5.8º (water) and 136.0±5.2º (diiodomethane), with low surface tension values (9.1 mN/m). [...]