Phosphorylated Cotton Cellulose as a Matrix for Generating Chlorine Dioxide

Abstract

Currently, developing disinfectant materials is of utmost importance. A significant advantage of our fabric is its reusability. The disinfectants based on a natural polymer of cellulose have been barely investigated. Our work presents a modified cellulose material, and the data obtained for the first time on the chlorine dioxide generation process when treating the material with a sodium chlorite alcohol solution. A method of applying NaClO2 onto the fabric by impregnating it with a solution sprayed by an aerosol generator is proposed. This kind of fabric is capable of withstanding multiple usages after pre-washing and rinsing. The lowest alcohols—methanol, ethanol and isopropanol—are proposed as optimal solvents. It was shown that the phosphorylated cotton cellulose fabric impregnated with this solution generates chlorine dioxide during the first 25–35 min. Neither humidity nor expedites improve the process of releasing the chlorine dioxide, but high moisture content in the air causes the complete absorption of ClO2 by microdrops and its removal from the gas environment. A promising technique for removing the excess ClO2 by the means of UV treatment is proposed: after 15 min of treating ClO2 in the gas phase, it disappears entirely. These materials could be used as disinfectants in different industries, such as food and industrial manufacturing.