Green synthesized chitosan and ZnO nanoparticles for sustainable use in multifunctionalization of cellulosic fabrics

Abstract

A green sustainable strategy for biosynthesis of ZnONPs and chitosan nanoparticles (ZnONPs: 20–25 nm and CSNPs: 70–90 nm) has been developed, their potential applications in multifunctional finishing of cotton and viscose fabrics to impart anti-crease, anti-UV and antibacterial functions using citric acid/Na-hypophosphite CA (15 g/L)/SHP (15 g/L), as CH2O-free ester-crosslinking system and the pad-dry-cure method. The obtained results signify that the extent of improvement in the imparted functional properties is governed by type of cellulosic substrate, kind and concentration of nano-additive as well as type of bio-functional additive, namely, L-ascorbic acid or vanillin (20 g/L each). Moreover, the best results show that using CSNPs (2.5 g/L)/ZnONPs (15 g/L), as an eco-friendly two component mixture, brought about an enhancement in both chemical and functional properties of treated substrates which can be ranked as follows: nitrogen content (N%): viscose (1.818) > cotton (1.592); metal content (%): viscose (1.35) > cotton (1.24); WRA°: cotton (196) > viscose (165); anti-UV (UPF): cotton (47) > viscose (40); anti-S. aureus (R%): viscose (97) > cotton (94) and anti-E. coli (R%): viscose (92) > cotton (89), keeping other parameters constant. Major characteristics of the so-prepared nanoparticles as well as developed cellulosic fabrics were analyzed by FTIR, TEM, SEM and EDX techniques, as well as %N and %Zn content analysis. Durability to wash was evaluated and fabrics modification/functionalization, mechanism was also proposed.