Effects of two-organic-acid-dissolved chitosan on antibacterial properties of bamboo pulp-based fabrics

Abstract

Bamboo pulping fabrics (BPFs), one of the most important textile materials for clothing industry, has many excellent characteristics such as soft, skin-friendly, and hygroscopic, etc., but some drawbacks especially mildewed, causing customers’ concerns. This experiment evaluated effects of two organic acids, acetic acid (AA) and citric acid (CA), as solvents for dissolving chitosan on the antibacterial properties of chitosan-treated BPFs with the intention of replacing AA with CA because previous research finding indicated the strong acid smelling of BPFs treated with chitosan dissolved in AA. Experimental results indicated that BPFs treated chitosan dissolved in CA had a significantly higher antibacterial rate than ones treated with chitosan dissolved in AA within each of five chitosan mass fraction levels investigated. Antibacterial rates of BPFs treated with chitosan dissolved in AA and CA increased as chitosan mass fraction increased, but increasing rates were different between BPFs treated with chitosan dissolved in AA and CA. No acid sour smell was detected for BPFs treated with chitosan dissolved in CA.