Bactericidal finishing of loomstate, scoured and bleached cotton fibres via sustainable in-situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles

Abstract

Loomstate-, scoured- and bleached cotton fabrics were first activated by treatment with ethanolamine and; thus obtained three fabrics were submitted independently to in-situ formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using different concentrations of silver nitrate (AgNO3) in absence of other external precursor. The magnitude of AgNPs on the fabric increases by increasing AgNO3 concentrations during synthesis of AgNPs loaded fabrics irrespective of the fabric used. Loomstate- and scoured cotton fabrics with the highest amount of AgNPs exhibit spherical shape with less aggregates; opposite to their bleached mate where AgNPs are irregularly shaped with bigger size due to aggregation. The formation of AgNPs is confirmed through monitoring UV–vis absorption peak. Results signify also the formation of high density coating of silver on the surface of cotton fabric. Fabrics loaded with AgNPs exhibit superior antibacterial activity. Treatment with distilled water of AgNPs loaded scoured cotton fabric filtered by centrifugation verify the very slow launching of AgNPs indicating excellent durability; a point which advocates the use of such fabrics in infection prevention applications. Indeed, the basic and practice entailed in current studies can be nominated strongly for cleaner bactericidal finishing of cotton.