Multifunctional properties of cotton fabrics coated with in situ synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles capped with date seed extract

Abstract

In situ formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) was studied within the framework of several factors. variables examined include (i) innovation of a new capping agent; (ii) nature of the cotton fabric related to its processing; (iii) formation of Zinc hydroxide (Zn(OH)2) due to reduction of zinc acetate with sodium hydroxide (iv) treatment of the differently processed cotton fabrics with (Zn(OH)2) functionalized dispersion as per the exhaustion method, (v) further treatment of the cotton fabrics with (Zn(OH)2) dispersion according to the pad-dry-cure method and (Vi) conversion of (Zn(OH)2) to ZnO-NPs during the curing step in the latter method. Results depict that the incorporation of the bio-extract obtained from date seed waste works effectively as capping material which stabilize ZnO-NPs. Mercerized bleached cotton fabric proves to be a better candidate than mercerized loomstate cotton fabric in conferring sustainable bactericidal and UV blocking.