Simultaneous dyeing and anti-bacterial finishing on 100% cotton fabric: process establishment and characterization

Abstract

Nowadays, there is less emphasis on the aesthetic traits of textiles and more on their functionality. Traditionally functional textiles are prepared in two steps including dyeing and then finishing. This adds extra cost to the process through more energy consumption and water effluent. Current research deals with a single bath application of antibacterial finish with reactive dyeing. L-cysteine (L-cys) is a natural defensive thiolated amino acid found in many living organisms and is applied to cotton fabric through simple conventional reactive dyeing method. Fabrics with L-cys were assessed against both Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus strains and promising results were found containing antibacterial activity up to 20 washes. The fastness properties of antimicrobial dyed fabrics were unaffected when compared with control samples. However, shade depth (k/s) was decreased with increasing amount of antibacterial agent while control samples showed highest value. This proposed process reduces chemical- and energy consumption, as well as water effluent.