Wool Surface Research Articles

In situ construction of iron-rich metal-organic frameworks on wool surface for enhanced flame retardancy and low smoke generation

The incorporation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on textile materials to enhance flame retardancy is of interest and challenge. In this study, an iron-rich MOF (Fe-MOF) was constructed in situ on wool fabric surface through the alternating assembly of ferric metal salt and the carboxylic acid ligand 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid. The surface morphology, flame retardancy, smoke and heat release performance, thermal stability, and flame-retardant mechanism of the Fe-MOF coated wool fabric were investigated. Square-shaped crystals were observed on the coated wool fabric, indicating successful construction of Fe-MOF on the wool surface. The coated wool fabric with an add-on of 6.8% exhibited excellent flame retardancy, as evidenced by its self-extinguishing ability during the vertical burning test and a significantly enhanced limiting oxygen index of 32.6%. Moreover, the coated wool fabric demonstrated a remarkable reduction in heat and smoke production of 23.8% and 68.4%, respectively, indicating enhanced fire safety. The analysis of char residue, including thermal stability, surface morphology, iron content, and graphitization degree, supported the formation of ferric oxides as a protective layer, contributing to the improved flame retardancy of the Fe-MOF coated wool in the condensed phase. The in situ construction of Fe-MOF on wool macromolecules offers a promising and innovative approach for developing nonhalogen and nonphosphorus flame-retardant systems.

Water adsorption on surfaces of calcium aluminosilicate crystal phase of stone wool: a DFT study

Stone wool is widely used as an efficient thermal insulator within the construction industry; however, its performance can be significantly impacted by the presence of water vapor. By altering the material’s characteristics and effective thermo-physical properties, water vapor can reduce overall efficacy in various environmental conditions. Therefore, understanding water adsorption on stone wool surfaces is crucial for optimizing insulation properties. Through the investigation of interaction between water molecules and calcium aluminosilicate (CAS) phase surfaces within stone wool using density functional theory (DFT), we can gain insight into underlying mechanisms governing water adsorption in these materials. This research aims to elucidate the molecular-level interaction between water molecules and CAS surfaces, which is essential for understanding fundamental properties that govern their adsorption process. Both dissociative and molecular adsorptions were investigated in this study. For molecular adsorption, the adsorption energy ranged from -\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$-$$\\end{document} 84 to -\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$-$$\\end{document} 113 kJ mol-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{-1}$$\\end{document} depending on surface orientation. A wider range of adsorption energy (-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$-$$\\end{document} 132 to -\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$-$$\\end{document} 236 kJ mol-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{-1}$$\\end{document}) was observed for dissociative adsorption. Molecular adsorption was energetically favored on (010) surfaces while dissociative adsorption was most favorable on (111) surfaces. This DFT study provides valuable insights into the water adsorption behavior on low index surfaces of CAS phase in stone wool, which can be useful for designing effective strategies to manage moisture-related issues in construction materials. Based on these findings, additional research on the dynamics and kinetics of water adsorption and desorption processes of this thermal isolation material is suggested.

Remote Determination of Wool Color

Analysis of the financial condition of the sheep industry is partly due to the low color purity of sheared wool, in the absence of animal selection to form sheep flocks with the same stripe color and the creation of conditions that would make it impossible to mix animals in flocks with different colors. To enable the above objectives to be achieved, theoretical studies of the conditions of reflection and absorption of optical radiation by the wool coat of animals were carried out, for which purpose the model of the incident ray interacting with the surface of sheep wool was improved and studied. The role of the reflected flux in diffuse scattering on individual wool layers is determined and a model of the reflected flux in the presence of local internal inhomogeneities is developed. The obtained functional dependences characterizing both the reflected and scattered light made it possible to formulate the requirements regarding technical implementation of the proposed method of flock formation by wool color.

Effect of liquid ammonia and protease on surface modification and shrink resistance of wool

In order to improve the surface properties of wool fiber, the wool fabric was treated with liquid ammonia and protease treatments successively. The results showed that liquid ammonia pretreatment could cause certain damage to the surface structure and disulfide bonds in keratin, which enhanced the action of protease on wool surface and catalytic hydrolysis of the cuticle. The joint treatment of liquid ammonia and protease changed the secondary structure of wool. The content of α‐helix and random crimp increased, while the content of β‐sheet decreased. In addition, the shrink resistance of wool fabric was significantly improved without obvious losses in tensile strength and elongation. The combination of liquid ammonia and protease treatments provides a potential new method for the surface modification and eco‐friendly shrink‐resistant finishing of wool and further widens the application of liquid ammonia in textile industry.

Enhancing the hydrophobicity of the mineral wool through surface modification with organo-silane

Mineral wool materials are consistently preferred material to be used for building thermal insulation because of their low heat conductivity, making energy-efficient structures impossible to construct without highly insulating thermal envelopes. A mineral wool with a hydrophobic external surface could be used for several applications where hydrophobicity would be helpful. Organo-silanes are one of the most promising materials to impart hydrophobic character to varied surfaces to achieve performance properties such as dust-resistant coatings on building glass, solar panels with self-cleaning surfaces, biofouling resistant paints, self-cleaning car windshields etc. In this study, mineral wool was treated with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) to achieve hydrophobic surfaces.A Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer is used to confirm the successful deposition of organosilane/siloxane networks on glass wool fibre surfaces. The hydrophobicity of treated wool was assessed and quantified using a contact angle measurement. Contact angle measurement was used to quantify the hydrophobicity of treated wool. The thermal conductivity of treated mineral wool fiber was calculated using the portable Lee's disc method. To determine the thermal stability and crystallinity of the treated wool, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used, respectively. The treated mineral wool exhibited excellent thermal stability up to 800 °C, and wettability tests proved the treated surface highly hydrophobic, allowing water droplets to roll off with contact angles up to 134.9°. Surface modification reduced thermal conductivity by 20%, showing good thermal resistance. Here, we show easy and sustainable methods of treating mineral wool surfaces, which can serve as a thermal insulation option under humid conditions.

ENDOPHYTIC TESTING OF Serratia marcescens strain NPKC3_2_21 AGAINST INPARA 3 RICE VARIETY

Pest management is a crucial concern, especially when dealing with insect pests that can cause extensive damage to agricultural crops and the economy. One such pest is the rice stem borer (Scirpophaga innotata), which infests rice stems and poses a significant threat. To combat these pests, various microbial agents have been developed for effective pest control. Among these, the endophytic microbe in biological plant protection plays a key role in the program of sustainable pest management. An endophytic bacterium, Serratia marcescens strain NPKC3_2_21, has been identified as a key player in sustainable pest management, particularly in rice crops. In this study, we aimed to investigate the endophytic characteristics of S. marcescens strain NPKC3_2_21 in the swamp rice plant of the Inpara 3 variety of swamp rice plants. To establish its roles. Marcescens as an endophytic bacterium in rice plants, specifically the Inpara 3 variety, we conducted tests by inoculating bacteria on the plant tissue of rice plants that have been sterilized rice plant tissues with the bacteria. We assessed the presence of S. marcescens strain NPKC3_2_21 in plant tissues by applying isolates to the surface of rock wool, which supported the growth of wet rice plants aged ten or over ten days or older after planting. Samples were collected from the underside of the stem, the bottom of the leaves, and the roots on days 2, 7, and 14 after the application of isolates to the rock wool. The samples were then washed in 70% alcohol and 4% chlorox for 30 seconds and subsequently isolated on Luria Bertani (LB) agar media. Furthermore, we conducted tests to determine the ligninolytic, cellulolytic, and proteolytic activities of S. marcescens, which helped elucidate its endophytic ability. Based on the result, the endophytic capabilities. Based on the results, we found that S. marcescens strain NPKC3_2_21 exhibited endophytic characteristics solely in the stem tissue of the Inpara 3 rice variety. However, we did not observe its presence in the root and leaf tissues.

Green penetration dyeing of wool yarn with natural dye mixtures in D5 medium

This investigation reported a mixture of natural dyes by employing the D5 solvent as a green penetration dyeing system for wool fiber. The ideal dyeing conditions were determined by conducting an in-depth analysis of the following variables: AEO-3 concentration, aqueous pick-up rate, solution pH, dyeing time, temperature, dye mass, and dye fixation percentage. Tensile strength and elongation were measured to learn more about the mechanical characteristics of the wool yarn after it was dyed in D5 solvent and water. The suggested dyeing parameters for wool yarn are 2% of AEO-3, 400% of the wool aqueous pick-up rate at pH 3, 90 °C temperature, and 90-min duration. This was determined by calculating the K/S value and the dye fixing rate. A washfastness of 4–5 on the fading scale and a stainfastness of 5 across the board were acquired. MR and GB dyes obtained a high dye fixation rate within 90–100%; however, GY dye achieved about 50% dye fixation rate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) verified that the original and dyed wool fiber showed no change in interplanar distance in crystallinity and stable thermal tendency due to the dyeing process. The morphology of the wool's surface was not altered throughout the dyeing process, and the colors were spread uniformly over the fiber in SEM pictures and cross-sections. Finally, natural dyes in a D5 solvent media may be used to produce a ternary color, laying the groundwork for natural dyes to be further industrialized.

Thermochromicity in Wool Dyed with 6-Bromoindigo Depends on the Presence and Identity of a Solvent

The thermochromic effect of wool dyed with 6-bromoindigo was found to depend on both heat and a solvent. The dyed fabric must be immersed in a solvent while heating for a color change from purple to blue to occur. Ethanol was the most effective solvent in causing the color change. Water was effective as well. 1-Butanol caused a slight color change, while toluene was completely ineffective. These results are interpreted as interaction of the solvent with both the wool surface and adsorbed dye molecular aggregates, causing changes in the size of large red aggregates to smaller blue ones. The mildest conditions for the color change, immersion in water at 60 °C, are so easily obtained that it is possible that ancient dyers knew of this as a finishing process for their dyeing, or knew to avoid post-dyeing heat treatment.

Novel nano BaTiO3-based microwave vacuum treatment for precise and controllable scales stripping of wool fibers

Barium titanate nanoparticles were used as a locator to help accurately break the scales on the surface of wool fibers under microwave vacuum treatment, as an anti-felting process of wool with low environmental impact. The nanoparticles loaded by ultrasound are sandwiched between the scales and fibers, which allows the microwave energy concentration to break the scales for the shrink resistance of wool and avoid damaging the main body of fibers synchronously. The friction and mechanical properties of wool under microwave treatment with different power, temperature and processing time were discussed, morphological and chemical analysis of the fibers after treatment was also carried out. The results suggested that compared with the uncoated fibers, the anti-felting performance of the coated fibers after treatment had been significantly improved, while maintaining the mechanical properties, the tip end of the scales on the wool surface were cut off and the volume of the felting ball was increased by 82.3%. The nanoparticles coating the wool were also easily cleaned without residue. This study provided a novel potential approach in the modification of wool fibers for anti-felting.

Effect of single and binary mixed metal mordant combinations on colorimetric and fastness characteristics of wool yarns dyed with Melissa officinalis L. natural colorants

Melissa officinalis L. plant has been used in European and Iranian traditional medicine since ancient times. This plant possesses various phytochemicals such as volatile compounds, triterpenoids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. The presence of substantial amounts of flavonoids in M. officinalis L. necessitates further examination of its usage as a source of natural colorants for developing natural and beautiful shades on wool yarns in addition to its pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food preservative applications. This will definitely add new direction to the use of M. officinalis L. as an effective natural dye source. Therefore, simple adsorption of aqueous dye extract on wool surface was done followed by the evaluation of build-up properties using different metal mordants and their binary combinations. The dyeing was carried out on pre-mordanted wool by exhaust dyeing method and dyed samples were analyzed via reflectance spectroscopy under D65 illuminant and 10° standard observer in terms of color strength, CIEL*a*b*, and CIEL*C*ho values. The results showed that overall 22 eco-friendly shades of very good to excellent washing, rubbing and light fastness properties were produced by facile use of different metallic salts and their combinations on wool fibers.

Eco-friendly and controlled anti-pilling finishing of wool fabric by thiourea dioxide-mediated surface micro-dissolution

PurposeWool, mainly composed of keratin, is a relatively high-grade clothing material. Although woollen textile has the advantages of high wearing comfort and excellent warmth retention property as we have known, its inherent disadvantage of easy pilling has easy puzzled people for a long time. Most of the existing technologies for pilling resistance are not eco-friendly or severely damaged the internal structure of wool.Design/methodology/approachIn this work, a controlled and effective surface treatment method was proposed to controllable micro-dissolution the scale layers of wool with minor damage to its internal structure, thereby improving the anti-pilling property of wool. Thiourea dioxide (TD) is used as a dissolving agent to swell and dissolve wool surface flakes. After TD treatment, the morphology changes of wool fibers were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and methylene blue staining. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the structural changes of TD wool. At the same time, the anti-pilling properties and wettability of wool fabrics were tested.FindingsThe results show that the wool scale layer is destroyed after TD treatment, which reduces the friction between fibers and improves the anti-pilling performance of wool fabrics. The methylene blue-stained images further demonstrate that low concentrations of TD can damage the superficial scale layer of wool without significant loss of strength.Originality/valueThis method is simple, eco-friendly and economical, and opens up a new direction for the surface treatment of wool fabrics.

Influence of liquid ammonia on the structure of wool fiber

Liquid ammonia treatment of worsted fabric was carried out by a continuous liquid ammonia finishing machine, and the effects of liquid ammonia on wool surface morphology, chemical structure and crystallinity were studied and corresponding mechanism was discussed in detail. The results showed that liquid ammonia made the surface scales of wool remove partially and decreased the content of hydrophobic lipid layer and hydrophobic property. After liquid ammonia treatment, the secondary structure of wool macromolecule was changed, manifested in increased α-helix and decreased β-sheet; the disulfide bonds were broken to form cysteine sulfonate, cysteic acid and cystine oxides. Liquid ammonia increased the content of α-crystallization, causing an increase in the crystallinity of wool. As our knowledge goes, this is the most systematic report to date on the effect of liquid ammonia on the structure of wool fiber, and provides a novel medium for the modification of wool in a large scale. Furthermore, it also provides a theoretical basis for the commercial application of liquid ammonia as a non-aqueous medium in wool textile industry.

Preparation of Wool-g-Glycidyl Methacrylate with a Constructed –SH Groups/Ammonium Persulfate Redox System and Characterization

To explore suitable synthesis parameters of efficient graft copolymerization on wool, the disulfide bonds in wool chains were reduced to sulfhydryl groups by the treatment of thioglycolic acid to wool, and then wool-g-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) was prepared by graft copolymerization of wool with glycidyl methacrylate by building a redox system between sulfhydryl groups and ammonium persulfate. The wool-g-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) was characterized by the analyses of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric and x-ray diffraction. Influences of molar concentrations of monomer and initiator as well as reaction temperature on grafting ratios were investigated. The experimental results showed that the sulfhydryl groups/ammonium persulfate redox system built could effectively initiate graft polymerization of lipophilic glycidyl methacrylate on the wool surface in an aqueous medium. The suitable process parameters of graft copolymerization were: 0.6 mmol/L molar concentration of glycidyl methacrylate, 3.0 mmol/L molar concentration of ammonium persulfate, and reaction temperature of 50 ℃. At the suitable parameters, the grafting ratio of wool-g-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) showed a maximum value of 195.8 %, indicating an efficient graft copolymerization was achieved. The copolymerization could reduce the degree of crystallinity of wool. The wool-g-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) had higher thermal stability than raw wool at a temperature of below 406 ℃ by performing the thermogravimetric analysis. Based on the results, we successfully built new sulfhydryl groups on the wool/ammonium persulfate redox system, prepared the wool-g-poly(glycidyl methacrylate), and this work will lay an important foundation for the application of wool-g-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) in the textile field.

The enhancement of wool reactive dyes ink-jet printing through air plasma pretreatment

Ink-jet printing is a clean and high-definition printing method for wool fabrics. However, due to the existence of scale layers, the dyes were hardly absorbed into the wool fibers, resulting in poor printing quality. In this work, a green and efficient air plasma pretreatment method was proposed to improve ink-jet printing performance of wool fabrics using reactive dye inks. The results showed that the wool surface was etched after plasma treatment, which led to the increased contact area between wool fiber and dyes. Meanwhile, due to the introduction of more oxygen-containing functional groups on the fiber surface, and part of the –SH and –S-S- were oxidized into –S-O-, the wettability of wool was obviously enhanced with the contact angle decreasing from 135° to 27.5°. The breaks of C–C and C–N bonds resulted in the increase of binding sites between reactive dyes and wool fibers. Because of the above changes, the inks were easily absorbed into the fiber, which promoted the covalent binding of dyes and fibers. As a result, compared with the untreated wool fabric (K/S value of 14.64), the wool fabrics treated by air plasma for 3 min obtained a wonderful printing effect with a K/S value of 22.34. This pretreatment method provides an environmental and efficient approach for the improvement of wool fabrics ink-jet printing performance.

Polylactic acid and lanolin based nanofibrous structures for wound management application

Polylactic acid (PLA) polymer and wool oil (lanolin) have been used to develop nanostructures for wound dressing management. Lanolin has been extracted from raw wool surfaces and used as a by-product in wide range of pharmaceutical areas. Different solutions with varying concentration of the PLA/lanolin and sodium alginate/lanolin solutions have been prepared and then nanostructures are developed using electrospinning method. The developed structures are aimed to use as smart wound dressings. During the production stage, the parameters of the electrospinning process have been changed to develop the optimum structures. The effect of solution concentrations on the applied voltage and the distance between the pipette tip and the collector is highlighted. The spinnability of lanolin is the main objectives of this study and the PLA/lanolin nanostructures are designed and manufactured successfully. The essential test methods have been performed to measure the usability of the produced materials as wound dressings. These are liquid absorption capacity, horizontal/vertical wicking, SEM, degradation, pH, antibacterial assay, and tensile properties. From the tested parameters, it is obviously found that the use of PLA/lanolin as wound dressing is suitable according to initial in vitro test results.

The Absorption Accelerating Behavior of Surface Modified Wool: Mechanism, Isotherm, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies

ABSTRACT Even though wool has excellent fabric properties, its low absorption capacity hinders its efficient application in the textile industry and material field. Surface modification is one of the efficient ways of improving its inherent properties. However, the effect of surface modification on its absorption properties is not well understood. Herein, surface modification of wool was performed using deep eutectic solvent method. Several physical and chemical properties of the modified wool including chemical bonds, surface topography, and absorption capacity were analyzed. FTIR revealed that surface modification retained keratin molecular structure but only cleaved disulfide bonds. The second-derivatization of FTIR spectra further indicated that the secondary structure was also retained. SEM and EDS analyses revealed that scale modification etched the wool surface. Together, these changes improved the absorption capacity of wool. BET further revealed that surface modification increased the pole size of wool, a property that improves the adsorption capacity. Further analyses on diffusion coefficient, adsorption isotherm, adsorption kinetics, and thermodynamic parameters at a lower temperature revealed that surface modification followed Langmuir to Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-first-order model to pseudo-second-order model transformation. In particular, the adsorption content, rate and diffusion coefficient increased with decrease in the entropy and enthalpy of wool.

Closing the Loop: Dyeing and Adsorption Potential of Mulberry Wood Waste

ABSTRACT This study reports the successful transformation of mulberry wood waste into natural textile dye and adsorbent for Pb2+ ions from an aqueous solution. Fabrics of different chemical compositions were dyed using mulberry wood extract, whereas wool possessed the best appearance and color fastness to washing. Among differently dyed wool fabrics, those dyed with 15% extract for 5 h has the highest color strength (K/S = 11.24) and antioxidant activity (83.5%), and the best color and antioxidant activity fastness to washing, making it appropriate for protecting the skin from diverse damages by decelerating the effect of free radical. Moreover, it could be suggested that the binding mechanism proceeds via strong hydrogen bonds between wool surface carboxylate groups and characteristic phenolics found in the extract (dominantly taxifolin, oxyresveratrol, ellagic acid, and tannins). The mulberry wood solid parts separated after the extraction were further evaluated as adsorbents for Pb2+ ions. The highest lead removal was achieved at a solution pH of 5.5, while the equilibrium removal was reached after 4 h of contact time. At 20 mg/l initial lead concentration, the mulberry wood waste removal efficiency was 98.8%. The results of this study represent a step forward to a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable society.

Bioscouring of wool fibres using immobilized thermophilic lipase

The hydrophobic nature of wool induced by its surface lipid barrier hinders its wettability during processing. Scouring of wool is conducted to remove this lipid barrier and facilitate any wet processes. Scouring of wool is conducted using soda ash followed by rinsing with huge amount of water to ensure complete removal of alkali. This work aimed at utilization of thermophilic lipase enzyme for removal of wool surface lipid barrier without deterioration on the fibre interior. A thermally stable lipase enzyme was produced from thermophilic microorganism; namely Bacillus aryabhattai B8W22, and was utilized in bio-scouring of wool. The produced enzyme was immobilized on sericin-based discs to enhance its stability and to make it reusable. The activity of both free and immobilized lipase enzymes at different conditions was assessed. The effects of bio-scouring of wool on its dyeability with acid, basic, and reactive dyes, as well as on some of its inherent properties, were monitored. Results showed that the bio-scoured wool exhibits enhanced dyeability with the said classes of dyes more than that of conventionally scoured samples. One-bath scouring and dyeing of wool fibres in two successive steps was conducted to reduce consumption of water and energy during wet processing of wool.

Modification of Wool Fibers via Base/Cationic Detergent Pretreatment and Transglutaminase-mediated Reaction of Keratin

ABSTRACT The surface modification of wool fibers is an important part of the textile industry to add functionality and stability to wool products. In this study, we developed a process utilizing a base/cationic surfactant solution pretreatment followed by an enzyme-mediated keratin crosslinking reaction to modify the wool fibers. Changes in water contact angle demonstrated the successful transformation of the hydrophobic wool surface to a more hydrophilic one after soaking in sodium carbonate solution containing hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The treated fabrics were further characterized by colorimetry and fluorescent spectrometry. Results showed that the pretreatment increased the yellowness of fabrics and caused some structural changes among certain amino acids, such as tryptophan and cystine. Keratin extracted from coarse wool fibers was further applied on pretreated fabrics through a microbial transglutaminase (mTGase) mediated reaction under mild conditions. Morphological characterization via SEM demonstrated the effective coverage of keratin on the scales of wool. The current method may provide an alternative processing protocol to modify wool fibers and improve the quality and performance of wool products.

Bacterial Community under the Influence of Microplastics in Indoor Environment and the Health Hazards Associated with Antibiotic Resistance Genes.

Selectively colonized microbial communities and enriched antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in (micro)plastics in aquatic and soil environments make the plastisphere a great health concern. Although microplastics (MPs) are distributed in indoor environments in high abundance, information on the effect of MPs on a microbial community in an indoor environment is lacking. Here, we detected polymers (containing MPs and natural polymers), bacterial communities, and 18 kinds of ARGs in collected indoor dust samples. A significant correlation by Procrustes analysis between bacterial community composition and the abundance of MPs was observed, and correlation tests and redundancy analysis identified specific associations between MP polymers and bacterial taxa, such as polyamide and Actinobacteria. In addition, the abundance of MPs showed a positive correlation with the relative abundance of the ARGs (to 16S RNA), while natural polymers, such as cellulosics, showed positive correlations with the absolute abundance of ARGs and 16S rRNA. Simulated experiments verified that significantly higher bacterial biomasses and ARGs were observed on the surface of cotton, hair, and wool than on MPs, while a higher relative abundance of ARGs was detected on MPs. However, a significantly higher amount of ARG was found on MPs of poly(lactic acid), the biodegradable plastics with the highest yield. In addition to the plastisphere in water and soil environments, MPs in an indoor environment may also affect the bacterial community and specifically enrich ARGs. Moreover, degradable MPs and nondegradable MPs may result in different health hazards due to their distinct effects on bacterial community.