Antibacterial Properties of Cotton Fabrics Treated with Chitosan

Chitosan is used to treat cotton fabrics to impart antibacterial activities. The effect of concentration, molecular weight, and degree of deacetylation of chitosan on antibacterial , activity to Escherichia coli and the Hay bacillus is investigated. Bacteria reduction is evaluated using the modified Quinn method. Escherichia coli is effectively inhibited at 0.3 g/l chitosan solution and the Hay bacillus at 0.5 g/l. To bond chitosan to fabric chemically, glutaric dialdehyde is chosen as the crosslinking agent. Cotton fabrics treated with glutaric dialdehyde and chitosan show a good ability to inhibit bacteria reproduction. IR spectra of the surface of cotton fabrics and SEM pictures of fibers are presented.