V.Krishnaveni, Lecturer, Department of Fashion Technology, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore 6. E Mail : krishnasstyle@rediffmail.com
INTRODUCTION
Microbial infestation poses danger to both living and non-living matters. Obvious smell from the inner garments such as socks, spread of diseases, staining and degradation of textiles are some of the detrimental effects of bad microbes. Though the use of antimicrobials have been known for the decades, it is only in the recent couple of years several attempts have been made on finishing textiles with antimicrobial compounds. The consumers are now increasingly aware of the hygienic life style and there is a necessity and expectation for a wide range of textile products finished with antimicrobial properties. The present work aims at developing an eco friendly natural antimicrobial finish from aloe vera plant for textile application. The aloe jel, commercial jel and leaf extract are applied on cotton fabric in pad dry cure method. An extensive study was conducted to assess the antimicrobial effectiveness of the herbs by employing standard test methods and the findings are discussed in this paper.
ALOE GEL EXTRACTION
Careful processing of Aloe gel is necessary to maintain the activity. Aloe is processed using the hand filleted or whole leaf procedure. This hand filleted processing carefully removes the inner gel while avoiding the yellow sap (latex) found next to the rind. The latex contains aloin, which is removed for internal and external gel products. Stabilizing the constituents within aloe is another essential part of developing effective products. The gel must be cool processed within 4 hours of harvesting. The gel was smashed and converted into solvent form.
PREPARATION OF LEAF EXTRACT
The whole leaf extracts are made by grinding the entire leaf and then removing the aloin through charcoal filtration at the final stage of processing. The leaves were dried and powered. The powdered leaves were mixed with absolute ethanol in the ratio 1:5 in a beaker. The beaker was left closed for 3 days so that the ethanol takes in the active components of the leaves. After 3 days, the ethanol was let to evaporate, so that the residue gets settled at the bottom of the beaker.
OPTIMIZATION OF PROCESS CONDITIONS
The process conditions are optimized using spectrophotometer at 360nm. And the optimized process conditions are 600C, 35 Mins and pH- 4.
FINISH APPLICATION
The processed gel and Methanolic leaf extracts (75% & 100 % conc.) were mixed with the mordant (citric acid 100% conc.) in the ratio 9:1.The liquor was finished onto the fabric (60 x 60 yarn count, 80 x 80 fabric count, 180 GSM, plain weave) at the optimized conditions in the ratio 80:20 in a water (pad -dry - cure). The fabric was then dried at 80C for fifteen minutes to remove the moisture. Finally, the fabric samples were tested for antimicrobial activity as per the standard test methods.
STANDARD QUANTITATIVE TEST METHODS
Anti Bacterial Activity
AATCC-100-1998 (USA): Quantitative Assessment of Antibacterial finishes on textiles-measures the degree of antibacterial activity- Agar diffusion Test
Five fabric samples of size 2x2 inches were taken from the untreated, treated with 75% and 100% concentrations, leaf extract and commercial gel. 500ml Elenmeyer conical flasks containing 50ml of nutrients broth were prepared and sterilized at 1210C for 15 minutes. It was then allowed to cool. The fabric samples were then transferred aseptically into the conical flasks respectively. These were incubated at 370C for 24 hours in shaker at 121rpm. After incubation their absorbance were measured at 600nm.
AATCC-147-1998 (USA): Qualitative Antibacterial Assessment of diffusible antibacterial agents (�quick method�)-Agar diffusion Test
50ml of nutrient agar was prepared and sterilized at 1210C for 15 minutes. Petri plates were autoclaved in hot air oven at1210C for 30 minutes. 20ml of Nutrient agar was poured into each of these plates and were allowed to solidify.
A series of 8 test tubes containing 4.5ml of sterile water was taken. 0.5ml of culture from Nutrient broth containing the 100% gel treated sample was transferred aseptically into the first test tube. Serial dilution was carried out until its reduced dilution was 10^ (-8)
100 micro liters of 10 (-8) diluted culture was taken aseptically and poured onto the petri plates. This was spreaded by using L rod. The plates were incubated at 370C for 16-18 hours. Similar procedure was carried out for untreated sample, sample treated with 75% gel concentration, leaf treated sample.
Anti Fungal Activity
AATCC 30-1993: Antifungal activity, Assessment of textile material: mildew and rot resistance of textile material-Agar Diffusion Test
500ml Elenmeyer conical flask containing 50ml of PD broth was prepared and sterilized at 1210C for 15 minutes. It was then allowed to cool. The fabric samples were transferred aseptically into the conical flasks respectively. These were kept at room temperature for 3 days. Then the growth of fungi in the conical flask was observed after 3 days.
Mycelial growth test:
50ml of PD agar was prepared and sterilized at 1210C for 15 minutes.20ml of agar was poured. Then the 1x1 inch fabric was placed on the agar. Then the mycelial growth on the fabric was measured.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
AATCC-100-1998 (USA): Quantitative Assessment of Antibacterial finishes on textiles-measures the degree of antibacterial activity- Agar diffusion Test
Absorbance of the sample is directly proportional to the concentration of the cells in the sample. The absorbance values for the 5 samples were compared. It was found that fabric treated with 100% gel concentration gives low absorbance value. This indicates that 100% gel treated fabric do not support the growth of bacteria compared to others. It also reveals that gel was absorbed to the fabric. The samples taken from the fabric treated with 75% concentration gel, leaf extract, commercial gel also gives low absorbance value when compared to untreated sample. This indicates that these also do not support the growth of bacteria to some extent.
AATCC-147-1998 (USA): Qualitative Antibacterial Assessment of diffusible antibacterial agents (�quick method�)-Agar diffusion Test
After incubation, the plates were observed for bacterial growth. Then the numbers of colonies were counted for each plate. This showed that 100% gel treated fabric has got less number of colonies when compared to other samples.
Samples treated with 75%gel concentration, leaf extract, commercial gel also got less number of colonies when compared to untreated sample.
These results indicate that 100% gel treated fabric do not support the bacterial growth to larger extent, where as 75% gel treated sample, leaf extract treated fabric to a smaller extent when compared to untreated sample.
AATCC 30-1993: Antifungal activity, Assessment of textile material: mildew and rot resistance of textile material-Agar Diffusion Test
It was found that there is no growth of fungi in the conical flask containing 100% gel treated fabric. This indicates that 100% gel treated fabric gives good anti fungal finishing. There is some growth of fungi in the conical flasks containing 75%gel treated fabric, leaf extract treated fabric and commercial gel treated fabric when compared to 100% gel treated fabric. But there is less growth when compared to untreated fabric.
There is a reduction in the growth of mycelia in all the treated samples when compared to untreated fabric samples. The 100% gel treated sample shows maximum anti fungal activity than others.
CONCLUSION
This research work has given a new idea in finishing of cotton with herbs for antimicrobial activity (Aloe Vera). The washing fastness tests carried out revealed that 100% and 75% gel treated fabric stood for about 20 washes while the commercial gel and leaf extract treated fabric stood for nearly 15 washes. The treated fabrics are found to be very hygienic with less fungi and bacteria. The 100% gel treated fabric was found to be the best of all the samples.
Reference
1. H Mucha, D Hoter and M Swerev. Antimicrobial Finishes and Modifications. Melliand International, May 2002, vol 8, pp 148-151.
2. I Home. Antimicrobials Impart Durable Finishes. International Dyer, December 2002, pp 9-11.
3. S. Rajendran and S. C. Anand. Development of Versatile Antimicrobial Finish for Textile Materials for Health Care and Hygiene Applications. Bolton Institute, UK.
4. D Gupta. Antimicrobial finishing of Textiles. www.resil.com.
5. E Menezes. Antimicrobial Finishing of Textiles. The Textile Industry and Trade Journal, January-February 2002, pp 35-38.
Authors profile
1. Mr. G. Raj Kumar
I am working as a lecturer in the department of Fashion Technology, Kumaraguru College of technology, Coimbatore. I am a B.Tech Textile Technology graduate currently pursuing M.Tech in PSG college of Technology. I have presented 14 technical papers in various national and international conferences.
Area of Interest : Finishing , Knitting ,Garment Technology
Email : rraajj80@rediffmail.com
2. Ms. V. Krishnaveni
I am an M.Sc, M.Phil graduate in Textile and Clothing and currently pursuing P.hd in Avinashilingam Deemed University, Coimbatore. I did 15 papers presented in national and internal conferences and attended many national and international workshops.
Area of Interest : Finishing, Pattern making , Fashion Illustration
Email : krishnasstyle@rediffmail.com
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