The Application of Water-soluble and Reactive Chitosan on Antimicrobial Activity and Salt-free Dyeing of Reactive Dyes

A novel chitosan derivative, O-acrylamidomethyl-HTCC (NMA-HTCC) was synthesized in two steps. First, N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium)propyl] chitosan chloride (HTCC) was prepared by introducing 2,3-epoxy propane trimethlyl ammonium chloride(GTA) on the amino groups of chitosan. HTCC was further modified by reacting with N-methylolacrylamide (NMA) on the primary alcohol groups (C-6) on the chitosan. The effect of modified chitosan on the dyeing properties of cotton fabric was studied by measuring the dye uptake and K/S values of the treated substrates with different treating processes under salt-free conditions. The antimicrobial activity of modified chitosan against Escherichia coli and the durability of antimicrobial activity was assessed using percentage reduction rate of the bacterium with different treating processes. The results indicate that modified chitosan treated cotton fabric shows increased dye uptake, K/S values and fastness, and its antimicrobial activity and durability are much better than chitosan treated cotton fabric.