A Novel Approach to Incorporation of Chitosan in Cotton for Improving Fabric Performance Available to Purchase

Incorporation of chitosan in the molecular structure of a cotton surface was effected by two approaches. The first approach involved oxidation of cotton fabric with sodium periodate (NaIO₄) and treatment of the fabric with chitosan in the subsequent step. The second approach formed the basis for devising a single-step process in which the fabric was treated in an aqueous solution containing both oxidants and chitosan. Appropriate conditions were established for a two-step process. The results of one step process were used to devise a novel one-step process in which cotton fabric containing chitosan could be achieved. This fabric exhibited significantly improved performances when compared with the untreated and processed fabric. It is assumed that NaIO₄ oxidants and chitosan enhance the interaction of chitosan with cotton by modifying the molecular structure of both.