Nano photo scouring and nano photo bleaching of raw cellulosic fabric using nano TiO2

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 1018 - 1025
• Main Authors: Montazer, M., Morshedi, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2012
• Subjects: aqueous solutions; bleaching; Cellulose - chemistry; cotton; cotton fabric; Cotton Fiber; durability; Hydrogen Peroxide - chemistry; Hydrophilicity; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; hydrophobicity; Molecular Weight; Nano photo bleaching; Nano photo scouring; Nano TiO2; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanotechnology - methods; organic compounds; Photobleaching; Surface Properties; Tensile Strength; Titanium - chemistry; titanium dioxide; ultrasonics; ultraviolet radiation; washing; Whiteness; Yellowness; Nano TiO2; Yellowness; Nano photo scouring; Hydrophilicity; Nano photo bleaching; Whiteness
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2012.02.018

Photo catalytic action of nano TiO2 for decomposing of some organic compounds is a well known phenomenon. This can be extended to the application on nano TiO2 on the desized cotton fabric to decompose the hydrophobic impurities and coloring matters of the fabric. This can be nominating as a replacement for the conventional scouring and bleaching processes on cotton fabric producing the hydrophilic white cotton fabric. The photo activities of the nano TiO2 on the desized cotton through decomposition of the cotton impurities compared for two different light exposures: UV rays and daylight. The desized cotton fabrics treated in the ultrasonic bath containing a colloidal aqueous solution of nano TiO2/citric acid (CA)/sodium hypophosphite (SHP). Incorporating CA in the treatment bath enhanced the treatment durability against washing, created a durable hydrophilic white cotton fabric even after several successive washings. Increasing the nano TiO2 content enhanced the fabric hydrophilicity and whiteness features. Overall, the nano photo scouring and nano photo bleaching on the cotton fabric introduced and thoroughly discussed. This gains the application of nano TiO2 on textile materials besides the other well known characteristics obtained on the textiles including self-cleaning, antibacterial and UV protection.