A pilot-scale nonwoven roll goods manufacturing process reduces microbial burden to pharmacopeia acceptance levels for non-sterile hygiene applications

Textile Research Journal

et al. 2014

The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (ADBAC), a cationic surfactant commonly employed as an antimicrobial agent, on hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics (applicable for wipes) including raw cotton, bleached cotton, and their blends with polyester (PES) were studied at room temperature. The adsorption kinetics of ADBAC on all nonwoven fabrics was best described by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Unlike bleached cotton/PES blends, the equilibrium adsorption capacities of ADBAC on raw cotton/PES blends were enhanced in comparison with predictions based on the binary mixing rule. The adsorption rates for raw cotton, determined by the KASRA (kinetics of adsorption study in the regions with constant adsorption acceleration) model and Elovich equation, were significantly greater than those for bleached cotton, resulting in a rapid decrease of adsorption rates when blending with PES, which has a negligible interaction with ADBAC. This distinctive adsorption property of raw cotton was attributed to its unique surface characteristics induced by the hydroentangling process: retained pectin, partial removal of waxes, and surface fibrillation, which enhance electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction, and accessible surface area to ADBAC, respectively. In adsorption isotherms, raw cotton/PES blends exhibited a non-linear decrease in maximum adsorption capacity and monolayer adsorption capacity, calculated by the Langmuir and Langmuir-type equations, respectively, as a function of PES blend ratio.

supporting

confidence: 73%

Effect of polyester blends in hydroentangled raw and bleached cotton nonwoven fabrics on the adsorption of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride

Nam

Slopek

Textile Research Journal

et al. 2014

“…Raw greige cotton is much more competitively priced relative to petroleum-based fibers, but contains visible foreign material referred to as trash content, which is comprised of plant material such as leafs, stems, and bract tissues. The trash content of cotton fiber was also demonstrated to serve as a primary source of microbial burden in raw cotton fibers, [6][7][8][9] which is restrictive for hygiene applications under US and International Pharmacopeia guidelines. [10][11][12] However, it was previously demonstrated that the hydroentanglement process utilized in producing nonwoven wipe substrates eliminates or reduces microbial burden levels below Pharmacopeia acceptance levels for non-sterile hygiene applications.…”

Section: Usda-ars-srrc Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research Unit Usamentioning

confidence: 99%

The adsorption of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride onto cotton nonwoven hydroentangled substrates at the solid–liquid interface is minimized by additive chemistries

Hinchliffe

Textile Research Journal

Slopek

et al. 2016

Self Cite

Quaternary ammonium compounds, commonly referred to as quats, are cationic surfactants widely used as the active biocidal ingredient for disposable disinfecting wipes. The cationic nature of quats results in a strong ionic interaction and adsorption onto wipes materials that have an anionic surface charge, such as cellulosic materials, including cotton. The degree of adsorption of quats onto cotton nonwovens is affected by pretreatment of the substrate, more specifically whether it is a greige or a scoured and bleached fabric. This study examined the effect of varying the chemical and physical properties of solutions on the adsorption of the quat alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (ADBAC) onto greige and scoured and bleached cotton nonwoven fabrics produced by hydroentanglement. At a constant surfactant concentration, the liquor ratio, pH, temperature, and concentrations of various electrolytes in the solution were varied and the amount of ADBAC depleted from solution was determined over time. The results suggested that a more alkaline solution increased the amount of ADBAC adsorbed onto both cotton nonwoven fabrics, while a more acidic solution reduced ADBAC adsorption. Likewise, increasing the temperature and concentration of salts in the solution reduced the adsorption of ADBAC onto the cotton fabrics. The presence of nonionic surfactants or low molecular weight quats also reduced ADBAC adsorption onto cotton fabrics in a concentration-dependent manner. The results of this study will provide guidance for optimized chemical formulations compatible with disposable disinfecting cotton-based wipes, cloths, and other cotton-containing implements intended for use in cleaning and disinfecting applications.

“…After it is harvested and ginned, cotton fiber can be purified by re-ginning and lint-cleaning without using water or chemicals [4]. This mechanical cleaning was shown to greatly reduce microbial contamination, i.e., producing a 91% drop in total aerobic microbial counts and a 99% drop in total aerobic yeast/mold counts [5]. The natural oleophilic characteristics of raw cotton fiber enable efficient processing of nonwovens for a broad range of end-use applications, such as batting for furniture and mattresses, the acoustic insulation of automobiles, and disposable protective products; it also can serve as a sorbent for oil spill cleanup [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural resistance of raw cotton fiber to heat evidenced by the suppressed depolymerization of cellulose

Nam

Polymer Degradation and Stability

Liu

et al. 2017

Mechanically purified raw cotton fiber finds a growing range of applications in support of environmental sustainability, but its unique thermal stability, which is important in processes and utilization, is little known. This study shows that, at low temperatures (< 300 C), the accelerated dehydration of cellulose was distinct in the pyrolysis of raw cotton. Compared with scoured cotton, raw cotton exhibited an intensive accumulation of dehydrocellulose in solid products, enhanced evolution of water and carbon dioxide, and increased formation of char. The amount of the crystalline region degraded together with the amorphous region was increased in raw cotton. The activation energy of thermal decomposition for raw cotton (124 kJ/mol) determined under isothermal conditions at 200-300 C was lower than that for scoured cotton (202 kJ/mol). Such catalyzed low-temperature thermal reactions suppressed the depolymerization of cellulose at high temperatures, which produces highly volatile levoglucosan. The levoglucosan detected in raw cotton using Py-GC/MS was two orders of magnitude less abundant than that detected in scoured cotton.