Sustainable Antimicrobial Finishing of Fabrics Using Natural Bioactive Agents - A Review

Abstract

Antimicrobial textiles have gained much attention and popularity in the market and in day-today life during the last two decades. The textile industries continue to introduce different methods in their production to enhance the quality of their products and to satisfy their customers. Increased competition in the industry has lead to the development of different synthetic antimicrobial agents. Though these synthetic agents are used widely, they pose a threat to both the users and the environment. Taking into consideration these threatening issues, several environmental bodies have implemented rules in the use of synthetic agents. On the contrary, the natural antimicrobial agents which have less adverse effect on humans and are eco friendly, are gaining much attention. Several natural agents such as basil (active agent is eugenol), neem (active limnoids like azadirachtin, nimbinin), turmeric (curcumin), clove oil, chitosan, sercin, onion, aloevera and pomegranate have antimicrobial properties. This review paper highlights the different natural antimicrobial sources, their effect on public and the possibilities of using these agents in textiles to impart antimicrobial properties and to develop different products.

Anti-microbial finishing for natural textile fabrics

“…[11,17] • Nucleic acid synthesis inhibition (DNA/ RNA). [18] Antimicrobial agents Antimicrobial agents can be classified into…”

“…[41] Neem has been classified as one of the most abundant sources of antimicrobial composites for its numerous applications as it contains over 140 bioactive compounds. [18] Glycerides of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are produced by neem leaves and most important of which are stearic and oleic acid. Leaves produce majorly bacteria of quercetin and neem in addition to several limonoids.…”

The Waste Problem of Antimicrobial Finishing

“…To achieve this, more research work is needed in the field. Hence, natural antimicrobial agents derived from plant sources would be of prime importance in the future [75]. It is so urgent to protect and conserve the natural ecosystem of the earth, thereby restoring the global sustainability.…”

Utilization of orange peel waste in textile industry: A review

“…Considering this issue, the natural antimicrobial agents with effective antimicrobial activity are being used, and replace the synthetic agents. The application of different natural antimicrobial agents such as aloe vera, eucalyptus, turmeric, neem, and basil has been already reported in textile processing (Reshma et al, 2018) [18] . The fruits rind of citrus fruits shows an efficient anti-microbial agent, hence can be used for the preparation of anti-microbial finish of medical cloths (Tariq et al, 2017) [19] .…”