ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES AND UV- PROTECTION OF COTTON FABRIC USING NANOHYBRID MULTILAYER ZnOSiO2/CHITOSAN AND DODECYLTRIETOXYSILANE (DTS)

This study aims to conduct the synthesis and characterization of nanohybrid multilayer ZnO-SiO2/Chitosan (NHMZnO-SiO2/Chitosan) using SEM and TEM to show the rod-shape morphology. Furthermore, the compound is used as a textile fiber coating material for anti-bacterial and UV-protected applications. The process was followed by hydrophobization of Dodecyltrietoxysilane (DTS) using a 1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) crosslinker. FT-IR showed that the coating of NHM-ZnO-SiO2/Chitosan on textile fibers has covalent ester interactions with the appearance of the C=O stretching functional group at ~1700 cm-1 and each cotton fabric provided different intensity. Meanwhile, SEM showed that the layer has a rough surface, which is associated with the distribution of NHM-ZnOSiO2/Chitosan to create a hydrophobic surface, as evidenced by the water contact angle WCA = 100-119o. Furthermore, UV-DRS analysis was also conducted for UV protection testing and a decrease in the value of Eg = 2.87 eV on textiles coated with NHM-ZnO-SiO2/Chitosan and DTS was obtained. Anti-bacterial activity of uncoated, BTCA - ZnO-SiO2/Chitosan coating, BTCA - ZnO-SiO2/Chitosan coating, and DTS textiles were evaluated against bacterial cells of Staphylococcus epidermidis (37.7 - 47.2) mm and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (42.0 - 49.2) mm.