Process for the antiseptic treatment of non-keratinous textile materials

Nonkeratinous polymeric materials containing no or few thiol functional groups and/or bisulphide bridges in their structure, for example cotton. The treatment consists in treating the material so as to fix thiol functional groups in its polymeric structure and to bring it into contact with a solution containing a heavy metal atom. This will be in particular a solution containing mercury or a mercury derivative which has an antiseptic activity. The heavy metal atom, in an ionic state, for example mercury, silver, bismuth or copper, in this form or in the form of a derivative, fastens itself to the thiol functional groups of a mercury derivative which has an antiseptic activity, for example mercurobutol or one of its derivatives. The attachment of thiol functional groups to the cotton takes place via the action of ethylene sulphide. The invention also applies to the purification of baths containing heavy metal ions.