Enhanced Self-cleaning, Antibacterial and UV Protection Properties of Nano TiO2 Treated Textile through Enzymatic Pretreatment

Textile materials can be treated with some enzymes to improve their functionality. The usual enzymatic treatment hydrolyzes the textile surfaces that leads to increase the functional groups. Here, the polyester/wool fabric as a blend of fibers fabric was selected and treated with the two different types of enzymes to increase the surface activity with a propose of higher nano‐TiO2 adsorption. The fabric was first treated with proteases and lipases to hydrolyze the wool and the polyester surfaces, respectively. It has been then dipped into an ultrasound bath containing nano TiO2 and cross‐linking agent followed by curing. The cross‐linking agent, butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), also assisted to enhance the nano‐particles adsorption and stabilization on the fabric surface. The self‐cleaning properties of the fabrics were examined through evaluating the color removal from the stained fabric with Acid Blue 113. The antibacterial properties were determined by reduction growth of a Gram‐negative bacteria E. coli. and the UV protection was assessed by UV‐reflectance spectrum. The SEM pictures and EDX spectrums of some samples were also reported. Enzymatic pretreatment of textile can improve the absorbency and activity toward certain chemicals and nanoparticles. Polyester/wool fabric can be modified with protease and lipase to enhance surface activity. Application of nano TiO2 along with a cross‐linking agent to the enzyme‐pretreated polyester/wool fabric led to a higher adsorption and stabilization of nanoparticles on the fabric surface. Enhanced self‐cleaning, antibacterial and UV protection properties can be obtained on the enzyme‐pretreated fabric.