Application of a fiber-reactive chitosan derivative to cotton fabric as an antimicrobial textile finish

A fiber-reactive chitosan derivative, O-acrylamidomethyl-N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium)propyl] chitosan chloride (NMA-HTCC), was applied to cotton fabrics by a cold pad-batch method in the presence of an alkaline catalyst to evaluate its use as a durable antimicrobial textile finish. The antimicrobial activities of the NMA-HTCC treated cotton fabrics were evaluated quantitatively against Staphylococcus aureus. The cotton treated with NMA-HTCC at a concentration of 1% on weight of fabric showed 100% of bacterial reduction. The activity was maintained over 99% even after being exposed to 50 consecutive home laundering condition. The effect of an anionic surfactant on the antimicrobial activity of the NMA-HTCC treated fabric was discussed.