Preparation process and antimicrobial properties of cross-linking chitosan onto periodate-oxidized bamboo pulp fabric

Chitosan cross-linked bamboo pulp fabric (CCBPF) was prepared by treating the oxidized bamboo pulp fabric with the chitosan aqueous acetic acid solution. FTIR spectroscopy was used to examine the chemical bonding between chitosan and oxidized bamboo pulp fabrics, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry were used to detect the cellulose structure. The impact of the periodate oxidation and chitosan treatment on the physical properties of bamboo pulp fabrics was evaluated by determining the aldehyde content, weight loss, mechanical strength, wrinkle recovery angle, and moisture regain of fabrics as well as chitosan content in the composite chitosan-bamboo pulp fabrics. Antibacterial activity of the CCBPF against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was investigated in vitro experiments. The results indicated that the aldehyde groups in the periodate oxidized bamboo pulp cellulose were reacted with the amino groups of chitosan to form Schiff base, and the resultant CCBPF displayed good wrinkle recovery angle and moisture regain. In comparison with those of the oxidized bamboo pulp fabric, the CCBPF exhibited a lower thermal stability, the crystallinity decreased from 42.73 % to 39.15 %, the mechanical strength of CCBPF had no significant change, and the CCBPF showed excellent antibacterial activity against both types of bacteria which was durable till 50 washes.