Study on the Effect of Pomegranate Peel and Walnut Green Husk Extracts on the Antibacterial and Dyeing Properties of Wool Yarn Treated by Chitosan/Ag, Chitosan/Cu Nano-particles

The growth of microorganisms on textiles can reduce mechanical properties, color changing, and disease spreading. Hence, natural antibacterial agents have developed dramatically and are important in the textile industry. In this study, the role of pomegranate peels and walnut green husk extracts on the antibacterial, dyeing, and fastness properties of wool yarn treated with chitosan-Cu and chitosan-Ag nanoparticles (Ch-Cu NPs and Ch-Ag NPs) are investigated. It was found that pomegranate peel and walnut green husk extracts could increase the antibacterial activities (almost 100 %) of samples in lower concentrations (1 % o.w.f.) treated with Ch-Cu and Ch-Ag NPs. Furthermore, the durability of the antibacterial activity of dyed samples was acceptable after 10 repeated washing times. Ag and Cu on the wool samples provided varied shades, which can be related to form complexation/coordination between them and natural dyes. The obtained results clearly showed that the extracts of used natural dyes could be proposed as the green method for decreasing the consumption of Ch-NPs, consequently, the costs of antibacterial finishing.