Preparation and application of an s-triazine-based novel N-halamine biocide for antimicrobial fibers

N-halamines serve as important antimicrobial agents. Development of this class of compounds has been shown to provide benefits especially from a biocidal point of, vie w. A novel s-triazine-based N-heterocycle, dichloro-m-aminophenyl-hydantoinyl-s-triazine (DAPHT), which could be rendered antimicrobial through exposure to diluted chlorine bleach, was synthesized and characterized by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, and FT-IR. A finishing method was used to apply the N-halamine precursor onto cotton fabric, and the optimum conditions for finishing were investigated. The DAPHT-treated cotton fabric had durable antimicrobial properties up to 50 standard washing cycles and was rechargeable under normal laundry/bleaching conditions. The antimicrobial efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was demonstrated.