A new approach for improving the antimicrobial activity of cellulose pulp

Antimicrobial activity is one of cellulose fibers' most critical functional properties since bacteria and fungi very quickly attack these fibers. Therefore, acrylamide was added during the chlorite bleaching process to develop low-cost antimicrobial cellulose. Herein, we exploited the elimination of the C12 to react with acrylamideproducing antimicrobial cellulose. Elemental analysis, Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive electron spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and pristine and modified cellulose antimicrobial activities were studied. The modified cellulose exhibited promising antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Furthermore, the elemental analysis and the surface morphology studies confirmed the loading of acrylamide onto cellulose fibers. The obtained results emphasized that the reaction conditions played an important role in the antimicrobial behavior of prepared cellulose pulp. Particularly, the integration of EDX results and antimicrobial activity it is clear that the samples containing a higher ratio of chlorine observed a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.

Automated summary

In this study, low-cost antimicrobial cellulose was developed by adding acrylamide during the chlorite bleaching process. The modified cellulose exhibited promising antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The results confirmed the successful loading of acrylamide onto cellulose fibers.