Assessing Alternative Pre-Treatment Methods to Promote Essential Oil Fixation into Cotton and Polyethylene...

Area of Science:

• Textile Science
• Materials Science
• Applied Microbiology

Background:

• Development of functional textiles for medicinal and cosmetic applications is increasing.
• Antimicrobial and refreshing properties are desirable for enhanced fabric performance.
• Essential oils offer natural antimicrobial and sensory benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop refreshing, ecological, and antimicrobial fabrics for medicinal and cosmetic uses.
• To investigate the incorporation of geranium essential oils (GEO) into polyester and cotton fabrics.
• To evaluate the impact of different incorporation methods and fabric treatments on key properties.

Main Methods:

• Geranium essential oils (GEO) were incorporated into polyester and cotton fabrics using ultrasound, diffusion, and padding methods.
• Treated fabrics were analyzed for thermal properties, color strength (K/S), odor intensity, wash fastness, and antibacterial activity.
• The efficiency of the ultrasound method was compared against diffusion and padding techniques.

Main Results:

• The ultrasound method was the most efficient for incorporating GEO, significantly increasing color strength (K/S) from 0.22 to 0.91.
• Treated fabrics exhibited notable antibacterial activity against *Staphylococcus epidermidis* and *Escherichia coli*.
• The ultrasound process ensured GEO stability, maintaining odor intensity and antibacterial characteristics without degradation.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasound-assisted incorporation of GEO yields fabrics with enhanced antimicrobial and sensory properties.
• The developed functional textiles demonstrate potential for use in cosmetic applications due to their ecofriendliness and reusability.
• This study highlights a promising method for creating advanced textile materials with added value.