Biodegradation of cotton and cotton/polyester fabrics impregnated by Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

This study was aimed to elucidate the biodegradation behaviour of cotton and cotton/PET fabrics impregnated with Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles in soil. Biodegradation behaviour was assessed according to standard test method ASTM 5988-03 and soil burial test, where the extent of biodegradation was estimated by the calculation of fabric weight loss. The morphology of fibres affected by biodegradation was analysed by SEM. The results indicated that Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles inhibit the biodegradation of investigated cotton and cotton/PET fabrics. As expected, biodegradation of cotton fabric was considerably more pronounced compared to cotton/PET fabric. Larger inhibition of biodegradation of cotton fabrics impregnated with Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles compared to impregnated cotton/PET fabrics was not only due to the poor biodegradability of PET, but also because of significantly larger content of Ag in the cotton fabric. Severe damage of cotton fibres during the biodegradation process was also confirmed by SEM.