A way to improve the sorption properties of raw jute fabric by sodium alginate treatment

Abstract

Sodium alginate aqueous solutions of different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, or 2.0%) were used for improving the sorption properties (evaluated through the determination of water retention power (WRP) and wetting time (WT)) of raw jute fabric. The influence of drying conditions (never-dried samples, samples dried at 60 °C or at room temperature) on the sorption properties of alginate-treated jute fabrics was also studied. Independently on the examined method (centrifuge or water absorption method), the same trend of improvement in WRP of alginate-treated fabrics was observed. The WRP of never-dried fabric treated with 2.0% sodium alginate solution determined using the water absorption or centrifuge method increased by 4.8 or 3.3 times compared to raw jute fabric, respectively. Moreover, the WT of jute fabrics decreased from 206.9±6.6 s down to 1.7±0.1 s after the treatment with 0.5% sodium alginate solution. The improved sorption properties of alginate-treated jute fabrics are attributed to the alginate layer on the fabric surface having a higher number of accessible carboxyl groups as well as hydroxyl groups capable of forming new hydrogen bonds with water molecules.

Vodeni rastvori natrijum-alginata različitih koncentracija (0,5, 1,0 ili 2,0%) korišćeni su za poboljšanje sorpcionih svojstava (procenjenih određivanjem sposobnosti zadržavanja vode (WRP) i vremena kvašenja (WT)) sirove tkanine jute. Takođe je proučavan uticaj uslova sušenja (neosušeni uzorci, uzorci sušeni na 60 °C ili na sobnoj temperaturi) na sorpciona svojstva tkanina jute tretiranih alginatom. Nezavisno od metode ispitivanja (centrifugiranjem ili apsorpcijom vode posle potapanja), dobijen je isti trend poboljšanja sposobnosti zadržavanja vode tkanina tretiranih alginatom. Sposobnost zadržavanja vode nesušene tkanine tretirane 2,0% rastvorom natrijum-alginata, određene metodom apsorpcije vode posle potapanja ili centrifugiranjem, povećana je 4,8 ili 3,3 puta u poređenju sa sirovom tkaninom jute, respektivno. Štaviše, tretman tkanina jute 0,5% rastvorom natrijum-alginata dovodi do smanjenja vremena kvašenja sa 206,9±6,6 s na 1,7±0,1 s. Poboljšana sorpciona svojstva tkanina jute tretiranih alginatom pripisuju se sloju alginata na njihovoj površini sa većim brojem dostupnih karboksilnihi hidroksilnih grupa sposobnih da formiraju nove vodonične veze sa molekulima vode.