Impregnation of corona modified polypropylene non-woven material with thymol in supercritical carbon dioxide for antimicrobial application

Abstract

This study discusses the possibility of impregnation of polypropylene (PP) and corona modified PP non-woven material with thymol in supercritical solvent in order to fabricate eco-friendly antimicrobial textile material. Carbon dioxide was used as a working fluid. The morphological changes on the PP fiber surface induced by corona treatment at atmospheric pressure as well as the presence of thymol on the fiber surface after impregnation were confirmed by FESEM analysis. Chemical changes were assessed by FTIR analysis. Antimicrobial activity of the modified PP non-woven material was tested against Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and fungus Candida albicans. Although both PP non-woven material impregnated with thymol and corona activated PP impregnated with thymol provided maximum microbial reduction, corona pre-treated material was much faster wetted, which could be an advantage in wound healing.