One-bath dyeing and antibacterial finishing of cotton fabric using reactive dye and silver chloride: a sustainable approach

One-bath dyeing and antibacterial finishing of cotton fabric using reactive dye as colorant and silver chloride (AgCl) as an antibacterial agent was conducted to streamline the process and enhance its economic efficiency. The effectiveness of the antibacterial agent in reactive dyeing of cotton fabric, was evaluated through exhaust method with 0.5% AgCl and continuous (pad dry cure) method with 5 g/l of AgCl, utilizing various dye concentrations (1%, 3%, 5% for exhaust; 1g/l, 3g/l, 5g/l for pad dry cure) according to a standard reactive dye recipe. Characterization of the one-bath dyed, and antibacterial finished cotton fabric was performed using K/S values to determine the optimal dye shade concentration and antibacterial activity was evaluated using agar diffusion method. It was observed that the exhaust method revealed an optimum dye concentration at (AgCl 0.5% and dye 5%), while pad dry cure method showed optimal dye concentration at (AgCl 5g/l and dye 5g/l). Antibacterial tests were conducted on the optimal specimens from both methods (AgCl 0.5%, 0.2%, dye 0.5% for exhaust; dye 5g/l, AgCl 5g/l, 2g/l for pad dry cure), showcasing resistance against bacterial growth. While inhibition zones were observed on treated specimens of the exhaust method, whereas the treated specimens of the pad dry cure method exhibited complete resistance to bacterial growth around the specimen.