Enhancement of antifungal capability of cotton textiles coated with TiO<sub>2</sub>–SiO<sub>2</sub>/chitosan using citric acid and sodium hypophosphite catalyst
Yetria Rilda, Dwiyanti Dita, Syukri Syukri, Anthoni Agustien, Hilfi Pardi
Abstract
The study conducted an entrapment of TiO2–SiO2/chitosan nanocomposite compounds with Ti and Si molar compositions of 1:3 on cotton fibers using citric acid as a crosslinker. It was carried out using the dip-spincoating method for 6–12 hours. Synergistic citric acid and sodium hypophosphite (NaH2PO2) as a catalyst improves the esters covalent interaction between hydroxyl groups of cotton fibers and carboxylic groups from crosslinkers. The optimal ratio of molar composition between TiO2–SiO2/chitosan, citric acid, and sodium hypophosphite was 10:5:3 with a citric acid concentration of 1.5 M. The SEM morphological analysis shows the coating of TiO2–SiO2/chitosan nanocomposite on textile fibers increases and it is more evenly distributed compared to without catalyst (NaH2PO2). Moreover, the FT-IR measurements indicates several peaks showing chemical interactions, characterized by stretching intensity C = O from 1701 to 1713 cm−1, Si–C at 1200 cm−1, and CH at 2900 cm−1. The evaluation of the antifungal capability of Candida albicans gives a greater inhibition zone compared to Aspergillus niger, 14.4 mm and 12.9 mm, respectively.