Microencapsulation of essential oil on cotton
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Date
2012
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
The study was conducted to standardize the process of microencapsulation and padding, to
impart aesthetic and functional finish on cotton fabric. Microencapsulation is a technique to prepare
microcapsules, small particles that contain an active agent or core- material surrounded by coating or
shell of limited permeability and can be used to impart durable functional and aesthetic finish to
textiles using essential oil as core material. Lemongrass oil was selected as the core material and
complex coacervation technique was used for encapsulation. Ratios of gum, oil and gelatin,
temperature and pH were standardized for the process of microencapsulation. The proportion of
ingredients for padding bath i.e. microcapsule gel, binder and softener were also standardized along
with MLR, curing time and temperature. Cotton fabric was padded with microcapsule gel using the
optimized process and the washing durability and physical properties were tested. It was summarized
that 2:1:4 ratio of gum, oil and gelatin , at a temperature of 50 with initial and final pH 4.5 and 9.5
respectively was optimized for microencapsulation process. The proportion of binder, softener and
microcapsule gel was optimized at 15:1:50 with MLR 1:20 cured at at 80°C for 60 seconds. The
samples retained aroma till 30 wash cycles and as the number of wash cycles increased the intensity
of aroma decreased. The fabric count, fabric weight and fabric thickness of treated fabric increased
hence flexural rigidity increased. Microencapsulation did not have any adverse effect on tensile
strength and elongation.. Bending length of microencapsulated fabric increased but to an acceptable
level. Microencapsulated fabrics will not only provide health benefits to the common masses but will
also benefit the agriculture sector as it will ensure increased cultivation of aromatic plants and
enhanced rate of essential oil extraction. Aroma finish will add value to cotton so the cultivation,
production and export of cotton will also boost.
Description
Keywords
Crops, zinc, Boron, Farmyard manure, Foliar application, Inorganic acid salts, Yields, Planting, Nutrients, Sugar