Preparation and Application of Black Cumin Seed Oil Emulsion with Enhanced Stability for Antimicrobial Treatment of Cellulosic Fabric

Abstract

With the growing concern for health and wellness, many textile mills are witnessing a surge in demand for antimicrobial and anti-viral treatments on fabric. The black cumin seed (BCS) is blessed with various antioxidants and antimicrobial active agents, and can be used to develop antimicrobial fabric. The current study aims to prepare a stable emulsion with BCS oil to apply on casual knitted fabric to investigate its anti-bacterial properties. The homogenous emulsions were prepared with Tween-80 surfactant and applied to the fabric by exhaust method. Thus, the emulsions were stable at various temperatures. The surface functional groups of treated fabric were characterized with FT-IR spectroscopy and the surface morphology was visualized with SEM images to confirm the modification. The FT-IR spectrum of treated fabric guaranteed successful modification, presenting the major surface functional groups in the treated fabric. The SEM images further confirmed this phenomenon as the treated fabric exhibited cemented layer deposition of BCS emulsions. The anti-bacterial activity of treated fabric against Bacillus subtilis microbes was measured using the Kirbey–Bauer method. The result showed that the treated fabric demonstrated anti-bacterial activity against B. subtilis with an inhibition zone of 8 mm. The resistive activity against the target bacteria was found active even after a single wash. This was proven through the optical density test which indicated that the fabric can be used for healthcare PPF securing their antimicrobial and anti-viral properties.

Graphical Abstract