THE USE OF SERICIN AS AN ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL FOR POLLUTED AIR TREATMENT

The aim of this study was to enhance the properties of air filters by coating the filter with silk sericin, which is mostly discarded in wastewater during silk processing. The antioxidant activities against hydroxyl radical (OH-), the antimicrobial activities and the fiber-coated surface were studied in silk sericin from different species of waste cocoon; Polyvoltine waste cocoon (Nang Noi), Polyvoltine x Bivoltine waste cocoon (Dok Bua), and Bivoltine waste cocoon (Jul). The concentration of sericin solution in distilled water ranged from 10 to 20%. Among the different species of waste cocoon, the Jul has the highest antioxidant inhibition of OH- capacity, while the Dok Bua is the second with the Nang Noi having the lowest inhibition activity. For antifungus activity, the Dok Bua and Jul has comparable effective and Nang Noi the lowest capacity. The Dok Bua has the highest inhibition activity in Micrococcus type of bacteria, with Nang Noi second and Jul the lowest capacity. The coated surfaces of sericin on nylon fibers and PET fibers were smooth. This study demonstrates that sericin from the Dok Bua species has the best properties for coating air filters.