IMPROVED NATURAL DYEING OF COTTON BY PLASMA TREATMENT AND CHITOSAN COATING. OPTIMIZATION BY RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

In this study, cotton fibers were dyed with pomegranate rinds as a natural dye. To improve the dyeability of cotton fibers, chitosan was applied on the surface of the fibers. To enhance the application and adhesion of chitosan, oxygen plasma pretreatment was utilized. The procedure was optimized by response surface methodology and the most effective conditions for chitosan coating of cotton fibers, with the objective of obtaining the highest color strength, were found. The sample prepared under the optimal conditions was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images confirmed the existence of chitosan on the surface of the fibers. The chitosan-coated and naturally dyed samples demonstrated high antibacterial activity toward both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.