Green synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles via bacterial cellulose (BC) produced from agricultural wastes

Bacterial cellulose (BC) produced from Achrmobacter sp. M15, was used to reduce titanium tetra isopropoxide into titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO(2)NPs) via green process. Addition of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO(2)NPs) was carried out via sol-gel method utilizing 3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the prepared TiO(2)NPs and their particles size were within a range of 5-10 nm. Cellulose-based fabrics (linen, viscose, cotton and cotton/polyester blend; 50:50) finished with BC/TiO(2)NPs nanocomposite displayed innovative properties e.g., self-cleaning and superior antimicrobial activities were illustrated. FT-IR, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), mechanical properties, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDX were used to characterize fabrics treated with TiO(2)NPs. Results showed that TiO(2)NPs prepared using BC had innovative properties in comparison to those of the nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method.