The aim of this study was to prepare microcapsules and transfer them to denim and non-denim trousers using different application methods. For this purpose, shea butter as active agent was encapsulated in an ethyl cellulose shell using the spray dryer method, and capsule optimization was studied. A morphological assessment showed that the capsules had a smooth surface and were spherical in shape. The homogenous size distribution of the capsules was supported by laser diffraction analysis. The capsules showed a narrow size distribution, and the mean particle size of optimum formulations of shea butter was 390 nm. Denim fabrics were treated with shea butter capsules using the methods of exhaustion and spraying in order to compare these application methods. The presence of capsules on the fabrics was tested after five wash cycles. The comparison of application methods found similar preferred characteristics for both the exhaustion and spraying methods. However, the spraying method was found to be more sustainable, because it requires working with low liquor ratios in less water, with lower chemical consumption and less waste than the exhaustion method, which requires working with a high liquor ratio. This study showed that the spraying method can be used as an alternative to other application methods in the market for reducing energy consumption, and shea butter capsules can provide moistening properties to the fabrics.

PurposeThe aim was to prepare antibacterial microcapsules and transferred to denim and non-denim (canvas) trousers.Design/methodology/approachFor this purpose, lavender and sweet almond oil as active agents were encapsulated with ethylcellulose shell with a spray dryer method and carried out capsule optimization studies.FindingsThe particle diameter of the capsules ranged between 0.61 and 8.76 µm, SPAN value was 1.608 and the mean particle size was 4 µm. The mass yields of capsules ranged between 35.0 and 75.4 %w/w. Denim fabrics were treated with prepared capsules by exhaustion and spraying methods. It was seen that microcapsules provided a reduction of bacteria by over 97% against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and the fabrics still showed an antibacterial effect after five washing cycles.Originality/valueWhen application methods were compared, the spraying method was found to be more sustainable process than exhaustion and could be used as an alternative for reducing energy consumption and capsules could provide antibacterial properties to the fabrics.

The aim of this study was to prepare microcapsules and transfer them to denim and non-denim trousers using different application methods. For this purpose, shea butter as active agent was encapsulated in an ethyl cellulose shell using the spray dryer method, and capsule optimisation was studied. A morphological assessment showed that the capsules had a smooth surface and were spherical in shape. The homogenous size distribution of the capsules was supported by laser diffraction analysis. The capsules showed a narrow size distribution, and the mean particle size of optimum formulations of shea butter was 390 nm. Denim fabrics were treated with shea butter capsules using the methods of exhaustion and spraying in order to compare these application methods. The presence of capsules on the fabrics was tested after five wash cycles. The comparison of application methods found similar preferred characteristics for both the exhaustion and spraying methods. However, the spraying method was found to be more sustainable, because it allows working with low liquor ratios in less water, with lower chemical consumption and less waste than the exhaustion method, which requires working with a high liquor ratio. This study showed that the spraying method can be used as an alternative to other application methods in the market for reducing energy consumption, and shea butter capsules can provide moisturising properties to the fabrics.

Although the textile industry has many products to offer to humanity, it consumes a lot of energy and indirectly causes greenhouse gas emissions. With increasing environmental awareness, parameters such as the cost and performance of each industrial activity to society, as well as the use of natural resources and the possibility of causing global environmental problems to have become more frequently considered factors. In the denim bleaching process, the desired effect is usually obtained with the help of sodium hypochlorite. Sodium metabisulfite is then used for the neutralization process. Since these processes are carried out at high liquor ratios, the waste load resulting from the consumption of necessary chemicals and water is also high. In this study, ecological bleaching methods have been developed as an alternative to the conventional sodium hypochlorite bleaching method by reducing the use of water and chemicals with low liquor and spraying bleaching methods. Denim garments subjected to bleaching with low liquor and spraying methods were compared with denim garments applied to sodium hypochlorite bleaching in industrial washing machines according to exhaustion method. In the spraying method, the mixture coming out of the narrow nozzle is mixed with the compressed air by means of a specially designed spray gun and sprayed in very small droplets. Thus, a good atomization is ensured, and a low liquor ratio water cloud is created.