A sonochemical technology for coating of textiles with antibacterial nanoparticles and equipment for itsimplementation

A method for introducing antibacterial CuO nanoparticles into textiles using ultrasonic cavitation has been developed. Nanoparticles are directed by the cavitation jets (which are formed due to asymmetric bubble collapse in the presence of a solid surface) towards the surface of the textile at very high velocities and penetrate into the fibres. For this purpose, a sonochemical reactor was designed and optimised based on experimental study and computational modelling of the acoustic field. Fabrics coated with CuO nanoparticles using the developed sonochemical reactor showed good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus andMRSA.

► A method for introducing antibacterial CuO nanoparticles into textiles using ultrasonic cavitation has been developed.
► A reactor for implementation of this method was constructed.
► The process was optimised using computational modelling of pressure distribution.
► Fabrics coated with CuO nanoparticles show good antibacterial activity.