Cellulose coating and chelation of antibacterial compounds for the protection of flax yarns against natural soil degradation

For this purpose, a cellulose coating of yarns made of short flax fibres was performed and its stability under a water flow was assessed. The ability to form a cellulose sheath was estimated by chromaticity measurements of flax fibres after applying a dye specific to lignin. Infrared spectrometry analysis to monitor the level of protection against degradation by cellulolytic enzymes was also carried out. It appears that the cellulose coating provides an efficient physical protection, preventing access of these enzymes to their fibrous substrate. Then, the possibility of conferring antibacterial properties on the cellulose coating by chelating phytoalexin molecules such as gramine on it was assayed and proven to be effective against soil cellulolytic bacteria such as Cellvibrio fulvus and Cellvibrio vulgaris. This study therefore establishes that coating flax yarns with cellulose associated with antibacterial molecules could contribute to obtaining a longer service life in soil for geotextiles manufactured from flax fibres.