Modification of synthetic carpet using chitosan-titania nanocomposite for anti-bacterial and anti-odor purposes

The modification of an anti-bacterial and anti-odor carpet was conducted by coating chitosan-titania nanocomposite on a white synthetic fur carpet. The nanocomposite was synthesized by adding chitosan to titania by means of the wet impregnation method. The nanocomposite was then characterized by FTIR to determine the bonds that occur, UV-Vis DRS to determine the energy bandgap, and SEM-EDX to analyze the morphology and composition. An Escherichia coli colony disinfection test was carried out using the synthesized nanocomposite to analyze its disinfectant ability. After obtaining the most optimum nanocomposite composition based on the test, the best nanocomposite was then coated on the carpet using varied tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) additions. An ammonia degradation test was carried out by dipping the coated carpet in an ammonia solution under UV light irradiation. The FTIR characterization showed that a number of bonds occur between chitosan and titania, while UV-Vis DRS showed that the synthesized nanocomposite had an energy bandgap value of 3.11 eV. The E. coli disinfection test showed that the best nanocomposite composition was of the 3 wt% chitosan concentration, while the ammonia degradation test showed that the addition of 0.67% (v/v) tetraethyl orthosilicate solution was the most optimum addition in the nanocomposite coating on the carpet surface.