Combined antimicrobial and aroma finishing treatment for cotton, using micro encapsulated geranium ( Pelargonium graveolens L' Herit. ex Ait.) leaves extract

Abstract

The methanolic extract of geranium, Pelargonium graveolens L’ Herit. ex Ait. leaves was used to impart antimicrobial and aroma finishing to the cotton fabric. The extract was microencapsulated using two different methods namely coacervation-spray drying and direct spray drying techniques. The results indicated that the direct spray drying method produced smaller capsules with 5 µ size in powder form and 12.5 µ in aqueous form compared to the 7.5 µ and 17.5 µ respective capsule sizes produced by coacervation-spray drying method. The microencapsulated geranium leaves extract treated cotton fabrics showed antimicrobial efficacy against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . However, the Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus was more susceptible to geranium extract compared to Escherichia coli . The microcapsule treated fabric retained 50-60% aroma after 10 washes compared to the nil retention property of pure geranium extract treated fabric.