Antimicrobial functionalization of paper pulp

Cilj diplomskega dela je bila protimikrobna funkcionalizacija celulozne pulpe (robčkov in brisač) podjetja Paloma.d.o.o., z naravnim polimerom hitozanom. Tovrstna funkcionalizacija bi naj produktom povečala vpojnost in dodala protimikrobni učinek. V sodelovanju s podjetjem Paloma smo z uporabo njihove pulpe in dodatki hitozana v različnih masnih ter volumskih deležih izdelali funkcionalizirane lističe, ki so služili kot modelni vzorec brisač in robčkov. Tovrstnim lističem smo izmerili stični kot in pH vodnega ekstrakta. Glede na rezultate smo izbrali najbolj optimalen vzorec za nadaljnje testiranje. V drugi fazi pa smo optimalnemu vzorcu določili utržno trdnost, vpojnost, navzemanja vode. Njegovo kemijsko sestavo smo analizirali s FT-IR spektroskopijo in potenciometrično titracijo. Sledila je analiza, desorpcije in mikrobiološko testiranje. Ugotovili smo, da so laboratorijsko izdelani listi papirja imeli protimikrobni učinek na nekatere mikroorganizme, vendar smo z dodatkom hitozana zmanjšali utržno trdnost, vpojnost in navzemanje vode. Predvidevamo, da bi z nadaljnjo optimizacijo nanosa hitozana (recimo uporaba hitozanskih nanodelcev) ohranili ali pa celo simultano izboljšali vse lastnosti.The purpose of this study was antimicrobial functionalization of paper pulp (mainly for wipes and towels) for company Paloma d.o.o., with natural biopolymer chitosan. This sort of functionalization will magnification absorbency of product and will add antimicrobial effect. We are in association with company Paloma use their cellulose pulp and which chitosan was incorporated in different volumes and different concentration. We did the imitation of paper sheets for wipes and towels. These products were tested by determination of contact angle and pH of water extract of material. Considering of tests, we chose the most optimal sample for the next stage. In the second stage this sample was tested regarding its density, absorbency and water absorption. Its chemical structure was analyzed with FT-IR spectroscopy and potentiometric titration, respectively. The following test of prepared samples was analyzing of desorption and, finally fibres were examined regarding their antimicrobial properties. With all used tests we find, that our product had antimicrobial effect on the specific microorganisms, but with the addition of chitosan to paper pulp cellulose the decrease in fibre density, absorbency and water absorption was detected. Those characteristics may be improved with optimization of functionalization procedure (chitosan nanoparticles preparation, etc.)