Synthesis and characterization of a novel fibrous antibacterial fiber with organophorsphor functional groups

A novel antibacterial fiber named ethyltriphenylphosphonium bromide-polyacrylonitrile fiber (ETPB-PANF) was synthesized by chemical modification of PANF reacted with ETPB. The PANF was first immersed in NaOH solution to get Na-PANF with COONa groups. Na-PANF was then reacted with ETPB to get the final fiber. During the process of synthesis, this article investigated on the initial concentration of ETPB, the contact time, the reaction temperature, and the pH of the solution that may have effect on the properties of ETPB-PANF. ETPB-PANF was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analyzer, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the releasing amount of ETPB from ETPB-PANF was examined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The antibacterial activity of ETPB-PANF was examined against Escherichia coli and Staphylococci aureus by improved shake flask method in sterile saline. The results showed that organophorsphor functional groups have been successfully grafted on PANF, and ETPB-PANF showed good antibacterial abilities for E. coli and S. aureus. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40935.