Enhanced insect-resistance, UV protection, and antibacterial and antistatic properties exhibited by wool fabric treated with polyphenols extracted from mango seed kernel and feijoa peel

The synthetic dyes, antimicrobial and insect-resistant agents, UV radiation absorbents, and antistatic agents that are used to introduce multifunctional properties to textiles are not only toxic to the environment but also require multi-step treatments to achieve them. Toxic antimicrobials are responsible for the growth of drug-resistant bacteria. Nature-derived polyphenols, such as tannin, could be a viable green alternative. In this work, wool fabrics were treated with a commercial tannic acid (PP-1), and also with gallotannin-rich polyphenols extracted from feijoa fruit peel (PP-2) and mango seed kernel (PP-3) to introduce multifunctional properties, i.e. to make the fabric antistatic, insect-resistant, hydrophilic, and able to absorb harmful UV radiation. The effect of the treatment on the colour, colour intensity, surface resistivity, UV radiation absorption, antibacterial activity, and insect-repellence was systematically evaluated. It was found that PP-3-treated fabric exhibited excellent surface hydrophilicity, antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and insect-resistant activity against the larvae of Tineola bisselliella. PP-3 treatment also provided comparable UV protection and antioxidant activity but was marginally inferior to the UV protection and antioxidant activity exhibited by the PP-1-treated fabric. The commercial tannic acid treated fabric provided the best antistatic properties but the lowest surface hydrophilicity. The developed treatment could provide a green and sustainable alternative to hazardous UV absorbing, antibacterial and insect-resistant agents used in the textile industry.