The present study was conducted to develop a microencapsulated antibacterial finish using clove essential oil for cotton fabric. Microcapsules of clove essential oil (Syzygium fragranceticum) were developed with phase separation - complex coacervation technique using five concentrations of essential oil for application on cotton fabric. The finished cotton fabric was tested for SEM analysis and antibacterial finish using standard test methods. Findings of SEM analysis revealed that small spherical shape microcapsules in the treated samples were located at interstices between the fibers and on the fiber surface. The zone of inhibition was found maximum at concentration 5 of microencapsulated clove oil-treated cotton fabric before wash with 12.5 mm ± 1.5 and 12.33 mm ± 0.57 (Mean and SD) against S. aureus and E. coli. MCCL oil-treated cotton fabric showed good wash durability against S. aureus as compared to E. coli. The antimicrobial property decreased with an increasing number of wash cycles.
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