Abstract:

For the better development of loofah fiber resources and the preparation of environmentally friendly antibacterial materials, this paper analyzes the loofah chemical composition and designs an experimental scheme to extract loofah fiber using alkali. This paper also explores the impact on the extraction yield from the alkaline charge, extracting temperature, holding time, and liquid ratio. By experiment,  the optimum conditions for fiber extraction temperature, alkaline charge 10%, extracting temperature 170℃, holding time 60 min, and liquid ratio 1：6. The wet nonwoven was prepared by using the extracted loofah fiber, and its physical properties and antibacterial properties wrer tested. The result shows that the loosening degree is 2 429.2 mN and the tensile strength is 876.29 N/m when the beating degree and thickness of loofah fiber is 36° SR and 0.230 mm, respectively. Scherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus on the loofah wet nonwovens have no inhibition zones. The effect is fairly good that Bacteriostatic width is 0 and no bacterial reproduction appears.

Key words: loofah, fiber extraction, wet nonwoven, physical property, antibacterial property