FORMATION, PROPERTIES AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF COTTON XANTHATE-CU(II)-HOMOSULFAMINE COMPLEX

To develop a cotton derivatives with prolonged antimicrobial activitie s, homosulfamine (Hs) was coupled to cotton xanthate (CX) via chelate bond in the presence of Cu(ll) ion by one-and two-bath processes. In o ne-bath process, CX was treated with Cu(II)-Hs solution. In two-bath p rocess, CX was treated with Cu(ll) ion solution to produce CX-Cu(II) c omplex,which was isolated and treated in turn with Hs solution. Effect s of concentration, Cu(II)/Hs ratio, and pH on the binding of Hs were investigated at 10 degrees C. In one-bath process, binding of Hs took place readily with optimum pH around 5 similar to 6. The amount of bin ding increased to give a maximum within 5 min and decreased slowly to establish an equilibrium within an hour. In two-bath process, binding of Hs was much lower than that of one-bath process. Release of Hs from CX-Cu(ll)-Hs was investigated by batch and flow method. Antimicrobial activities of CX-Cu(II)-Hs were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli and it showed prolonged activity compared to that of free Hs.