To chemically attach beta-cyclodextrin (CD) molecules to cotton cellulose,
N-methylol-acrylamide (NMA) was used to synthesize a CD containing monomer,
which was then grafted onto cellulose fibers. Initiation of the cotton cel
lulose backbone with ceric ion before the addition of acrylamidomethyl cycl
odextrin (CD-NMA) monomer was shown to be beneficial for grafting onto cott
on cellulose by studying the reactions of eerie ion with CD, CD-NMA, or cot
ton cellulose. The amount of chemically attached CD was determined by fluor
escence measurements and compared with graft yields. The possibility of tex
tile finishing of CD containing cotton fibers was investigated using benzoi
c acid as an antibacterial finishing agent or vanillin as an aroma finishin
g agent. Antibacterial activity of benzoic acid-treated samples were retain
ed even after 10 laundering cycles and the vanillin fragrance lasted much l
onger compared with the control sample, suggesting that utilization of CD i
n functional textile finishing is indeed possible. (C) 2000 John Wiley & So
ns, Inc.