US3116207A

US3116207A - Process for the protection of textiles

Info

Publication number: US3116207A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael G Mulinos
Original assignee: Commercial Solvents Corp
Current assignee: Commercial Solvents Corp
Priority date: 1961-06-07
Filing date: 1961-06-07
Publication date: 1963-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-31
Also published as: GB946895A; DK109742C; BE618596A; DE1419415A1

Description

United States Patent Ofiice 3,:l 453M Patented Dec. 31, 1953 My invention relates to a method of protecting textiles against the action of noxious organisms such as fungi and bacteria which protection is retained after repeated washing and cleaning operations. More particularly my invention relates to a method of protecting textiles by impregnating or coating the textiles with mixtures selected from the group consisting of neomycin and bacitracin, zinc neomycin and bacitracin, zinc bacitracin and neomycin, zinc bacitracin and zinc neomycin, copper neomycin and copper bacitracin, copper neomycin and bacitracin, and neomycin and copper bacitracin.

The textile industry has long sought a satisfactory means for protecting textiles against the action of noxious organisms such as fungi and bacteria during periods of storage and use and after repeated washing and cleaning operations which eventually remove the protecting agents previously available. The problem has been complicated by the various compositions of textiles in use and the widely different conditions under which they require protection. For example, the practical utility of textiles protected from bacterial activity, even after repeated washings, is obvious. The antibacterial properties of such textiles tend to lessen the liability of body odors due to the bactewhich contaminate untreated fabrics and which thrive upon perspiration and other body secretions. Also, there would be prevention of or lessening of the conversion of urea to ammonia in urine-contamincd personal wear and especially of diapers worn by infants or under clothing of older people. Clothing made from such textiles would help prevent infections due to pathogenic fungi growing on the skin of the feet, crotch, or other areas. Many compounds have been found to give initial protection to textiles, but they have not been universally employed due to the fact that they require either complicated fixation processes or they are easily washed from the textiles by detergents and solvents used in cleaning. Also, while some compositions could be applied easily and would give lasting protection after repeated cleaning operations, they r ere only effective against specific fungi and bacteria thus limiting their usefulness.

l have now discovered a new type of textile protective agent which is relatively free from the defects of previously available textile protectants and which can be easily and inexpensively applied to textiles and not readily removed therefrom by detergent and solvent action during normal cleaning.

.l have now discovered that mixtures selected from the group consisting of neomycin and bacitracin, zinc neomycin and bacitracin, zinc bacitracin and neomycin, zinc bacitracin and zinc neomycin, copper neomycin and copper bacitracin, copper neomycin and bacitracin, and neomycin and copper bacitracin, effectively protect textiles against noxious organisms such as fungi and bacteria, the two antibiotics in each mixture acting cooperatively in such a Way that the total effectiveness of the mixture is greater than the sum of the effects of each antibiotic when used independently.

Neomycin, which is actually a mixture of two very closely related antibiotics known specifically as neomycin B and neomycin C, is produced by a soil organism of the streptomyces group similar to Streptomyces fradiae when grown in nutrient media.

Bacitracin is produced by the organism, Bacillus subtilis, when propagated in various liquid nutrient media.

The zinc and copper salts of bacitracin and neomycin are prepared by treating an aqueous solution containing either bacitracin or neomycin with zinc chloride or copper chloride and a base such as sodium hydroxide to precipitate either the zinc bacitracin, zinc neomycin, copper bacitracin or copper neomycin.

Although the compounds utilized in my process can be applied in any desired order, it is preferable, when applying free neomycin or free bacitracin in combination with a zinc or copper salt of either neomycin or bacitracin, to

rst apply the zinc or copper salt to the textile. The textile can be suitably treated with a zinc or copper salt of either neomycin or bacitracin by placing the textile in an aqueous solution of bacitracin or neomycin, adding a solution of about 1.0% zinc chloride or copper chloride, adjusting the pH of the combined solutions with sodium hydroxide to precipitate the zinc salt onto the textile, removing the textile from the solution and allowing the thus treated textile to dry. After drying the textile it can be treated with either free neomycin or free bacitracin by placing the textile in a solution of neomycin or bacitracin preferably using as the solvent a lower alcohol such as methanol or butanol, removing the textile from the solution, and allowing the thus treated textile to dry.

When mixtures of free neomycin and free bacitracin are utilized, they can be applied by placing the textile in a solution of neomycin and bacitracin preferably using as the solvent lower alcohols such as methanol or butanol, etc., removing the textile from the solution, and allowing the thus treated textile to dry.

When mixtures of zinc bacitracin and zinc neomycin or copper bacitracin and copper neomycin are desired, the textile can be suitably treated by placing it in an aqueous solution of bacitracin and neomycin, adding a solution of about 1.0% zinc chloride or copper chloride, adjusting the pH of the combined solutions with sodium hydroxide to precipitate either the zinc or copper salts onto the textile, removing the textile from the solution and allowing the thus treated textile to dry.

The exact quantity of the above mixtures to be utilized in treating textiles will vary widely and to a certain extent will depend upon the type of textile in which the material is to be employed and the particular noxious organism from which protection is desired. in general, however, i have found that concentrations of the abovementioned mixtures as low as 0.05% by weight based on the weight of the textile treated are sufiicient to protect textiles. For some requirements, however, concentrations ranging up to and above 1.0 to 2.0% are desirable. How ever, I prefer to use concentrations ranging from about 0.1 to about 1.0%.

The ratios of neomycin or its copper or zinc salts to bacitracin or its copper or zinc salts in the above-mentioned concentrations also can vary Widely and will depend upon the particular noxious organism from which maximum protection is desired. Generally, however, I have found desirable results are obtained when the textiles are impregnated with the above concentrations of the mixtures in the relative proportions of from about units of neomycin containing compound: 1 unit of bacitracin compound to 1 unit of neomycin containing compound: 5 units of bacitracin containing compound.

I have found the above-mentioned mixtures to be safe for use in contact with the skin and even with open wounds. Hence, textiles coated with these compounds are particularly useful Where great personal hygiene is required. They are particularly efficacious in th treatment of and in the prevention of infections, therefore making them especially adapted for use in hospitals and for bandages.

The following examples further illustrate my invention by showing the action of my mixtures in protecting textiles against the organisms M. flax as and B. subtllis. However, i do not int nd to be limited to the processes, amounts, or procedures disclosed therein.

Example I To test the resistance of fabrics treated with combinations of neomycin and Zinc bacitracin, three strips of cotton-duck fabric were placed in an aqueous solution of bacitracin; a 1.0% solution of zinc chloride was then added and the pH was adjusted with sodium hydroxide to precipitate zinc bacitracin onto the fabric. "iftCf su'l'ficient soaking, the strips were drained and allowed to dry. The treated strips contained 0.5% zinc bacitracin by weight based on the weight of the strip. The strips were then placed in a methanolic solution of neomycin. After sufficient soaking, the strips were drained and allowed to dry. The treated strips contained about 0.2% neomycin by weight based on the weight of the strips. All three of the thus treated strips were washed and dried a total of thirteen times in an automatic washer using a common household det rgent. At the end of the thirteenth washing and drying procedure, one disc 25 mm. in diameter was cut from each of the strips and each was placed on a separate dish 100 mm. in diameter each containing ml. of nutrient agar inoculated with 0.1 ml. of the organism M. flavus and 0.1 ml. of the organism B. subtilis. The discs were then incubated at 37 C. for 92 hours. At the end of the incubation period, it was observed that no organisms were growing on any of the treated discs.

Example 11 To demonstrate the abilty of combinations of neomycin and copper bacitracin in protecting textiles from noxious organisms, the procedure of Example I was followed except that copper chloride was utilized instead of zinc chloride. Inhibitory results similar to those shown in Example I were observed.

Example 111 To test the resistance of fabrics treated with combinations of zinc neomycin and bacitracin, three strips of cotton-duck fabric were placed in an aqueous solution of neomycin; a 1.0% solution of zinc chloride was then added and the pH was adjusted with sodium hydroxide to precipitate zinc neomycin onto the fabric. After sufiicient soaking, the strips were drained and allowed to dry. The treated strips contained 0.4% zinc neomycin by weight based on the weight of the strip. The strips were then placed in a methanolic solution of bacitracin. After sufficient soaking, the strips were drained and allowed to dry. The treated strips contained about 0.3% bacitracin by weight based on the weight of the strips. All three of the thus treated strips were washed and dried a total of thirteen times in an automatic washing machine using a common household detergent. At the end of the thirteentth washing and drying procedure, one disc 25 mm. in diameter was cut from each of the strips and each was placed on a separate dish 100 mm. in diameter each containing 15 ml. of nutrient agar inoculated with 0.1 ml. of the organism M. flavas and 0.1 ml. of the organism B. subtilis. The discs were then incubated at 37 C. for a period of 72 hours. At the end of the 72-hour period, no growth was observed on any of the discs.

Example IV To demonstrate the ability of combinations of copper neomycin and bacitracin in protecting textiles from noxious organisms, the procedure of Example III was followed except that copper chloride was utilized instead of Zinc chloride. Inhibitory results similar to those shown in Example I were observed.

Example V To test the resistance of fabrics treated with combinations of neomycin and bacitracin, three strips of cotton-- duck fabric were placed in a methanolic solution containing bacitracin and ncomycin. After sufficient soaking, the strips were drained and allowed to dry. all tnree of the thus treated strips were washed and dried a total of thirteen times in an automatic washer using a common household detergent. At the end of the thirteenth washing and drying procedure, one disc 25 mm. in diameter was cut from each of the strips and each was placed on a separate dish mm. in diameter each containing 15 ml. of nutrient agar inoculated with 0.1 ml. of the organism M. flavas and 0.1 ml. of the organism B. salatz'lls. The discs were then incubated at 37 C. for 72 hours. At the end of the 72-hour period, no growth was observed on any of the discs.

Example V1 To test the resistance of fabrics treated with combinations of zinc bacitracin and zinc neomycin, three strips of cotton-duck fabric were placed in an aqueous solution of bacitracin and neomycin; a 1.0% solution of zinc chloride was then added, and the pH was adjusted with sodium hydroxide to precipitate zinc bacitracin and Zinc neomycin onto the fabric. fter sufilcient soaking, the strips were drained and allowed to dry. All three of the thus treated strips were washed and dried a total of thirteen times in an automatic washer using a common household detergent. At the end of the thirteenth washing and drying procedure, one disc 25 mm. in diameter was cut from each of the strips and each was placed on a separate dish 100 mm. in diameter each containing 15 ml. of nutrient agar and inoculated with 0.1 ml. of the organism M. flavus and 0.1 ml. of the organism B. sabtilis. The discs were then incubated at 37 C. for a 72-hour period. At the end of the incubation period, it was observed that no organisms were growing on any of the treated discs.

Example V11 To demonstrate the ability of combinations of copper neomycin and copper bacitracin in protecting textiles from noxious organisms, the procedure of Example VI was followed except that copper chloride was utilized instead of Zinc chloride. Inhibitory results similar to those shown in Example Vl were observed.

Now having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A process for protecting textiles against noxious organisms, said protection being retained after repeated cleaning operations which comprises treating the textiles with mixtures selected from the group consisting of neomycin and baotracin, zinc neomycin and bacitracin, zinc bacitracin and neomycin, zinc bacitracin and zinc neomycin, copper neomycin and copper bacitracin, copper neomycin and bacitracin, and neomycin and copper bacitracin.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the textiles are treated with said neomycin and bacitracin by contacting said textiles in an alcoholic solution, and with said neomycin and macitracin-containing compounds by contacting said textiles in an aqueous solution.

3. A process for protecting textiles against noxious organisms, said protection being retained after repeated cleaning operations which comprises treating the textiles with from about 0.05 to about 2.0% by weight based on the weight of the textile of a mixture selected from the group consisting of neomycin and bacitracin, zinc neomycin and bacitracin, zinc bacitracin and neomycin, zinc bacitracin and zinc neomycin, copper neornycin and copper bacitracin, copper neomycin and bacitracin, and neonrycin and copper bacitracin.

4-. The process of claim 3 wherein the ratio of neornycin containing compounds to bacitracin containing compounds ranges from about 100 units of ncomycin containing compound: 1 unit of bacitracin containing compound to 1 uint of neomycin containing compound: 5 units of bacitracin compound.

5. The process of claim 3 wherein the textiles are treated with from about 0.1 to about 1.0% by weight based on the weight of the textile of a mixture selected from the group consisting of neomycin and bacitracin, Zinc neomycin and bacitracin, zinc bacitracin and neomycin, zinc bacitracin and zinc neomycin, copper neomycin and copper bacitracin, copper neomycin and bacitracin, and neomycin and copper bacit'racin.

6. The process of claim 3 wherein the mixture is neomycin and bacitracin.

7. The process of claim 3 wherein the mixture is zinc neomycin and bacitracin.

8. The process of claim 3 wherein the mixture is zinc bacitr acin and neomycin.

9. The process of claim 3 wherein the mixture is copper neomycin and copper bacitraoin.

10. The process of claim 3 wherein the mixture is copper neomycin and bacitracin.

11. The process of claim 3 wherein the mixture is neomycin and copper bacitracin.

12. The process of claim 3 wherein the mixture is zinc neomycin and zinc bacitracin.

13. The process of claim 3 wherein the textiles are treated with said neomycin and bacitracin by contacting said textiles in an alcoholic solution, and with said neomycin and bacitracin-containing compounds by contacting said textiles in an aqueous solution.

14. A textile fabric being provided with protection against the action of noxious organisms said protection being retained after repeated cleaning operations comprising textile fibers impregnated with a mixture selected from the group consisting of neomycin and bacitracin, zinc neomycin and bacitracin, zinc bacitracin and neomycin, Zinc bacitracin and zinc neomycin, copper neomycin and copper bacitracin, copper neomycin and bacitracin and neomycin and copper bacitracin in amounts sufiicient to provide such protection.

15. The textile fabric of claim 14 wherein the fibers are cotton fibers.

16. The textile fabric of claim 14 wherein the fibers are impregnated with said mixture in amounts such that the fabric contains about 0.05 to 2.0 percent by weight of said mixture.

17. The textile fabric of claim 14 wherein the ratio of neomycin-containing compounds to bacitracin-containing compounds ranges from about units of neomycin containing compound: 1 unit of bacitracin-containing compound to 1 unit of neomycin-containing compound: 5 units of bacitracin compound.

18. A process for protecting textiles against noxious organ-isms, said protection being retained after repeated cleaning operations which comprises treating with mixtures of free bacitracin, free neomycin, neomycinand bacitracin-containing compounds selected from the group consisting of neomycin and bacitracin, zinc bacitracin and neomycin, zinc bacitracin and zinc neomycin, copper neomycin and copper bacitracin, copper neomycin and bacitracin, neomycin and copper bacitracin, said free neomycin and free bacitracin contacting said textiles in an alcoholic solution subsequent to said neomycin and baoitracin-containing compounds contacting said textiles in an aqueous solution.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,633,446 King Mar. 31, 1953 2,680,701 Cosumano June 8, 1954 2,803,584 Hodge Aug. 20, 1957 2,809,149 Consumano Oct. 8, 1957 2,813,056 Davis Nov. 12, 1957 2,813,059 Davis Nov. 12, 1957 2,830,011 Parker et al. Apr. 8, 1958 2,951,766 White Sept. 6, 1960

Claims

1. A PROCESS FOR PROTECTING TEXTILES AGAINST NOXIOUS ORGANISMS, SAID PROTECTION BEING RETAINED AFTER REPEATED CLEANING OPERATIONS WHICH COMPRISES TREATING THE TEXTILES WITH MIXTURES SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF NEOMYCIN AND BACITRACIN, ZINC NEOMYCIN AND BACITRACIN, ZINC BACITRACIN AND NEOMYCIN, ZINC BACITRACIN AND ZINC NEOMYCIN, COPPER NEOMYCIN AND COPPER BACITRACIN, COPPER NEOMYCIN AND BACITRACIN, AND NEOMYCIN AND COPPER BACITRACIN.