Page 307 - Advances in Textile Biotechnology

12

Developments in the processing of chitin,
chitosan and bacterial cellulose for textile
and other applications

A. FRANCESKO, M. DÍAZ GONZÁLEZ, G. R. LOZANO
and T. TZANOV, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, Spain

Abstract: A critical review is presented of the advances in the
production and processing technologies such as fermentation and

spinning of natural fibres comprising chitin, chitosan and bacterial
cellulose. The main properties and applications of these natural polymers
are described and their potential use in future applications, such as
antimicrobial textiles for wound dressings, is outlined.
Key words: natural fi bres, chitin, chitosan, bacterial cellulose,
fermentation, spinning, antimicrobial textiles, wound dressing.

12.1 Introduction

The textile industry of the future inevitably needs to utilize renewable

resources, new fibres and environmentally friendly technologies to maintain
competitive market positions. One approach toward this goal is to manipu-
late living organisms and renewable systems to generate materials in an
environmentally friendly way. In this respect, biotechnology is gaining
importance and several possibilities exist for producing entirely new,
biopolymer-based fibre materials, using biotechnical tools. Natural fi bres

have been used by humans as construction materials and for making various

fabrics for thousand years. Natural fibres include those produced by plants,
animals, and geological processes. All plant fibres are composed of cellulose,

the most abundant biopolymer on earth. The molecular and supramolecular
structure of this macromolecule is suitable for many important applications.
For many centuries, plant-derived cellulose has been utilized extensively by

textile industries leading to a significant demand for wood biomass. Accord-
ing to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
estimates of world production of natural fibres (cotton, jute, fl ax, hemp,

wool, and natural skin) averaged 31 million tonne per year over the period

2003–2005 (Moir and Plastina, 2008). No significant increase in production
is forseen for the future because cultivated areas, water resources, and the
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