**1. Introduction**

The concern of human beings related to health care has always existed, and the increase in diseases caused by the enormous population density has forced us to look for effective technological solutions. Materials such as textiles, used for fabric production, can be easily colonized by a high amount of microorganism or can even be deteriorated by them. The microbial colonization on fabrics generates esthetic problems and can also lead to the degradation of the material, leaving it in disuse. Fungi are heterotrophic organisms that commonly colonize organic surfaces, such as coatings used in construction materials, paints, or fabrics, and due to the substrate type, they can be metabolized by them. This not only generates problems into the domestic environment, where many objects are built by organic substrates, but also the fungal growth can affect the human health by the production of allergens, irritants and mycotoxins. Therefore, antimicrobial additives need to be not only effective in fungal growth control but also safe and environmentally friendly chemical substances in their preparation.

In the last decades, different impregnation methods in fabrics [1, 2] and a wide variety of antimicrobial additives such as silver, quaternary ammonium salts [3], polyhexamethylene biguanide [4], triclosan [5], and chitosan [6], N-halamine

compounds [7], and peroxy acids [8] have been studied. For example, an ecological and viable method has been used to re-coat cotton fabrics with silver nanoparticles [9, 10]. In studies conducted by Mahltig et al. [11], the sol-gel method was used to coat textiles with inorganic SiO2 by the construction of layers containing Ag nanoparticles. The formation of these particles was investigated according to the curing treatment variables performed after the coating. Inorganic coatings containing Ag inhibited the growth of *Aspergillus niger* fungal strain and *Bacillus subtilis* and *Pseudomonas putida* bacteria [12].

Tomšič et al. [13] studied dry curing and the method was thoroughly compared. The antimicrobial solution was prepared from different concentrations of dispersed commercial silver chloride, with a reactive organic-inorganic binder (RB) using cotton fabrics. Washing cycles were carried out and then antifungal (against *Aspergillus niger* and *Chaetomium globosum*) and antibacterial assays (*Escherichia coli*) were evaluated, being more effective the exhaustive method, and also better results were obtained against bacteria compared with fungi. The results were different according to the Ag concentrations and the method of application in the cotton fabrics.

In other work [14], Ag nanoparticles have been used within polystyrene-blockpolyacrylic acid copolymer (PS-b-PAA) micelle nuclei, synthesized by the freeradical polymerization method, in different relations. It has been determined that the impregnation method into the fabric is by an esterification reaction between PAA and the hydroxyl groups on the surface of the fabric. Another method studied is the use of new nanostructures and techniques that allow the production of nanoparticles for its application, in various sectors, in order to improve processes and increase productivity. For example, electrospinning method [15] is simple, inexpensive, and used in a wide variety of materials, making it one of the most used. The structures obtained have unique characteristics, such as large contact area and high porosity. Due to these properties, nanofibers are of great interest to be applied in different areas, such as biomedical, textile, and food, obtaining beneficial results.

Textiles and clothing are in daily contact with microorganisms of the environment and the human skin. In general, fabrics can be an excellent substrate for microbial growth, because they have an organic composition that provides an adequate base for human sweat and biofilm fixing. The human skin contains a complex mixture of microorganisms; even a "clean" skin has a typical population of between 100 and 1000 microorganism/cm<sup>2</sup> . At these levels, they do not represent a health problem or bad smell. On the contrary, its presence and a balanced population are essential for human health [16]. But when the optimal growth conditions are provided, microorganisms are multiplied rapidly and can produce problems such as the generation of odors, loss of performance, discoloration of fabrics, and possibly infection. In the most extreme case, microorganisms can produce serious problems, such as rotting of the fabric, stains, unpleasant odors and health problems ranging from simple discomfort to physical irritation, allergic sensitization, toxic responses, infections, and diseases. Many of the characteristic malodors associated with the human body are due to the presence of large populations of microorganisms. Therefore, control of the undesirable effects of microbes on textiles is becoming an important issue in the textile industry. Currently, there is much interest in hygienic fabrics that offer an advantage compared with cleaning and odor prevention as a result of their antimicrobial properties or reduced bacterial growth.

The advantage of using an oxide matrix associated with an antimicrobial agent resides in its protective function that lead to a longer useful life of the material obtained maintaining its bioactivity over time, and the sol-gel method is an appropriated way to obtain this immobilization [17–19].

**3**

*Antimicrobial Fabrics Impregnated with Ag Particles Included in Silica Matrices*

is formed by C, from the recycling of disused batteries, and Ag particles.

The aim of the present work was to obtain silica-based solids whose active phase

In relation to the used carbon, the idea of recycling the metals that make up the batteries is to look at the exhausted batteries as a resource and not as a waste, since they contain valuable metals in high concentrations that, if the batteries are thrown in the trash, contaminate soil and water; on the other hand, if they are seen as raw material for the recovery of metals, they become an important resource since minerals are reused that are otherwise extracted from the mines with the consequent

To obtain recycled Zn, different elements are obtained, including coal, which is obtained by means of a biohydrometallurgical process for the treatment and recovery of metals from spent batteries. Biohydrometallurgy is a branch of metallurgy that uses biooxidation and/or bioleaching processes, referred to by a general term: biomining [20–24]. Biohydrometallurgy is the application of microbiological processes for the recovery of metals, mainly used by the mining industry. The acid bioleaching of unsaturated minerals uses the acidic reducing medium biogenerated

The materials synthesized were characterized by potentiometric titration, textural properties, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Subsequently, the synthesized solids were used as antimicrobial additives in fabrics, using the pad-dry-cure method. *Aspergillus* sp., *Chaetomium globosum*, and *Cladosporium* sp. fungi were selected to evaluate the antifungal activity from biodeteriorated fabrics [25]. These fungi were selected for their ability to grow on indoor surfaces and to be negative to human health to produce a variety of different compounds including mycotoxins [26–28]. The agar diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of impregnated fabrics (*E. coli* and *S. aureus*). This work is focused on the preparation of new materials that can provide solu-

tions to the technological and environmental challenges in different areas.

The solids were synthesized by the sol-gel method, under N2 atmosphere in order to reach an inert condition. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) (Aldrich, 98%) was used as the precursor for silica solids, absolute ethanol (EtOH, Baker 99.9%) and distilled water as solvents, and ammonium hydroxide as catalyst (basic hydrolysis). The precursor/catalyst/EtOH/H2O molar ratios were 1:1:5:4, respectively, in all the synthesis. Besides, different amounts of carbon, recycled from zinc-carbon

Zinc-carbon batteries contain a cathode, which is a mixture of manganese oxide and conductive carbon, usually in the form of black [29] coal, and the anode, composed of a high-purity zinc alloy, is also the container that encloses battery active materials. The recycled carbon was milled with a ball mill, then sieved with a mesh of 200, and, finally, added to the synthesis. The obtained mixture was stirred for 2 h and dried at room temperature for 1 week. The nomenclature of samples are as follows: SB (without C), SB1 (0.1 C p/p), SB2 (1 C p/p), and SB3 (10 C p/p), respectively. Subsequently, two samples were selected: sample SB (without C), which was modified including during the synthesis process 4% w/w of silver nitrate (Aldrich, 99.9%), was called SBAg, and the sample SB3 (10% w/w C) which was

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91631*

environmental impact that this activity entails.

by microorganisms for the solubilization of metals.

**2. Materials and methods**

**2.1 Synthesis of the additives**

batteries, were added into the reaction mixture.

treated in the same way including Ag and was called SB3Ag.

#### *Antimicrobial Fabrics Impregnated with Ag Particles Included in Silica Matrices DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91631*

The aim of the present work was to obtain silica-based solids whose active phase is formed by C, from the recycling of disused batteries, and Ag particles.

In relation to the used carbon, the idea of recycling the metals that make up the batteries is to look at the exhausted batteries as a resource and not as a waste, since they contain valuable metals in high concentrations that, if the batteries are thrown in the trash, contaminate soil and water; on the other hand, if they are seen as raw material for the recovery of metals, they become an important resource since minerals are reused that are otherwise extracted from the mines with the consequent environmental impact that this activity entails.

To obtain recycled Zn, different elements are obtained, including coal, which is obtained by means of a biohydrometallurgical process for the treatment and recovery of metals from spent batteries. Biohydrometallurgy is a branch of metallurgy that uses biooxidation and/or bioleaching processes, referred to by a general term: biomining [20–24]. Biohydrometallurgy is the application of microbiological processes for the recovery of metals, mainly used by the mining industry. The acid bioleaching of unsaturated minerals uses the acidic reducing medium biogenerated by microorganisms for the solubilization of metals.

The materials synthesized were characterized by potentiometric titration, textural properties, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Subsequently, the synthesized solids were used as antimicrobial additives in fabrics, using the pad-dry-cure method. *Aspergillus* sp., *Chaetomium globosum*, and *Cladosporium* sp. fungi were selected to evaluate the antifungal activity from biodeteriorated fabrics [25]. These fungi were selected for their ability to grow on indoor surfaces and to be negative to human health to produce a variety of different compounds including mycotoxins [26–28]. The agar diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of impregnated fabrics (*E. coli* and *S. aureus*).

This work is focused on the preparation of new materials that can provide solutions to the technological and environmental challenges in different areas.
