Citation: Barman A, Katkar PM, Asagekar SD (2017) Natural and Sustainable Raw Materials for Sanitary Napkin. J Textile Sci Eng 7: 308. doi: 10.4172/2165-8064.1000308
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Raw material for barrier sheet Widely used protective film in hygiene products are polyethylene and polyurethane, which are non-biodegradable plastic. This plastic material can be replaced by bio-based plastic prepared from starch. Many research works on bio-plastic are in progress. Biodegradable plastic can be a bio-derived and biodegradable/compostable (e.g., polylactides, polyhydroxyalkanoates) or a fossil fuel-derived and biodegradable (e.g., polycaprolactone) [20]. Nonabsorbent fibres such as polypropylene, ethylene etc. are derived from petroleum resources, which have high carbon footprint and non-biodegradable in nature. An alternative sustainable replacement of petroleum- based fibre is the PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) fibre, which is derived from cornstarch using latest biotechnology. It is most promising thermoplastic biodegradable polymer material. In order to enhance the functional property of PLA, TiO2/Ag+ is added which give an antimicrobial property to PLA. After adding a copy of inorganic nano-TiO2/Ag+, the antibacterial rate of PLA films to Coli bacillus, Staphylococcus and Mildew were exceeded 95% [21]. Non-toxic, anti-bacterial and biodegradable characteristic of modified PLA makes it an excellent choice to be used in hygiene industry. The only drawback at present is the high cost of synthesis of this high molecular weight PLA that is 5-6 times more than conventional plastic [22]. Conclusion Nature has encompassed every solution within itself. With more and more use of natural fibre in hygiene product will make it eco- friendly. Use of natural fibre in sanitary pad will reduce the cost of the product will lower accessible to low income group women. As the product is biodegradable, prevent non-biodegradable waste generation. We as a technologist have to find a sustainable way so that we endow a better world for next generation. References :RUOGSRSXODWLRQUHYLHZ :RUOGSRSXODWLRQE\FRXQWU\ )DUDJH0$ $%HKLQGWKHVFHQHVORRNDWWKHVDIHW\DVVHVVPHQWRI IHPLQLQHK\JLHQHSDGV7KH1HZ<RUNDFDGHP\RIVFLHQFHV 7HOL0'0DOOLFN$6ULYDVWDYD$ 3DUDPHWHUVRIFKRLFHRIVDQLWDU\ QDSNLQVD WHFKQRFRPPHUFLDO VXUYH\ -RXUQDO RI WKH 7H[WLOH $VVRFLDWLRQ :RHOOHU.(+RFKZDOW.( 6DIHW\DVVHVVPHQWRIVDQLWDU\SDGVZLWKD SRO\PHULFIRDPDEVRUEHQWFRUH5HJXODWRU\7R[LFRORJ\DQG3KDUPDFRORJ\ *XSWD%6 6WXG\RIDEVRUEHQF\LQ1RQ:RYHQ 7KHUROHRIVWUXFWXUH fa FWRUV DQG À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® ELRVRIWD FRPSOHWH QHZ ¿EUH GHYHORSPHQW VRIWK\GURSKRELFERWDQLF/HQ]LQJHU%HULFKWH 'KLQDNDUDQ06HQWKLO&66DWKLV7. 'HYHORSPHQWDQGFKDUDFWHUL]DWLRQ RI VDQLWDU\ QDSNLQV ZLWK /\RFHOO0RGDO DV DEVRUEHQW FRUH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 5HVHDUFK-RXUQDORI(QJLQHHULQJDQG7HFKQRORJ\
Recently Lenzing have come up with a new fibre called TENCEL ® Biosoft which is a lyocell fibre, fully biodegradable and hydrophobic in nature with extra softness that makes it an excellent choice to be used as top sheet. Tencel is incredibly comfortable because of its even surface and has excellent moisture transfusion through capillary action and wicking [10]. It has a distinctive fibril configuration; fibrils are like fine hair like structure. The submicroscopic channel between the individual fibrils control absorption and liberate moisture. Thus, these tiny fibrils assure best possible transportation of moisture. The ideal moisture management of this cellulosic fiber is responsible for the reduced bacteria growth [11]. Raw material for absorbent core: The primary requirement of sanitary pad is absorbency of menstrual fluid. Therefore, selection of core material totally depends on the absorbency and retention property of fibre. Bamboo fibre is a novel alternative raw material for absorbent core. Bamboo absorbs and wicks water 3-4 times better than cotton and reduces odor as the fiber is filled with multiple micro-holes and micro-gaps. Bamboo is soft to feel as the fibre is naturally round in shape it does not require any chemical treatment to smoothen it. An additional significant property of bamboo is the anti-microbial agent that is bamboo kun naturally present in it [9,12]. In one of the research work done by IIT Kharagpur, Jute fibre was used to substitute cotton pad. And it was found that jute fibre is one of the best replacements for cotton as healthy production of jute in eastern India facilitates this fiber with 65-70% cellulose content and high water affinity. Jute is having lower price than cotton fibre and abundant in north-east of India. The additional advantage of jute fibers to cotton is that the fiber length is much shorter in the case of jute easing the preparation of cellulose pulp [13,14]. Sanitary pads from banana fibre were developed by SHE (Sustainable Health Enterprises) a non-profitable NGO, their intention was to make affordable, quality and eco-friendly sanitary napkins available to girls and women in developing country. Banana is a natural absorbent fibre; the key reason is its natural porosity. Banana fibre is an eco-friendly fibre like jute fibre. It is bio-degradable and has no negative effect on environment and thus can be categorized as eco-friendly fibre. Banana fibre is mainly cultivated for fruit. The fibres are harvested from the plant's trunk, which are normally unused and go to waste [15,16]. Studies have been done to replace cotton fillers by flax spinning waste to be used as an absorbent core of sanitary pad, which is much cheaper than pure cotton as well as highly absorbent and have natural cellulosic composition. It was observed that absorbency of fibre increased after scouring and bleaching. To give antimicrobial activity flax absorbent core was treated with 70% aloegel extract which showed satisfactory antimicrobial and antifungal potential [17]. To further improve the absorbency of sanitary pad cellulose based hydrogel were manufactured to imitate synthetic superabsorbent polymer by a sustainable process using a nontoxic cross linking agent. Cellulose based hydro gel are based on sodium carboxy methylcellulose (NaCMC) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) cross linked with divinylsulfone (DVS). It can swell like SAP and shows fluid retention under centrifugal load. These has been possible by introducing microporous structure into the hydrogel ,by introducing phase inversion desiccation technique in acetone, which increases the retention and swelling kinetics due to capillary effect. Main advantage of cellulose-based hydrogel over current SAP is that they are environment friendly, biodegradable and excellent biocompatibility [18,19].
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