Chitosan: A biopolymer for textile processes and products

Chitosan is a biopolymer obtained from deacetylation of the abundant natural chitin polymer. It has found its use in many applications due to its unique solubility as well as chemical and biological properties. In addition to its biodegradability and biocompatibility, it has many reactive amino side groups that offer the possibilities of chemical modification and formation of a large variety of beneficial derivatives. Numerous researchers have published works outlining the physical and chemical properties of chitosan, as well as its use in several industries, such as medical, environmental and food. Due to its excellent absorption and biological properties, chitosan present a myriad of opportunities in eco-friendly textile processes. Chitosan is able to confer antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-odor and other biological activities to textile fibers and fabrics. In this review, the first part is dedicated to developing the physio-chemical and biological characteristics of chitosan. Then, we present chitosan applications in the textile industry over the past decade. Literature works on chitosan usage along with different textile production steps (fiber formation, functional treatments, dyeing and effluent treatment) are extensively discussed.