A Novel Biodegradable Technology for Wool Fabric Restoration and Cotton Color Retention Based on Shikimic Acid and L-Arginine

The textile and garment care industries significantly impact ecological conditions and resources worldwide. Possible ways of minimizing the harmful influence on the environment include giving a preference to natural textiles; reducing the consumption rate by extending the lifespan of clothes, e.g., preserving colors and fibers; and using biodegradable garment care products. Wool is a natural fabric that must be washed with special laundry care products to preserve its initial appearance. Currently, there are no approaches that focus not only on preserving but also restoring wool fibers. To investigate the efficacy of biodegradable technology, consisting of natural-derived shikimic acid and L-arginine, in the restoration of wool fabric, SEM was applied. To analyze the obtained data, a novel three-point scale was suggested. In comparison with untreated samples, the composition promoted a smoothing of the scale structure of wool fibers of up to 34.87%. The system has shown efficacy in both the low pH (fabric softener) and high pH (laundry gel) systems. To further investigate biodegradable technology, the color retention of dark-colored cotton fabric was tested. It was shown that the composition promotes 96.15% color preservation after 10 laundry cycles when used in the fabric softener. Biodegradable technology is a promising solution for the maintenance of wool fabrics and color preservation solutions.