Microencapsulation of Thyme Essential Oil: A Sustainable Approach for Aroma Finishing of Textiles

Background: The current ‘green’ trend is favoring usages of natural ingredients with an increasing interest in the health and wellness benefits of herbal products. Aroma finishing enhances the value of the product by incorporating different fragrance into fabrics. However, longevity of aroma on the textile with passage of time and subsequent launderings is a major concern that can be solved through microencapsulation of core materials protecting them from the surrounding environment. Hence, the present study was conducted to develop microcapsules of thyme essential oil for aroma finishing of textiles.

Methods: To achieve the objectives of study, thyme oil was selected as core material and gum acacia and gelatin as wall materials. Complex coacervation technique of microencapsulation was used for development of thyme oil microcapsules. The ratios of core and wall materials, temperature and pH were optimized for standardization of microencapsulation process based on size, distribution and quality of walls of formed microcapsules examined under inverted microscope.

Results: The 1.5:4:4 ratio of thyme oil:gum:gelatin at 45oC temperature with initial pH 4.5 and final pH 7 were found optimum for development of microcapsules as medium sized microcapsules having good uniformity in size and distribution with sharp and thick walls were obtained at these optimized process parameters. Thus, these optimized variables can be used to prepare thyme oil microcapsules for development of multi-functionalized textiles.

Conclusions: Thyme essential oil is an eco-friendly finishing agent having multifunctional properties which can be used for aroma finishing of textiles. Complex coacervation technique of microencapsulation is a very promising technique that provide long-lasting aroma finish and control release of microencapsulated thyme essential oil. Thyme essential oil treated textiles can create the microclimate for the wearer that will play a significant role in health and wellness of the wearer.