Development of Mosquito Repellent Finish for Textiles Using Neem Oil: An Eco-Friendly Approach

Finishing is an integral part of textile processing which augments the performance of the fabrics and adds functional properties as well. According to AMCA (The American Mosquito Control Association), mosquitoes are responsible for more than one million deaths per year worldwide. Many studies have been undertaken to develop mosquito repellent textiles using chemical and natural sources. Due to the negative effects of synthetic mosquito repellents, people are switching to herbal and natural plant-based mosquito repellents. The present study is an endeavour in this direction and is aimed at developing a mosquito repellent finish for textiles using neem oil extract. The formulation was developed in different concentrations for the optimization of the recipe. The shelf life of the formulation was assessed. The developed formulation was applied to different types of cotton fabrics using two methods of application. The efficacy of formulation was evaluated by conducting cage tests for the finished fabrics at NIMR (National Institute of Malaria Research, Delhi). The effect of storage time period of the finished fabric on mosquito repellency was also studied. The neem oil formulation gave promising results as it was effective against mosquitoes and could be applied as a household finish to various textiles.