Sucrose octanoate was synthesized by the transesterification of sucrose with ethyl octanoate under ultrasound irradiation in good yield (75%). The optimum reaction conditions for this transesterification were identified as follows: the molar ratio of sucrose and ethyl octanoate was 2∶1, reaction temperature was 70 ℃, ultrasonic reaction time was 2 h, the quantity of catalyst accounted for ethyl octanoate was 11%, and the reactor pressure was 11 kPa. The sucrose octanoate isolated by column chromatography had a higher percentage of monoesters (92%) and a lower content of diesters. The monoester was identified by 1H NMR and MS techniques. The sucrose octanoate has good solubility in polar solvent and higher thermal stability, and the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value is 10.8. The antibacterial characterization and laundry resistance of antibacterial finishing of cotton fabrics with sucrose octanoate were tested on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results showed that the compound had good antibacterial activity and the inhibiting efficiency was 70% aganist Staphylococcus aureus and still remained 48% after washing once. But the compound has no effect on E. coli.

Key words: sucrose octanoate, synthesize, ultrasonic irradiation, HLB, antibacterial activity