Pretreatment of Cotton with Pectinases and Peracetic Acid

Abstract

Cotton fabric (gauze) was scoured with different concentrations of Baylase EVO, an agent containing the pectinase enzymes. Gauzes were scoured for 20, 60 and 180 minutes. For comparison, the samples were alkaline scoured. After enzyme- and alkaline-based processing the fibres were additionally bleached with peroxyacetic acid and for the purposes of comparison, with H2O2. Analyses were carried out on desized, scoured and bleached samples by measuring the sinking time, whiteness, mass loss and average polimerisation degrees (DP) of fibres. The quantity of total organic carbon (TOC) was measured in the pretreatment baths before and after treatment and during the 1st and the 2nd rinsing bath. The results show that alkaline scouring is more intensive, the achieved levels of whiteness and absorption are higher, but the mass loss and TOC values of the baths after scouring and after bleaching are higher. The water absorption level of the samples treated with enzymes according to the prescribed instructions is low and is not improved with prolonged time or increasing concentration of enzyme. The absorption and whiteness of enzymaticaly treated fibres is improved after bleaching.