Wolkite University

Collage of Engineering And

DepartmentTofechTextile
nology Engineering
Pretreatment of textile Assignment Group
One Title :pretreatment for protein fibers
Name of Members
1.Ousman Mohammed………….730/10
2.Fura Belay Gunsa……………….
407/10 3.Getaneh Gebeye…
………………428/10 4.Mikael
BeShayilu………………….647/10
5.Biyansa Rebira………………...
241/10
 Pretreatment for protein
Introduction fibers
 Since these protein fibres have their own impurities which is unnecessary for
next process and these lead to different chemical and physical influence for final product
of fabric.
 To improve this effect these fibers are treated initially by the process
called pretreatment.

 Pretreatment is the process of removing natural and added impurities during

process to improve the chemical and physical properties of fabrics,

 as well as to give better appearance for the fabric.

Cont…

Objectives:

 To remove all the both naturals and those added

impurities, during
production that may interfere in subsequent dyeing or finishing process.

 Improve the ability of the fibers to absorb water, dyes solutions

and chemicals.

 Impart proper brightness or whiteness to fabrics according to

need, especially when brilliant or pastel shades are desired.
 Pretreatment for wool fibers
• Wool is a protein fiber which has
 compositions in raw wool

Keratin 33%

Dirt 26%

Suint 12%

Wax/lipids 28%

Mineral Matter 1%
Cont…

 Pretreatment process for wool are: inspection, scouring, carbonization, milling, bleaching.

Inspection:

 The greige state fabric is inspected for various imperfections including yarn
faults, weaving or knitting faults, knots, holes, stains, etc.
 If possible the faults are repaired, or marked for later identification.

Scouring:
The aim of scouring is to remove the contaminants from the wool fabric and to relax the
fabric.

 The scouring process for wool is primarily engaged in removal of wax and water soluble
impurities.
 Methods of wool scouring

 Aqueous alkaline scouring

 Solvent scouring

 Thermal scouring

 Freeze scouring
Cont…

Aqueous alkaline scouring

 Alkaline scouring of wool is carried out in alkaline soap solution.

 Sodium carbonate is used as alkali in wool scouring.

 Wetting agents & other scouring bath additives

Emulsification and solubilization

 Aqueous scouring process in stages

Trough Soap Na2CO3 Time Temp

No (%) (%) (min) (Oc)
1 0.8 0.2 2 .5-3 40-50

2 0.4 - 2-3 40-50

3 0.35 - 2 40-50

4 Water - 1-2 40-50

Wool scouring can be carried out on: Fiber, yarn or Fabric

Cont… Solvent
Scouring
 High pressure jets of solvent remove the wax, dirt and suint
 Solvents such as benzene and CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride)
 Suitable solvent recovery plant is necessary

Thermal scouring

1. Thermal liquefaction of wool wax (50-60 0C using irradiation with microwave energy)

2. Mixing with a grease absorbing particulate material

E.g. talc powder, silicon dioxide etc.

3. Rinse with solvent like water

 Freeze scouring
• Exposing wool to low temperature environment [-30oC]
• Freezing of wax and dirt matter………becomes hard and brittle.
• Mechanical breakage of frozen matter
• Rinsing

Carbonization : It removes Vegetable matters in wool.

• Carbonizing is done to remove the cellulosic impurities from wool
by treatment with acid or acid producing salts. Primarily sulfuric acid is used.

• The ultimate effect is hydrolysis of cellulose present in vegetable matters of

wool fiber.
  Conventional carbonizing process
Scouring
Acidizing
Drying …the treated wool substance is dried at low temperature (60-70)
Baking…dried wool is then heated at 110~ for a short time.
Burr crushing and dedusting
Neutralizing

• Carbonizing liquor: H2SO4 (up to 7%) + Acid resistant wetting

agent
• Drying @ 110 0C and baking @ 140 0C for a short period of time
 Milling or filling of
wool
when it is wet and subjected to pressure, it felts permanently specially
in presence of soap, alkali and acid.

 Felting gives denser or more durable fabrics of more pleasing

appeal.

Milling can be of three different types: soap, grease, and acid.

 Bleaching of wool
• It is used to remove yellowish color from the fabric.

Bleaching can be done by:

• SO2 – It is a cheap process know staving. In this case Sulphur is burnt in
chambers where the wool is hanging in loop form on wooden poles. Sulphur
forms Sulphur dioxide which acts on the yellow coloring matter.
• Hydrogen peroxide - It white light out. Fabrics are treated in winch machine
i.e. without tension.
• Hydrogen peroxide contains acid for preservation hence sodium silicate is
added to neutralize.
 Pretreatment for silk fiber
 Silk fiber is composed of two proteins: fibroin and sericin

 The basic fiber substance is Fibroin made from long-chain protein molecules.

 Sericin [silk gum] surrounds the fibroin filaments and holds them together.

Fibroin and sericin are composed of amino acids with different composition
and structural arrangements.

 In particular the serine content of sericin is higher.

-NHCHCO- R = -HOCH2
 Typical silk fiber composition

Component %
Fibroin 70-80
Sericin 20-30
Waxy matter 0.4-0.8
Carbohydrates 1.2-1.6
Inorganic matter 0.7
Pigment 0.2

Natural color of silk differs upon type of silkworm and its feeding
habit
 Degumming

• Silk gum together with other impurities inhibit penetration of chemicals

used in subsequent silk processing.

• Scouring of silk practically means removal of the silk gum and

other impurities such as waxy and mineral matter.

 Cleavage of peptide bonds in sericin by hydrolysis

OR impurity solubilization.
Cont… Conventional degumming methods
• Extraction with water …silk can be degummed by extraction with
water at 120~ for about 2 hr and repeating the process three to four
times.
• In this case degradation of silk is minimum, but use of
pressure equipment is essential.
• Boil off in soap…boiling-off in soap baths which should be
slightly alkaline.
• Acid degumming is due to hydrolysis of sericin.
• Alkali degumming involves solubilization of sericin by converting
– COOH groups to –COONa.
Cont…

Chemical Conc. Temp. [oC] Time

Soap 20-30% owf 90-100 1-2h
pH-10

Acid 0.05 mol/l 100 60 min

NI surfactant 3g/l
pH-1.5-2
Water 115 45 min
Alkali
Sod. Carb. 1:1 molar ratio 95 20min
Sod. Bicarb. pH 9.5-10.5
 Bleaching of Silk
The silk being spun by silkworm contains natural coloring
matter tinted with yellow, Yellow green and brown pigments.
 During bleaching these natural coloring matters are
/removed to produce pure white material.
decolorized
An efficient bleaching process must ensure pure whiteness and level
dyeing properties and non- degradation of the material.
Cont…

The bleaching of silk is based on the use of either reducing

agents or oxidizing agents.
 Some of the important reducing agents used for bleaching are:
1. Sodium hydrosulphite (Hydrose)
2. Sulphur dioxide
3. Sodium/Zinc sulphoxylate Formaldehyde
Cont…

 The popular oxidizing agents used for bleaching of silk

are:
1. Hydrogen peroxide
2. Potassium permanganate
3. Sodium perborate
4. Sodium peroxide
 Hydrogen peroxide is most commonly used for bleaching