BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY

EiTEX

Advanced Textile Chemical Processing

Seminar Presentation
On
Low Temperature Pretreatment Processes
Prepared By: Tewodros Birhan
MSc. in Textile Technology

Submitted to : Tamene W. (Asst. Prof)

Mar, 2023
Contents
Bio-technology

Enzymes for Textile Application

Treatment of Cotton with Enzymes

Bio-polishing

Wool carbonising

Wool bleaching
Objectives of Pretreatment

To remove natural and added impurities

To make it suitable for subsequent process

like dyeing, printing, finishing

To convert fabric from hydrophobic to

hydrophilic state (water absorbency)
To achieve the degree of desire whiteness

To improve the appearance of fabric

 Introduction

Bio-technology
can be defined as the" application of scientific and
engineering principles to the processing of materials
by biological agents to provide goods and services".
Enzymes for Textile Application
In textile application, the knowledge of specific
action of enzymes-amylases for starch splitting
began around 1857.

The use of enzyme in pre-treatment processes of

textiles has found much broader acceptance.

At present the priority areas are scouring and

bleaching of cellulosic fibres and protein fibers.

Also enzymes have been incorporated in

detergents to remove fibre fuzz and brighten the
colour of the fabric.
Mechanisms of Enzymes

The Lock and Key Mechanism

The lock-and-key theory of enzyme action

proposes that the enzyme's active site and the
shape of the substrate molecule are
complementary to one another. This allows the
substrate to fit into the enzyme, like how a key
would fit into a lock.
Treatment of Cotton with Enzymes

These layers are

different 4-12% natural impurities
structurally and
chemically.

The primary and

secondary walls have
different degrees of
crystallinity as well as The cuticle, composed of
different molecular wax, proteins and pectins.
chain orientation.
Enzymatic Desizing of Cotton
Desizing is the process of removing the size
materials.
amylases are the most successful enzymes which
are used for desizing in the textile industry for
facilitating the starch removal.
α-amylases, β-amylases, and γ-amylases are the
three major classifications of the amylases.
Out of which α-amylases, are most commonly
used for desizing.

digestion of the starch.

Amylase has an Optimal range of
pH : 5.5–6.5
Temperature : 30-60°C
Action of Amylase Enzymes on Starch
 Enzymatic Scouring of Cotton
Scouring is a process that removes oil, wax, fat,
and other impurities to produce a hydrophilic and
clean textile material.

Lipases : are used for the removal of natural fat

[oils and waxes] substances from cotton.
Pectinase : are used for the removal pectic
substances from cotton.
Pectinase has an Optimal range of
pH : acidic [4-6] and alkaline [7-9]
Temperature : 40-60°C
Action of Pectinase Enzymes on Cotton
Enzymatic Bleaching of Cotton
Bleaching is the process of decolourization of
textile material by removing inherent and or
acquired colouring components from the
fiber.

The object of bleaching is to produce white

fabrics by destroying the colouring matter.
The climate, soil, and drought
can various degrees of yellowness.

Combination of Laccase & Peroxidase efficiently

degrade & remove lignin.
Cold-Pad-Batch Process
 Bio-polishing
Bio-polishing is a process in textile that
enhances fabric quality by decreasing the
pilling tendency and fuzziness of (cellulose).

Cellulases

break down
cellulosic chain.
 Bio-polishing

Enzymatic bio-polishing removes the fibre

fuzz and pills from the textile surface and
yields a cleaner surface and a softer hand and
increases lustre. 
 Wool Carbonising

Carbonising is a
continuous process
which combines
scouring to remove
the wool grease and
a chemical process
which removes
vegetable matter
such as seeds, burs
and grass.

Hydrolases
 Wool Bleaching
Bleaching of wool is necessary for the
enhancement of whiteness and lustre.

Using proteolytic enzymes alone or in

combination with peroxide , the degree of
whiteness and hydrophilicity of the fibres
are increased.

Higher whiteness index is caused by the

decolourising action of the enzyme on
natural colorants present in the wool fibre
 References
1.Hardin JR (2010) Chapter 6. Enzymatic treatment versus
conventional chemical processing of cotton. In: Nierstrasz VA,
Cavaco-Paulo A (Eds.), Advances in Textile Biotechnology, Woodhead
Publishing Limited, Cambridge, UK.
2. Kim J, Kim SY, Choe, EK (2006) The beneficial influence of
enzymatic scouring on cotton properties.
3. T. M. Wood, Fungal Cellulases in 'Biosynthesis and Biodegradation
of Cellulose", C. H. Haigler and P. J. Weimer, Eds., Mercel Dekker,
NY (1991)
4. P. Finch and J. C. Roberts, Enzymatic Degradation of Celulose, in
"Cellulose Chemistry and its Applications' ', T. P. Nevell and S. H.
Zeronian, Eds., John Wiley & Sons, N. Y. 1985
5. J. Honeyman, Recent Advances in Chemistry of Cellulose and
Starch, Chapman and Hall, London, 1959.
6. T.E. Thompson, The Scouring of Raw Wool in Theory and Practice,
Textile Manf. Monograph.
7. B. C. Burdett and H. G. Roberts, Low Energy Preparation Process
of Textiles, Final Rep. No. EUR/OO/BEN. Published by the
Commission of European Communities, Luxemberg, 2009.
 Than
k You
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