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Treatment of Raw Cotton Fibers with Cellulases for Nonwoven Fabrics

Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center, College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, 2401 Research Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695-8301, USA, svereni{at}tx.ncsu.edu

Karthik Arumugam

Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center, College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, 2401 Research Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695-8301, USA

Eunkyoung Shim

Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center, College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, 2401 Research Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695-8301, USA

Behnam Pourdeyhimi

Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center, College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, 2401 Research Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695-8301, USA

Enzymatic treatment of fabrics is known to have a negative impact on the fabrics' tensile characteristics. The strength loss problems would be more severe in the case of nonwovens, since cellulase could attack bonded areas of the fabric. To prevent the fabric strength loss, a study was undertaken to treat cotton fibers as opposed to the final fabric. Raw cotton fibers were hydrolyzed with Cellusoft L and endoglucanase without a cellulose— binding domain. Factors such as the reducing end group, fiber length and tenacity were followed throughout the enzymatic hydrolysis. The results showed that if the concentration of Cellusoft L cellulase mixture was minimized to 0.25 % owf, extensive weakening of cotton fibers could be prevented. Endoglucanase demonstrated a moderate reduction in fiber strength; most of the reduction occurred at the beginning of hydrolysis. The concentration of reducing ends was observed to have a maximum for both enzyme solutions. The location of enzymatic attack and changes in surface morphology were monitored by Congo red staining and scanning electron microscope, respectively.

Key Words: cotton • fibers • cellulase • tenacity • enzymolysis

Textile Research Journal, Vol. 78, No. 6, 540-548 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0040517507083308


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