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Desizing Enzymes |
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The wrap threads of cotton or blends are coated with an adhesive substance known as size to prevent the threads breaking during weaving. Although many different compounds have been used to size fabrics over the years, nowadays starch and its derivatives have been used as the most common sizing agent. After the weaving process, the sizes have to be removed from the fabric because they interfere with subsequent processing steps. Amylases are starch splitting enzymes and therefore they are used for desizing woven fabrics. Amylases are preferred due to their high efficiency and specific way of desizing without any harmful effect over fabrics.
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Bio-Scouring Enzymes |
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As the purpose of scouring is to remove natural impurities such as polymeric substances like pectins, waxes and xylomannans, among others from cotton or other natural fibers, there are plenty of enzymes that can act on such impurities. Alkaline pectinase, which loosens fiber structure by removing pectins between cellulose fibrils and eases the wash-off of waxy impurities, is the key enzyme for a bio-scouring process.
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Enzymes to Kill Hydrogen Peroxide |
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A more modern way to remove peroxide involves the use of catalases, which breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and molecular oxygen. The advantage of this process is the end products are natural to the environment and do not disturb the dyeing process. Also, the catalase enzyme itself is very specific: When the peroxide is gone, the enzyme does not react with anything else, and thus no need to remove or inactivate it. The use of catalyses has been the fastest growing enzyme application in textile industry in recent years.
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Acid Bio-Wash Enzymes |
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The small fibers or fibrils protruding from the fabric render a fuzzy surface and the gradual entanglement of fibrils results in the formation of pills when a garment is worn and washed. Removal of surface fibrils improves fabric quality, keeping the garment in good form for a longer time. The use of Cellulases, combined with the synergistic action of the processing machines, is effective in removing the fibrils, leading to permanent improvement of fabric quality, including cleaner and smoother surface, softer hand and improved fabric drape. This treatment, called bio-polishing, is widely used today in garment processing and in batch processing of woven and knitted fabrics.
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Acid Stone-Wash Enzymes |
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The popularity of denim garments increased as new garment wet processes changed denims look and feel from the hard, dark blue garments used as work wear into soft and smooth fashion items with an abraded look. Surprisingly, this look earlier achieved by using pumice stones. Nowadays, also can be attained using cellulase enzymes. Cellulases loosen the surface fibers of the denim garment so that mechanical action in a washing machine breaks the surface to remove the indigo dye, revealing the white core of the ring-dyed yarns. The most denim garments are "stonewashed" using Cellulases, either alone or in combination with a reduced amount of stones.
The Cellulases resulted in increased washing capacity for the power laundries, and reduced damage to garments as well as to washing machines, in addition to diminish environmental effects from pumice stone mining and disposal of used pumice.
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Neutral Bio-Wash Enzymes |
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The small fibers or fibrils protruding from the fabric render a fuzzy surface and the gradual entanglement of fibrils results in the formation of pills when a garment is worn and washed. Removal of surface fibrils improves fabric quality, keeping the garment in good form for a longer time. The use of Cellulases, combined with the synergistic action of the processing machines, is effective in removing the fibrils, leading to permanent improvement of fabric quality, including cleaner and smoother surface, softer hand and improved fabric drape. This treatment, called bio-polishing, is widely used today in garment processing and in batch processing of woven and knitted fabrics.
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