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Applying proteases to confer improved shrink resistance to wool
Author(s) -
Levene R.,
Cohen Y.,
Barkai D.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of the society of dyers and colourists
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1478-4408
pISSN - 0037-9859
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-4408.1996.tb01747.x
Subject(s) - wool , proteases , tops , chemistry , shrinkage , sodium , protease , food science , pulp and paper industry , materials science , biochemistry , composite material , polymer chemistry , enzyme , organic chemistry , spinning , engineering
The activity of an alkaline bacterial protease in conferring shrink‐resistance to wool tops and woven cloth has been enhanced by pretreatment of the wool with sodium sulphite at pH 8.5–9.0. Among 16 proteases whose activities were compared, Esperase was found to be the most active, while causing the least damage when applied after sulphite treatment. None was found to confer adequate shrink‐resistance to tops under these conditions without causing excessive damage. For some examples of woven cloth, sodium sulphite applied alone caused a significant reduction in shrinkage, and subsequent application of Esperase then afforded good washability. Excellent washability was obtained if the cloth was first oxidised with peroxymonosulphuric or monoperoxyphthalic acid before treating with Esperase.