Why Enzymes?

Below are some applications where enzymes are used in Textile Industry:-

Although many different compounds have been used to size fabrics over the years, starch has been the most common sizing agent for more than a century and this is still the case today. After weaving, the size must be removed to prepare the fabric for the finishing steps of bleaching or dyeing. Starch-splitting enzymes are used for desizing woven fabrics because of their highly efficient and specific way of desizing without harming the yarn.

In traditional method, desizing is done by treating the fabric with harsh chemicals to remove the size.

Enzymes reduce the need for chemicals and retains the fabric strength.

Before cotton yarn or fabric can be dyed, it goes through a number of processes in a textile mill. One important step is scouring – the complete or partial removal of the non-cellulosic components of native cotton such as waxes, pectins, hemicelluloses, and mineral salts, as well as impurities such as machinery and size lubricants. Scouring gives a fabric with a high and even wettability that can be bleached and dyed successfully.

Today, highly alkaline chemicals such as sodium hydroxide are used for scouring. These chemicals not only remove the impurities but also attack the cellulose, leading to a reduction in strength and loss of weight of the fabric. Furthermore, the resulting wastewater has a high COD (chemical oxygen demand), BOD(biological oxygen demand), and salt content thereby causing a heavy load to the effluent treatment plant.

Bio-scouring can be done in just one bath with no need for rinsing and it requires lower processing temperatures.

Raw cotton fabric is usually bleached using hydrogen peroxide. The bleaching chemical has to be removed before the dye is applied in order to prevent reaction between the bleach and dye. Enzymes provide a more convenient method because they are easier and quicker to use. A small dose of Catalase is capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen.

The traditional method of removing the bleach is by rinsing the fabric with water a number of times. Alternatively, a mild reducing agent can be used to neutralize the bleach. In either case, large amounts of water is required for rinsing resulting in discharge of large volumes of wastewater.

Peroxide Neutralization using enzymes works at lower temperatures and requires fewer rinses, thus Saving water and energy.

Cotton and other natural and man-made cellulosic fibers can be improved by an enzymatic treatment called BioPolishing. The main advantage of BioPolishing is the prevention of pilling. A ball of fuzz is called a "pill" in the textile trade. These pills can present a serious quality problem since they result in an unattractive, knotty fabric appearance. Cellulases hydrolyze the microfibrils (hairs or fuzz) protruding from the surface of yarn because they are most susceptible to enzymatic attack. This weakens the microfibrils, which tend to break off from the main body of the fiber and leave a smoother yarn surface.

After BioPolishing, the fabric shows a much lower pilling tendency. Other benefits of removing fuzz are a softer, smoother feel, and superior color brightness. Unlike conventional softeners, which tend to be washed out and often result in a greasy feel, the softness-enhancing effects of BioPolishing are washproof and nongreasy.

Our enzymes work consistently in the dyebath. Thus saving water ,time, and energy.

Most denim jeans or other denim garments are subjected to a wash treatment to give them a slightly worn look. Enzymes like cellulase are used to provide the right amount of abrasion and fading required for denim garments. Similarly bleaching can also be performed by using another enzyme product from Laccases.

In the traditional stonewashing process, the blue denim is faded by the abrasive action of lightweight pumice stones on the garment surface, which removes some of the dye. However, too much abrasion can damage the fabric. That’s why cellulases are used for denim finishing, as a small dose of enzyme can replace several kilograms of stones, the use of fewer stones results in less damage to garments, less wear on machines, and less pumice dust in the working environment.

The need for the removal of dust and small stones from the finished garment is also reduced. Productivity can furthermore be increased through laundry machines containing fewer stones and more garments. There is also no sediment in the wastewater, which can otherwise block drains. The bleaching effect was previously only obtainable using harsh chlorine based bleach.