A novel cotton bio-scouring using pectinase in combination with Fenton system

Abstract

Untreated cotton fabrics are hydrophobic due to the high content of pectin and waxes, and the fabrics need to improve the wettability by scouring for the demands of the subsequent processing such as dyeing and finishing. In this study, a new scouring method for cotton fabrics was developed by pectin hydrolase combined with Fenton system (Fe2+/H2O2). The mechanism of pectin degradation by pectinase combined with Fe2+/H2O2 was investigated. The results showed that α-1,4-glycosidic bonds of water-soluble pectin could be degraded more efficiently by pectinase hydrolysis and Fe2+/H2O2 oxidation. The fabrics scoured with pectinase→Fe2+/H2O2 had less wetting time (4.25 s) and higher vertical wicking height (9.80 cm) compared to the fabrics treated with pectinase alone (> 120 s, 5.15 cm). The results of bleaching and dyeing experiments indicated that the whiteness and dyeing properties of the fabrics were not negatively affected by pectinase→Fe2+/H2O2 treatment, and the strength loss of the fabrics (11.79%) was lower than that of the fabrics with conventional NaOH treatment (20.16%). The results of the experiments in the pilot-scale machine showed that various performance indicators of the fabrics scoured by pectinase→Fe2+/H2O2 reached the level of the conventional NaOH treatment, which demonstrated the possibility for practical application of pectinase→Fe2+/H2O2 scouring. The cotton fabric scouring using pectinase→Fe2+/H2O2 is an effective and feasible new method with advantages such as environmental friendliness, mild treatment conditions, and good treatment effect.