Color of Enzyme-Retted Flax Fibers Affected by Processing, Cleaning, and Cottonizing

Epps, Helen H.; Akin, Danny E.; Foulk, Jonn A.; Dodd, Roy B.

doi:10.1177/004051750107101011

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Fibers were then commercially cleaned using the Unified Line and associated systems (Ceskomoravsky len, Humpolec, Czech Republic) for cottonized (i.e., refined, short) fibers. Variations in fiber properties such as strength, fineness, and color occurred with various levels of components in the enzyme retting formulation [6,10], and we identified a basis for further work to assess modifications with variations in the fourmulation and system. I The objective of the work we present here is to test both commercial enzyme and chelator products at various levels using flax from one bale of straw.…”

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Influence on Flax Fibers of Components in Enzyme Retting Formulations

Akin

Foulk

Dodd

2002

Textile Research Journal

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A series of formulations with varying enzyme and chelator components is tested for flax fiber yield and properties using a recently developed enzyme retting system on Ariane flax grown as a winter crop in southeastern South Carolina. The levels of Viscozyme L, a commercial pectinase-rich enzyme mixture, and Mayoquest 200, a commercial chelator containing 38% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as tetrasodium salt, are varied. Enzyme retted flax straw is hand-carded and passed one time through a Shirley Analyzer for cleaning. The chelator level determines the fine fiber (i.e., Shirley cleaned) yield. Fiber strength measured by Stelometer is inversely proportional to enzyme level and not affected by chelator level. Fiber fineness measured by air flow methods is better with higher enzyme levels, and within enzyme levels the higher chelator levels tend to produce fibers with the highest degree of fineness. Relative cost calculations, taking into account fiber yield with costs of enzyme and chelators, provide a framework for determining retting efficiency and fiber quality. Results indicate that fiber properties can be tailored by enzyme or chelator levels. Further, commercial enzyme mixtures and chelators effectively ret flax and can serve as a basis for large scale retting tests. Sharma and Faughey [20] reported that the quality of flax fibers has diminished significantly since dew retting became the industry method for retting and water retting ceased to be used in Europe in the 1950s. The need for an industrial method that overcomes the disadvantages of dew retting, which suffers from restrictions to particular geographical areas in addition to producing fibers of lower quality, is the focus of considerable attention in the U.S. and Europe [ 15,19,21 ]. The search for new methods of retting flax has produced important advances [4, 18, 221, and enzyme retting has been shown to produce good quality fibers [23]. However, currently enzyme costs are high, and enzyme retting has not replaced dew retting commercially.Recently, we reported [4] a spray enzyme retting method that reduced enzyme levels over previous recommendations, overcame geographical limitations, and produced fibers of clean, consistent quality. The method used a pectinase-rich enzyme mixture with the chelator ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) applied to flax stems that had been mechanically processed to disrupt the outer protective barrier of the stem. Pilot scale tests of about 12 kg of crimped flax samples were retted by soaking in the formulation for 2 minutes and incubating at 40°C for 24 hours. Fibers were then commercially cleaned using the Unified Line and associated systems (Ceskomoravsky len, Humpolec, Czech Republic) for cottonized (i.e., refined, short) fibers. Variations in fiber properties such as strength, fineness, and color occurred with various levels of components in the enzyme retting formulation [6, 10], and we identified a basis for further work to assess modifications with variations in the fourmulation and system. I The ob...

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Influence on Flax Fibers of Components in Enzyme Retting Formulations

Akin

Foulk

Dodd

2002

Textile Research Journal

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“…Among commercially available enzymatic products the most popular was Viscozyme L from Novozymes (Akin et al , 2003Evans et al 2002a;Epps et al 2001;Adamsen et al 2002). This product could be compared with earlier applied Flaxzyme, which was developed specifically for enzyme-retting.…”

Section: Degumming Of Bast Fibrous Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two years later the SER was applied with endopolygalacturonase (EPG) from Rhizopus oryzae and proved that EPG played a dominant role in flax retting . Epps et al (2001) described color of enzymeretted flax fibres to be affected by processing, cleaning, and ''cottonizing''. His comparisons showed that lower enzyme concentrations (0.05% v/v as commercially supplied) produce redder and yellowier fibre samples than those retted with higher (0.3% v/v) enzyme levels.…”

Section: Degumming Of Bast Fibrous Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enzymes in Bast Fibrous Plant Processing

et al. 2006

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The program COST Action 847 Textile Quality and Biotechnology (2000-2005) has given an excellent chance to review the possibilities of the research, aiming at development of the industrial application of enzymes for bast fibrous plant degumming and primary processing. The recent advancements in enzymatic processing of bast fibrous plants (flax, hemp, jute, ramie and alike plants) and related textiles are given. The performance of enzymes in degumming, modification of bast fibres, roving, yarn, related fabrics as well as enzymatic bonding of lignocellulosic composites is provided.

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“…In flax retting the effect of pectinolytic and cellulolytic enzymes was investigated. Among commercially available enzymatic products the most popular was Viscozyme L (Akin, 2001a, Evans, 2002a, Epps, 2001, Adamsen, 2002.…”

Section: Degumming Of Bast Fibersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2001 Epps described color of enzyme-retted flax fibers affected by processing, cleaning, and cottonizing (Epps, 2001). His pair wise comparisons showed that lower enzyme concentrations (0.05% vol./vol.…”

Section: Biotechnology In Textile Processingmentioning

confidence: 99%