Effect of Enzymatic Hydrolysis on Polylactic Acid Fabrics by Lipases from Different Origins

Abstract

This study measured the effect of general pre-treatment on PLA fabrics to confirm the benefits of enzymatic processing on PLA fabrics in the textile industry as well as evaluated the hydrolytic activities of three lipases. The effects of lipase hydrolysis were analyzed through moisture regain, dyeing ability, tensile strength, and surface morphology. As a result, PLA fibers were easily damaged by a low concentration of sodium hydroxide and a low treatment temperature. The optimal treatment conditions of Lipase from Candida cylindracea were pH 8.0, 40 o C, and 1,000 U. The optimal treatment conditions for Lipase from Candida rugosa were pH 7.2, 37 o C, and 1,000 U. The optimal treatment conditions for Lipase from Porcine pancreas were pH 8.0, 37 o C, and 2,000 U. The moisture regain and dyeing ability of PLA fabrics increased and the tensile strength of PLA fabrics decreased. The results of surface morphology revealed that there were some cracks due to hydrolysis on the surface of the fiber.

Poly(lactic acid) fibers, yarns and fabrics: Manufacturing, properties and applications

“…Desizing conditions are recommended as chemical bath pH less than 7.5, and applied temperature below 90 C. 91 Different desizing methods for PLA woven fabrics with PVA-acrylic size have been studied. 100 The results showed that PLA fabrics had some fiber damage when treated with hydrogen peroxide with sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate, causing 7.0% and 3.8% strength loss, respectively. Desizing with warm water, hot water, non-ionic surfactant, and anionic surfactant resulted in little fiber damage with strength loss less than 1.0%.…”

“…Lipase and esterase were used in pH 8 at 40 C, which improved the moisture regain and dyeing ability of PLA fabrics with little strength loss. 100,104 For PLA/cotton blended fabrics, cotton fiber requires intense scouring and bleaching conditions, which cause damage to the PLA fiber. The bleaching process has a greater effect on reducing the strength of the PLA/cotton fabric than simple scouring.…”

Carbon Recycling of High Value Bioplastics: A Route to a Zero-Waste Future

“…Protease, lipase, and cutinase have all been investigated for their potential to decompose PLA, with alcalase (a type of protease) identified as being among the most efficient [ 214 ]. Other alkaline proteases have been shown to produce large quantities of lactic acid from PLA; however, acidic and neutral proteases can exhibit almost no activity [ 215 ].…”