Potential of using plant proteins and chicken feathers for cotton warp sizing

Abstract

Two plant proteins, soyprotein and wheat gluten, and chicken feathers used to size cotton substrates provided sizing performance similar to starch and were also easily degraded in activated sludge. Sizing is an essential process to impart protection to warp yarns and increase weaving efficiency. Cotton yarns have traditionally been sized with starch, modified starch derivatives, CMC, poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), or a combination thereof along with quite a few other fiber binding ingredients. Although starch and starch derivatives are extensively used for sizing, there can be several limitations including less-than-satisfactory sizing performance and difficulties in desizing starch based size. Plant proteins such as wheat gluten, soyproteins and poultry feathers are available in large quantities at low cost and have limited industrial applications. However, these proteins are known to have excellent film-forming properties, a primary requirement for a warp size, and have also been used as adhesives. Using proteins as warp sizing agents on cotton yarns potentially could provide acceptable sizing performance and be cost-effective, as well. In this research, soypro-teins, wheat gluten, and chicken feathers were studied for exploring their feasibility for sizing, desizing, biodegradability, and ability to replace starch and PVA for sizing cotton yarns. It was found that all three proteins provided similar cohesion to fibers and abrasion resistance compared to starch. Protein sizes had significantly high BOD 5 /COD ratio compared to PVA, suggesting that the proteins are easily degradable in textile effluent treatment plants.

Keratinaceous Wastes and Their Valorization through Keratinolytic Microorganisms

“…Chicken feather can also be a good source as textile binding and textile sizing agent in textile printing as keratin has film forming and binding ability. So far, starch and starch derivatives and polyvinyl alcohols were being used as a sizing agent to coat a protective layer on the surface of yarns to improve weaving [113,114]. Sizing provides tensile strength and abrasion resistance of yarns.…”

Non-food industrial applications of poultry feathers

“…Reproduced with permission from American Chemical Society. 2014a,b; Yang and Reddy, 2013). Feathers were hydrolyzed using alkali and polyester/cotton, polyester and cotton yarns were immersed in the feather solution.…”

Emerging Green Technologies and Environment Friendly Products for Sustainable Textiles

“…Poly(-vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is commonly preferred for the effective sizing of synthetic fibers and blends; however, its use has a tremendous environmental impact. For this reason, the use of non toxic and abundantly available natural agents as suitable alternatives for sizing applications has been investigated [81]. Starch in its native form and its modification by grafting with acrylates [82] and methacrylates [83] have been used to make starch more suitable for sizing of cotton, polyester, and polyester/cotton (P/C) yarns in an environmentally friendly way.…”

“…Likewise Stegmaier et al [85] investigated chitosan as a possible sizing agent in fabric production by appropriate modifications in the textile industry. More recently, Yang and Reddy [81] and Chen et al [86,87] are among the researchers who have demonstrated that plant proteins (such as soy proteins and wheat gluten) and chicken feathers used as sizing agents on cotton, polyester and polyester/cotton provide similar performance properties to PVA and are easily degraded in activated sludge. In a subsequent publication, Reddy et al [88] reported the use of keratin from chicken feathers as a warp sizing agent on polyester/cotton blends and polyester which can replace PVA and make the textile industry more environmentally friendly (Fig.…”