Search

Acrylic and keratin industrial wastes were dissolved, each separately, in their respective proper solvents. The soluble keratin was regenerated into powder and then mixed with the soluble acrylic to form an acrylic/keratin composite that was finally cast into film. The topography of the acrylic/keratin film was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The chemical composition of the obtained film was assigned using elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The substantivity of the prepared acrylic/keratin film towards anionic (acid and reactive) and cationic (basic) dyes was studied. The obtained film exhibited high dyeability towards both acid and reactive dyes even at relatively low dyeing temperatures. Hydrazine hydrate was used to enhance the dyeability of the said film with acid and reactive dyes. Kinetic studies of the dyeing of the film with anionic dyes were also conducted.

Wool fabrics were pretreated with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of different stabilisers; namely, sodium silicate, magnesium sulphate and imino disuccinic acid sodium salt. The effect of stabiliser type and concentration on the properties of the treated wool were studied. Imino disuccinic acid sodium salt was found to be the most effective stabiliser for hydrogen peroxide when added to the bleaching bath of wool fabric. The effect of after-treatment of the pre-oxidised wool fabric with commercially produced lipoprotein lipase enzyme on its dyeability with acid and reactive dyes, as well as on some of its physico-mechanical properties, was assessed. Chemical and microscopic analyses were conducted to assess changes in the chemical composition of wool treated with this system. Wool fabrics treated with hydrogen peroxide/imino disuccinic acid sodium salt/lipoprotein lipase enzyme exhibit improved wettability and, hence, dyeability with both acid and reactive dyes, as well as enhanced resistance to felting shrinkage and pilling, without severe deterioration in the fabric’s inherent properties.

The present study investigates environmentally safe pretreatments for wool fabric to improve its printing with acid and reactive dyes. Wool fabric was pretreated either with activated hydrogen peroxide using tetraacetylethylenediamine or with lipase enzyme under specified conditions. Some acid and reactive dyes were applied for wool printing using normal techniques. These treatments were found to improve the colour intensity of the printed fabrics to a level comparable with those of prechlorinated wool fabrics.

Wool fabric was modified using ecologically acceptable treatments in order to enhance its shrinkage and pilling resistance. Wool fabrics were irradiated with ultraviolet light for different period of times. The UV-irradiated wool fabrics were then treated with an oxidising agent (hydrogen peroxide or sodium monoperoxyphthalate) or a protease enzyme (papain or savinase 16L type EX). Treatment of wool fabric with these systems was found to be effective in reducing its pilling and shrinkage without severe loss in weight and strength of the fabric. Chemical and mechanical analyses of the treated samples compared with the untreated one are reported. Transmission electron microscopy investigation of the untreated and treated wool samples was used to identify the histological component in wool keratin affected by these treatments. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry

The efficiency of the proteolytic enzyme papain in conferring shrink-resistance to wool tops and woven fabrics has been enhanced by pretreatment of the wool with lipase/sodium monoperoxyphthalate/sodium sulphite. This process may be considered as a zero-AOX shrink-proofing treatment. The wool samples treated with this system show excellent shrink-proofed properties. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the Bunte salt together with low concentrations of cystine monoxide and cystine dioxide are formed in the course of the reaction. Studies of the surface of the treated wool using scanning electron microscopy have shown the complete absence of wool scales. A mechanism is proposed for shrink resistance in the lipase/sodium monoperoxyphthalate/papain treatment.