Search

The hydrophobic nature of wool induced by its surface lipid barrier hinders its wettability during processing. Scouring of wool is conducted to remove this lipid barrier and facilitate any wet processes. Scouring of wool is conducted using soda ash followed by rinsing with huge amount of water to ensure complete removal of alkali. This work aimed at utilization of thermophilic lipase enzyme for removal of wool surface lipid barrier without deterioration on the fibre interior. A thermally stable lipase enzyme was produced from thermophilic microorganism; namely Bacillus aryabhattai B8W22, and was utilized in bio-scouring of wool. The produced enzyme was immobilized on sericin-based discs to enhance its stability and to make it reusable. The activity of both free and immobilized lipase enzymes at different conditions was assessed. The effects of bio-scouring of wool on its dyeability with acid, basic, and reactive dyes, as well as on some of its inherent properties, were monitored. Results showed that the bio-scoured wool exhibits enhanced dyeability with the said classes of dyes more than that of conventionally scoured samples. One-bath scouring and dyeing of wool fibres in two successive steps was conducted to reduce consumption of water and energy during wet processing of wool.

Two forms of pollutants are usually discharged from scouring of wool fleece; namely the effluent liquid phase and the solid phase. These phases comprise a significant quantity of wool wax which would be a suitable candidate for valuable products and applications. This work is devoted to extraction, recovery, and characterization of lanolin from wool fleece from different sheep breeds to assign possible ways for its utilization in the textile field. The results show that the amount of wool wax extracted from coarse wool fleece as well as its chemical composition and physical properties are almost similar to those extracted from other finer wool fleece. The aim of this work is further devoted to separation and characterization of fatty acids (FAs) from the extracted wool wax. The separated wool FAs were esterified with poly ethylene glycol (PEG) to obtain a condensate which was utilized as a nonionic softener for wool. The alteration in morphology of the coated wool fabric was assessed using scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed that the WFA/PEG-coated fabrics exhibit reduced surface roughness and improved resistance to felting shrinkage during mechanical agitation.

Wool has the tendency to turn into felt during agitation in washing machines. Thus, a benign non-polluting method for the production of machine-washable wool was developed herein. Initially, a proteolytic bacteria was isolated from hot region soil. The bacterial isolate was identified as Bacillus safensis FO-36bMZ836779 according to the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Afterwards, the extracellular protease produced by this isolate was covalently immobilized in order to enhance its stability under non-ambient conditions which are usually adopted in industrial sectors like textile industries. Sericin, which is usually discharged into degumming effluent of natural silk, was utilized to prepare the immobilization carrier. Box–Behnken design was adopted in order to hone the preparation of the sericin–polyethylene–imine–glutaraldehyde activated agar carrier. The pH and temperature profiles of the free and immobilized proteases were compared. Later, wool fibres were bio-treated with both the free and the immobilized enzymes. The effect of process conditions on the resistance of the bio-finished wool to felting was investigated. The alteration in the fibre morphology was monitored using SEM. Amino acid analysis and alkali solubility tests were adopted to assign any change in the chemical structure of the bio-treated wool. The influence of bio-treatment of wool on its inherent properties was assigned. Results revealed that bio-treatment of wool with the said enzyme led to production of machine-washable wool without severe deterioration in the fibres’ properties. In an energy- and water-consuming process, the hot solution from bio-treatment bath was used successfully in dyeing of wool.

This work aims at studying the effect of treatment of wool fabric with different concentrations of water-dispersible amino siloxane polymer (AS) using exhaustion or pad-dry-cure techniques to impart durable silk-like softness with improved surface properties and comfortability. The effects of these modifications on the handle of wool as well as some of its chemical, physical, and mechanical properties were studied. The effect of treatment of wool fabric by AS on some of its comfort attributes; namely hydrophilicity and UPF was investigated. The change in the chemical composition of silicon-treated wool fabric was studied using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) display that wool fabric treated with AS exhibited better surface smoothness and significant coating of wool scales, compared with the untreated one. The thermal and physical properties of the treated fabrics were studied using TGA and XRD. Results of this investigation proved that wool fabric treated by AS using exhaustion technique exhibited better comfort characteristics without opposing effect on their inherent properties than those treated using the pad-dry-cure technique.

Felting shrinkage of wool is a major problem which has negative impacts on its performance attributes. Traditional chemical methods used for shrink-resist finishing are suffering from some drawback...

Development of conductive fabrics causes usually deterioration of the some of the comfort attributes of the final textile product. In this work, we propose a simple non-deteriorative method for preparation of electrical conductive fabrics based on wool and polyester as well as the blended fabric thereof. The unmodified fabrics or saponified polyester or oxidized wool were treated in aqueous solution containing heavy metal ion salts, namely, silver nitrate, copper II sulfate using exhaustion technique at 70°C for 1 h followed by reduction step. Nano zinc oxide was also used directly for treatment on the said fabrics. The electrical conductivity of the metal ions-treated fabrics and the influence of sewing on their conductivity was measured. The effect of pretreatment of the fabrics, saponification of polyester or oxidation of wool on their ability to absorb metal ions was monitored. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to prove the incorporation of metal particles onto the treated fabrics. The change in chemical composition of the treated fabrics was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Atomic absorption was adopted to measure the amount of metal incorporated onto the treated fabrics. The formation of nanometal crystals was proved using X-ray diffraction pattern. Different parameters of comfort, namely, air/water permeability of the treated as well as untreated fabrics were assessed. The treated fabrics exhibit enhanced electrical conductivity as well as some improved comfort properties without any effect on their inherent mechanical properties.

This work was adopted to enhance the electrical conductivity of knitted polyester fabrics byincorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticle (NPs) into the fibre vicinity. Five structures ofPIQUE knitted polyester fabric of variable loop length were treated with ZnO NPs usingexhaustion technique. The treated fabrics were sewn using two types of stitches: namely threethread overedge (504) and five thread full overedge (516). The comfort attributes of the treatedfabrics; Viz. electrical conductivity, air permeability, and water permeability were assessed.Physico-mechanical properties of the different treated and untreated fabrics were also evaluated.Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to trace the amounts of zinc ions incorporated onto thedifferent treated structures. The alteration in the functional groups of the modified samples wasmonitored by FTIR spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersiveX-ray spectroscopy/elemental mapping were adopted to confirm the inclusion and distribution ofZnO NPs onto the modified polyester fabric. The treated polyester knitted fabrics showedenhanced electrical conductivity with improved comfort properties without adverse effect on theirperformance and appearance attributes.

This review is devoted to discuss the unique characteristics of multi-jet electrospinning technique, compared to other spinning techniques, and its utilization in spinning of natural as well as synthetic polymers. The advantages and inadequacies of the current commercial chemical spinning methods; namely wet spinning, melt spinning, dry spinning, and electrospinning are discussed. The unconventional applications of electrospinning in textile and non-textile sectors are reported. Special emphasis is devoted to the theory and technology of the multijet electrospinning as well as its applications. The current status of multi-jet electrospining and future prospects are outlined. Using multi-jet electrospinning technique, various polymers have been electrospun into uniform blend nanofibrous mats with good dispersibility. In addition to the principle of multi-jet electro electrospinning, the different devices used for this technique are also highlighted.

Within the last three decades, environmental pollution has increased the interest of the researchers to find new health and hygiene-related products for mankind. In the textile industry, utilization of low-environmental impact technologies that based on sustainable biopolymers, presents a novel possible way for development of bioactive textiles on a large scale. The purpose of this review is to introduce a general overview on the role of proteinic biopolymers in development of textile industries. Unconventional nom-textile applications of these biopolymers are also outlined. The methods of extraction of proteinic biopolymers from their renewable natural resources were discussed to assign the proper method of extraction.

Contaminated drinking water in many parts of the world causes acute health dilemma. An easily applicable method to detect this invisible hazard in domestic tap water is of prime importance. In this investigation we developed a spectro-photometric quantitative method for detection of free chlorine in domestic tap water using protein-based analytical stripes. Two renewable proteins; namely keratin and sericin were extracted from waste materials (coarse wool fleece and raw natural silk) and supported on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix. The formed protein/PVA composite was used as a hosting material for starch/potassium iodide reagent which liberates iodine upon interaction with free chlorine in water. The liberated iodine generates a measurable bluish colored complex with starch. Detection of chlorine in water was conducted in presence and absence of possible interfering moieties; Viz. elemental bromine as well as bromide and fluoride ions. Amino acid analysis, gel filtration chromatography and Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry monitored the alteration in the chemical composition of the extracted proteins. The proper method of storage and usage of the proposed analytical stripes was adopted by measuring the solubility of the prepared protein-based composite in water, alkali, and urea-bisulphite solution. The ability of the said composite to withstand deterioration from bacteria was also assessed. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the surface characteristic of the prepared composites. The proposed stripes are convenient to detect low range levels of free chlorine especially for drinking water or pools below to 4 ppm.