Effects of Enzyme Concentration in Bio-polishing on Cotton Knit Fabric

Abstract

In this work, exhaust method was followed on undyed and dyed single jersey cotton knit fabric by Lava Cell, NBG enzyme with a varied enzyme concentration keeping all other parameters constant and thereafter different properties like handle, weight loss, absorbency and pilling of treated samples were assessed. Additionally the fastness properties for dyed fabric were evaluated before and after enzyme treatment. The enzyme used in this work was acid stable cellulase enzyme that also worked at neutral condition effectively and compatible with some other enzymes and dyeing processes. The tested samples were treated with various enzyme concentrations like 0.5%, 1%, 1.5 %, 2% and 3%, at 600 c temperature for 30 minutes with M:L l:20 at neutral bath condition with a medium mechanical agitation and thereafter enzyme deactivation was carried out at an elevated temperature. The hand feel of tested sample was optimum with 2% enzyme concentration and weight loss tendency was increased with the increase of concentration %, and considerable weight loss was noticed up to 1.5% conc. range and it was severe with 3% concentration both for undyed and dyed samples. Enzyme treatment after dyeing lowered the pilling resistance properties of dyed materials but escalated color fastness properties. However, the tested samples treated with 1% and 1.5% concentration showed acceptable values in all cases especially from a minimum fiber damage perspective.