THE USE OF FTIR TO INVESTIGATE MODIFICATIONS TO WOOL TREATED WITH SODIUM-SULFITE AND CATIONIC PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE

Wool was treated with sodium sulphite and amphiphilic cationic protein hydrolysate mixtures for different times and temperatures. The surfac e chemical modifications were followed using Fourier transform infra-r ed spectroscopy coupled with the attenuated total internal reflectance sampling technique. The resolution of the infra-red bands in the wool spectrum was improved by differentiation to the second-order derivati ve. Absorbance bands in the 1300-900 cm(-1) region were observed to ch ange as a function of both time and temperature. Bunte salt was the ma in product formed from cystine, and it was measured by comparing the i ntensity of the Bunte salt band with the intensity of the peptide band (amide 3) in the second-order derivative spectrum. It was possible to detect dehydroalanine formation and sorption of the amphiphilic catio nic protein hydrolysate in the spectrum of treated wool.