ENZYMATIC SCOURING OF COTTON - SURFACTANTS, AGITATION, AND SELECTION OF ENZYMES

Enzymatic scouring of cotton is developing into a commercially Viable technology. This paper specifically discusses the necessary conditions for successful enzymatic scouring including use of surfactants, adopt ion of mechanical agitation, and selection of enzymes. Proper choices of compatible surfactants, enzymes, and mechanical agitation levels an d integration of these factors with enzyme activity optima in the enzy matic treatments were shown experimentally to be critical for treatmen ts to be effective. Use of the proper conditions in enzymatic scouring of cotton is essential because of the nature of biological catalytic activity, the relationship between the three-dimensional structures an d functions of enzymes, and the characteristic surface structure of co tton fibers.