Action of purified Trichoderma reesei cellulases on cotton fibers and yarn

In this work the possibility and potential of treating cotton fibers and ya ms instead of fabrics with monocomponent cellulases was investigated. Diffe rent pretreatments on fibers were performed and tested in order to improve the accessibility of cotton to enzymatic modification. The enzymatic treatm ents were evaluated microscopically and by analysing the effects of treated fibers on spinnability, yarn evenness, tenacity and pilling. The accessibi lity of the cotton fibers for cellulases could be increased by different pr etreatments. Steaming of fibers prior to enzymatic treatment was found to b e an efficient way to increase hydrolysis levels. Cellulase treatments of c arded yams resulted in modification of yam properties. Decrease in yam hair iness was observed and the knitted fabric made of the treated yam showed a lowered tendency towards pilling. In all cases endoglucanase activity rathe r than cellobiohydrolase activity was responsible for these modifications. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.