Enzyme treatment to enhance wettability and absorbency of textiles
US6066494A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 16, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S8/04
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Textile fibers are treated with enzymes in the absence of surfactants, with the effect of increasing the wettability and absorbency of the fibers. The enzymes are pectinases, cellulases, proteases, lipases or combinations thereof. The wetting properties of cotton fibers are found to be most substantially improved by treatment with a mixture of cellulase and pectinase. The effects of five hydrolyzing enzymes on improving the hydrophilicity of several polyester fabrics have been studied. Four out of the five lipases studied improve the water wetting and absorbent properties of the regular polyester fabrics more than alkaline hydrolysis under optimal conditions (3N NaOH at 55.degree. C. for 2 hours). Compared to aqueous hydrolysis, the enzyme reactions have shown to be effective under more moderate conditions, including a relatively low concentration (0.01 g/L), a shorter reaction time (10 minutes), at an ambient temperature (25.degree. C.). Contrary to the results with alkaline hydrolysis, the improved water wettability is accompanied by full strength retention. Lipase has also shown to be effective in improving the wetting and absorbent properties of sulfonated polyester and microde…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.