Enzyme-Based Felt-Proofing Treatment for Wool

Summary

An Enzyme-based process for treatment of wool top
to improve its felting resistance is described. This
process utilises lipase SP 398 in the pre-treatment
step, glutathione reductase (GR) in the reduction
step, and papain in the after-treatment step. GR is
used as a catalyst in the reduction of the disulphide
bonds in wool keratin together with nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide phosphate in the reduced form
(NADPH). The effect of the different reaction
parameters, during the reduction step, on the felting
resistance of wool treated with this system is
monitored. Wool tops treated with lipase SP 398 / GR /
NADPH / papain system showed good felting resistance
as compared with untreated wool, but still inferior to
that of the chlorine/Hercosett process. The tenacity
and weight loss of treated wool are also reported.
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission
Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed insignificant attack
of papain on wool.

This paper was first published on the earlier Egytex website. The text above is the summary that was published there.