Biotechnology: An Eco-friendly Tool of Nature for Textile …
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6 Wool Bio-processing
6.1 Bio-carbonization of Wool
The process of removing the vegetable or cellulosic material from the surface of
the wool is called carbonizing [124]. The carbonization process involved the use
of acidic conditions and high temperature there is a need to replace it with ecofriendly parameters [125]. Bio-carbonization solves the problem by controlling the
harmful and destructive effect of process i.e., treatment with pectinases and cellulases
overcome all limitations of conventional wool processing [126].
6.2 Wool Shrink-Proofing
Commercial finishing processes of wool are categorized into three groups (i)
Oxidation/reduction (subtractive) (ii) Synthetic resin layer (additives) (iii) Hercosett/chlorine method (combined process) [127]. Hercosett/chlorine causes oxidation of cysteine residue to form cysteic acid constituted de-chlorination and chlorination process. Though the commercial process is efficient, its effluents resulted in the
production of absorbable organic compounds (AOX) yet cause toxicity to the whole
food chain [128]. Commercially use of keratinase and laccase produced anti-shrink
wool fabric without loss in weight [129].
6.3 Wool Finishing
Finishing industries of wool are under continuous strain to adopt eco-friendly finishing processes and to explore novel techniques of wool garments preparation with
extra viability in the global market. Applications of disulfide isomerases, lipases,
proteases, lipases can modify wool properties [130, 131]. Currently used enzymatic methods were failed to fulfill the final premise, therefore acidic chlorination,
per mono sulphuric acid (H 2 SO 5 ) treatment are applied commercially [132]. These
chemical treatments significantly improved shrink resistance property but adversely
influence the handling of hazardous effluents [133]. Transglutaminase revolutionized
the wool finishing industries by fulfilling the alternate need for chemical methods
[134].
99
6 Wool Bio-processing
6.1 Bio-carbonization of Wool
The process of removing the vegetable or cellulosic material from the surface of
the wool is called carbonizing [124]. The carbonization process involved the use
of acidic conditions and high temperature there is a need to replace it with ecofriendly parameters [125]. Bio-carbonization solves the problem by controlling the
harmful and destructive effect of process i.e., treatment with pectinases and cellulases
overcome all limitations of conventional wool processing [126].
6.2 Wool Shrink-Proofing
Commercial finishing processes of wool are categorized into three groups (i)
Oxidation/reduction (subtractive) (ii) Synthetic resin layer (additives) (iii) Hercosett/chlorine method (combined process) [127]. Hercosett/chlorine causes oxidation of cysteine residue to form cysteic acid constituted de-chlorination and chlorination process. Though the commercial process is efficient, its effluents resulted in the
production of absorbable organic compounds (AOX) yet cause toxicity to the whole
food chain [128]. Commercially use of keratinase and laccase produced anti-shrink
wool fabric without loss in weight [129].
6.3 Wool Finishing
Finishing industries of wool are under continuous strain to adopt eco-friendly finishing processes and to explore novel techniques of wool garments preparation with
extra viability in the global market. Applications of disulfide isomerases, lipases,
proteases, lipases can modify wool properties [130, 131]. Currently used enzymatic methods were failed to fulfill the final premise, therefore acidic chlorination,
per mono sulphuric acid (H 2 SO 5 ) treatment are applied commercially [132]. These
chemical treatments significantly improved shrink resistance property but adversely
influence the handling of hazardous effluents [133]. Transglutaminase revolutionized
the wool finishing industries by fulfilling the alternate need for chemical methods
[134].