be due to high price, poor availability, and awareness. However, like any other
technological innovations, this will also slowly trickle in and become available to the
rest of the world. In recent years, the market started to gather momentum in some
Asia-Pacific countries such as China and India. That means, potentially, the market
will expand until it covers all geographical locations, and hence, it is not farfetched
to expect a huge market growth for detergent enzymes in the years to come. Another
issue worth to mention here is the limited portfolio of detergent enzymes. Since the
days of its infancy, enzymatic detergent formulations are confined to proteases,
lipases, cellulases, and amylases. Perhaps there is still a room for expansion.
Mannanases and xylanases have shown remarkable potential [71, 72]; however,
the market integration is still lagging. Another area of expansion could be the use of
enzymes that in situ produce bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide. Thus,
enzymes such as lipoxygenases, glucose oxidases, glycerol oxidases, etc. can be
considered in the formulation of detergents with bleaching efficacy. The introduction
of such new enzymes in detergents is expected to expand the market.
4.1.2 Textile and Fiber Processing
Alkaline active enzymes have got several notable applications in textile and fiber
processing. Cotton scoring and bast fiber degumming are two examples that show
the technical, economic, and environmental benefits of using alkaline active
enzymes.
Bioscouring of Cotton
Among the natural fibers used in textile manufacturing, cotton is undeniably the
prominent one. Processing of cotton to textile yarn involves several treatment steps.
Removal of the fiber protecting pectin from the raw cotton is one of these steps used in
making yarn. This treatment is known as scouring. Conventionally, the cotton scouring is done at elevated temperature using sodium hydroxide solution which solubilizes
the pectin, hemicellulose, and lignin fractions of the cotton. As this process depends
on high concentration of sodium hydroxide and high temperature, it is unfavorable
from economic point of view. Moreover, to remove the sodium hydroxide, an
extensive washing is a necessary step. The high energy and water consumption
leave a negative impact on the environment. Thus, there has been an interest for an
alternative process that reduces the amount of alkali and the energy consumption.
An enzyme-based scouring which is often referred to as bioscouring has emerged
as an attractive alternative. In this process, enzymes which selectively degrade the
pectin at ambient temperature have been used. Since high pH facilitates the solubilization of pectin and inhibits the growth of cellulose-degrading fungal strains, the
use of diluted alkali is beneficial. Thus, the enzymes planned for this application are
desired to be alkaline active. The use of alkaline active pectinases that are operationally stable in diluted sodium hydroxide dramatically reduced the processing cost
Alkaliphiles: The Versatile Tools in Biotechnology
13
technological innovations, this will also slowly trickle in and become available to the
rest of the world. In recent years, the market started to gather momentum in some
Asia-Pacific countries such as China and India. That means, potentially, the market
will expand until it covers all geographical locations, and hence, it is not farfetched
to expect a huge market growth for detergent enzymes in the years to come. Another
issue worth to mention here is the limited portfolio of detergent enzymes. Since the
days of its infancy, enzymatic detergent formulations are confined to proteases,
lipases, cellulases, and amylases. Perhaps there is still a room for expansion.
Mannanases and xylanases have shown remarkable potential [71, 72]; however,
the market integration is still lagging. Another area of expansion could be the use of
enzymes that in situ produce bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide. Thus,
enzymes such as lipoxygenases, glucose oxidases, glycerol oxidases, etc. can be
considered in the formulation of detergents with bleaching efficacy. The introduction
of such new enzymes in detergents is expected to expand the market.
4.1.2 Textile and Fiber Processing
Alkaline active enzymes have got several notable applications in textile and fiber
processing. Cotton scoring and bast fiber degumming are two examples that show
the technical, economic, and environmental benefits of using alkaline active
enzymes.
Bioscouring of Cotton
Among the natural fibers used in textile manufacturing, cotton is undeniably the
prominent one. Processing of cotton to textile yarn involves several treatment steps.
Removal of the fiber protecting pectin from the raw cotton is one of these steps used in
making yarn. This treatment is known as scouring. Conventionally, the cotton scouring is done at elevated temperature using sodium hydroxide solution which solubilizes
the pectin, hemicellulose, and lignin fractions of the cotton. As this process depends
on high concentration of sodium hydroxide and high temperature, it is unfavorable
from economic point of view. Moreover, to remove the sodium hydroxide, an
extensive washing is a necessary step. The high energy and water consumption
leave a negative impact on the environment. Thus, there has been an interest for an
alternative process that reduces the amount of alkali and the energy consumption.
An enzyme-based scouring which is often referred to as bioscouring has emerged
as an attractive alternative. In this process, enzymes which selectively degrade the
pectin at ambient temperature have been used. Since high pH facilitates the solubilization of pectin and inhibits the growth of cellulose-degrading fungal strains, the
use of diluted alkali is beneficial. Thus, the enzymes planned for this application are
desired to be alkaline active. The use of alkaline active pectinases that are operationally stable in diluted sodium hydroxide dramatically reduced the processing cost
Alkaliphiles: The Versatile Tools in Biotechnology
13