Enzymes that skip a step & can increase output for textile laundries

02 Jul '10

4 min read

Today's laundries are constantly looking for new sustainable ways to save costs yet achieve superior-quality textiles. Bioinnovation company Novozymes is ready with a solution that skips a step to increase output at no added cost.

Increasing consumer demands for sustainable processes is heightening the pressure for textile companies to be environmentally friendly. Denmark-based Novozymes, a biotech company specializing in enzymes, has recently established an application that enables laundries to bioblast textiles simultaneously in the dyeing bath, the cellulase Cellusoft CR.

Working flexibility at no added cost
Cellusoft CR is a robust neutral bioblasting enzyme that prevents pilling and increases the smoothness and softness of fabrics. The cellulase works at a broad pH range of 5–8 which means that it can reduce the need for chemicals in the bioblasting process.

The enzyme can be applied simultaneously at any stage of the wetting process prior to alkali addition for reactive dyes. This means that the enzyme skips a step and decreases time spent on textile processing. "Cellusoft CR in dyeing has allowed us to increase our throughput by 25%, and as a bonus to that we are now producing garments with an increased level of quality," says Mr. Xie, Production Director of the Co-prosperity laundry in China, who is now making use of the enzyme.

Get softer, smoother, and more radiant fabrics
The "CR" in Cellusoft CR stands for "Color Retention" because the enzyme ensures better color retention compared to typical bioblasting with an acid cellulase. It can be used in combined dyeing and bioblasting as it is compatible with most dyes that laundries use to obtain different fashion looks. "Because Cellusoft CR has features that allow it to withstand harsh chemicals, the solution functions optimally in a combined bath with many types of dyes. It's definitely also worth considering that, in some cases, the combined approach can cut down on processing time by up to 47%. That's almost half of the average standard processing time, which could mean a substantial optimization of processes for many laundries," explains Han Kuilderd, Customer Solutions Manager at Novozymes.

Fabrics are often prone to pilling and fuzz after wash and wear by the consumer. The enzyme significantly reduces the chance of this happening by getting rid of protruding fiber ends and dead cotton. "Cellusoft CR has properties that enable it to get rid of fuzz and pills, leaving the garment smoother, softer, and nicer to wear. So it's not only a cost and time advantage to bioblast garments in the dye bath for laundries, it's indeed also an added value for the end user and ultimately the producer," says Han Kuilderd.

Another interesting aspect of Cellusoft CR is that it keeps fabric strength more intact. Normally, thin or light fabric is often prone to being torn at the seam lines during washing due to mechanical action and fabric friction. Since the process with Cellusoft CR is combined and shorter, the fabric is less subjected to mechanical action. That, in turn, makes the fabric retain its strength.

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