Source: The article was published inElectronic Journal of Biotechnology [on line]

15 December 2003, Vol. 6, No. 3


Available on the Web: http://www.ejbiotechnology.info/content/vol6/issue3/full/8/index.htmlISSN 0717-3458


Keywords: auxiliaries, dyes, protein interactions, surfactants, textile processing


Enzymes are the catalysts of allreactions in living systems. These reactions are catalysed in the active sites ofglobular proteins. The proteins are composed by amino acids with a variety ofside chains ranging from non-polar aliphatic and aromatic to acidic, basic and neutralpolar. This fact allows to a globular 3D protein to create in the active siteall ranges of microenvironments for catalysis. Major advances in microbialtechnology and genetics allow recently the broad range of enzymaticapplications in the industry. Enzymatic processes have been increasingly incorporatedin textiles over the last years. Cotton, wool, flax or starches are naturalmaterials used in textiles that can be processed with enzymes.


Enzymes have been used for desizing,scouring, polishing, washing, degumming, peroxide degradation in bleachingbaths as well as for decolourisation of dyehouse wastewaters, bleaching ofreleased dyestuff and inhibiting dye transfer. Furthermore many newapplications are under development such as natural and synthetic fibres modification,enzymatic dyeing, finishing etc. Most of the textile processes areheterogeneous where an auxiliary as a dye, enzyme, softener or oxidant have to betaken from the solution to the fibre. These processes require the presence of surface-active agents, ionic force balancers, buffers, stabilisers and others, andare characterized with high turbulence and mechanical agitation in the textilebaths. In this paper it is intended to understand and discuss the major protein interactions within textile processes and to try to anticipate troubleshooting possibilitieswhen enzymes are used. It can be expected that an enzyme protein can interactwith all chemical agents in solution due to the large variety of side chains ofthe outer-amino-acids in the large 3D structure of the protein. Without the aimof being exhaustive various points will be discussed where protein interactions are important for textile processing.


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