Bioscouring Aided by EDTA and β-Cyclodextrin for Purification of Loomstate Cotton and Blend Fabrics

Incorporation of either EDTA or β-cyclodextrin in the bioscouring treatments and its onset on the bioscoured fabrics performance was intensively studied. Biotreatments involved single use of alkaline pectinase enzyme or in combination with cellulase enzyme in a subsequent treatment. EDTA and β-cyclodextrin were entailed independently in the bioscouring by using two strategies: 1) they were applied to the fabrics as a pretreatment and; 2) they were added to the bioscouring treating solution. Fabrics used were enzymatically desized. Desized fabrics under investigation comprised cotton fabric, mercerized cotton fabric, cotton/polyester (50/50) blend fabric and cotton/polyester (35/65) blend fabric. Results showed that pretreatment of fabrics with EDTA followed by subsequent bioscouring by alkaline pectinase enzyme in single use or in combination with cellulase enzyme in a separate step decreases the performance of bioscoured fabrics. On the other hand, incorporation of EDTA in the bioscouring solution containing alkaline pectinase enzyme alone or together with an extra treatment in the bioscouring solution containing cellulase improves the performance of the bioscoured fabrics. It was also found that addition of β-cyclodextrin to the bioscouring solutions containing alkaline pectinase enzyme alone or supported by cellulase enzyme in a separate step acts in favour of the technical properties and performance of the bioscoured fabrics.