2010-The Application of Xylanase Enzyme Systems for Removal of Recalcitrant Seed Coat Fragments

The Application of Xylanase Enzyme Systems for Removal of Recalcitrant Seed Coat Fragments

Renuka Dhandapani, University of Georgia


The application of enzymes in lieu of traditional chemical treatments in various wet pretreatment and finishing processes of textiles has generated much interest. An enzyme is a protein that acts as a catalyst in reactions, thus resulting in higher reaction rates due to lowering of the activation energy.
As a catalyst, an enzyme is neither consumed during a reaction nor does it alter the equilibrium of a reaction. The major advantages of using an enzyme over traditional chemical treatments are that it is specific in its substrate action, is easy to deactivate by either changing pH or temperature of the treatment bath, and uses mild treatment conditions and can be effective at low concentrations.
With advancements in biotechnology and enzymology, research and development of new enzymes for application in different sectors of textile wet processing stages are being undertaken.