2010-A Single-step Enzymatic Modification of Wool Textile to Improve its Various Properties

A Single-step Enzymatic Modification of Wool Textile to Improve its Various Properties


Kh. M. Gaffar Hossain, Technical University of Catalonia, Spain


Introduction

Wool textiles have been coated with nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) to improve their
performance at use. This water insoluble phenolic compound has been grafted on wool through a laccase enzyme catalyzed reaction in an 80/20 (v/v, %) aqueous-ethanol mixture. The capacity of laccase to oxidise NDGA in this aqueous-organic medium has been studied electrochemicaly. FTIR spectra, together with the SEM images of the enzymatically-coated fabrics confirmed the covalent grafting of NDGA on wool.
This one step enzymatic coating process improved the physical and mechanical properties of wool fabrics such as shrink resistance, crease recovery angle and tensile strength by respectively 14, 5 and 24%. Furthermore, the NDGA imparted to textile material both strong antioxidant activity expressed in 85% inhibition of DPPH and protection against UV-radiation.