Bioscouring of linen fabric in comparison with conventional chemical treatment

Enzymatic scouring of linen fabric using a mixture of pectinase and lipase is described. For comparison, a sample of linen fabric was scoured conventionally in boiling alkaline solution. The enzymatically scoured linen fabric showed lower loss in weight than the conventionally scoured one but on the other hand, its drop penetration time was found to be too high. After common bleaching, the wettability and the degree of whiteness of both the enzymatically and the conventionally scoured linen fabrics were found to be similar. In contrast to the harsh conditions applied in the alkaline scouring, during the gentle enzymatic procedure, significant lower fiber damage occurs resulting in better mechanical properties, such as a higher degree of polymerization and an increased tensile strength. After scaling-up the suggested enzymatic treatment of linen fabric, promising ecological and economical benefits could be attained.