Val G. Yachmenev, Brian Condon, Allan Lambert, and Jade Smith. Southern Regional Research Center, 1100 Robert E. Lee blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124
Use of enzymatic processing in textile applications is becoming increasingly popular, primarily because of rapid introduction of a new variety of highly efficient enzymes. In general, enzymatic bio-processing generates less toxic and readily biodegradable wastewater effluents. However, enzymatic bio-processing has several critical shortcomings that impede its wide acceptance by industries: expensive processing costs and slow reaction rates. Our research found that on a laboratory scale, introduction of ultrasonic energy in the reaction chamber during enzymatic bio-preparation/bio-finishing of cotton resulted in a significant improvement in enzyme efficiency. The combination of enzymatic bio-preparation/bio-finishing with sonication could significantly advance this new “green chemistry” process making it more suitable for widespread industrial implementation and greatly reducing the amount/toxicity of wastewater, energy consumption, and processing costs.
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