The role of Trichoderma reesei cellulases in cotton finishing

Abstract

Knitted and woven cotton fabrics were treated with a mono component Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase (EGII) and with experimental Trichoderma cellulase mixtures containing different cellulase profiles. The cellulase action was evaluated by measuring weight loss, pilling, and bursting strength. Of the experimental mixtures, Cellulase F, being an EGII-enriched preparation, was the best mixture to obtain the highest pilling reduction with the lowest strength and weight losses on cotton knitted fabric. The monocomponent EGII was, however, even more efficient with respect to good depilling with minimal negative effect on the knitted fabric. The results obtained with the different cellulases were found to depend on the fabric type. In the case of ring-spun woven fabric, purified EGII was the best enzyme in depilling with the lowest weight loss. Cellulase B (containing CBHI and EGII) reduced the pilling tendency, but the weight loss was higher as compared to that obtained with the monocomponent EGII. In the case of open end-spun woven fabric, Cellulase B and Cellulase E (EGII enriched, CBHI negative) resulted in improved depilling, but at the same time they caused relatively high weight loss.