Application of Synergetic Protease Catalytic System in Wool Treatment

Abstract

Abstract: A novel enzymatic processing with the characteristic of applying protease and a proposed activator simultaneously was suggested in the present study for the purpose of producing high quality wool top. Experiments results showed there existed a synergistic effect between the protease and its activator on restricting enzyme hydrolyzing function on the outer layer of wool fiber and removing scale effectively, compared with using protease and activator separately. It was observed that 75%-80% content of activator was consumed while almost no enzyme consumed in the integrative enzyme catalysis system. Furthermore, after the proposed protease treatment, relative test showed the felting ball density decreased by 50% and averaged fiber diameter decreased by 1.393μm, with the tension retention more than 80%, and elongation at break maintaining more than 73% in comparison with the untreated one, implying desired slenderization and improvement of felting behavior of wool fiber