Hydrolyzed protein treatment to natural cellulosic lightweight and scattering fibers for improving the hydrophilicity

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to improve the hydrophilicity of kapok by treatment with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and a gelatin which is natural hydrolyzed protein. The characteristics of kapok with 1–5% NaClO and the dried kapok was further treated with 1–5% NaClO and 0.1–0.5% gelatin aqueous solution was analyzed by physical properties through drying speed, dyeing property, FT-IR, and SEM. As a results, It was confirmed that the whiteness of kapok was improved by NaClO and mostly decreased by gelatin treatment. Through SEM analysis, it was confirmed that the fibers were damaged as NaClO increased, and it was observed that the surface swelled smoothly as the gelatin was treated. In FT-IR, the degradation of lignin by NaClO and the binding of peptide to the surface of kapok with gelatin were confirmed. In the drying speed test, it was found that the moisture content of the kapok decreased with NaClO increased, and the moisture content increased by gelatin. The hydrophilicity through dyeing was not even in the raw kapok, but after treatment with NaClO and gelatin, the K/S value increased by 3 or more, confirming that the hydrophilicity was improved.