GB1157404A - Treatment of Furs - Google Patents

Abstract

1,157,404. Treatment of furs. ROHM & HAAS, G.m.b.H. Feb. 15, 1968 [Feb. 17, 1967], No.7481/68. Heading C6C. In a process for loosening the structure and thus improving the pliability of conventionally dressed furs, such as lamb and calf furs, they are treated with at least one proteolytic enzyme in the presence of water. The treatment may be effected at temperatures between 40 and 50‹ C., and between 0À5 and 3À0% of proteolytic enzyme (s), based on the weight of dressed furs, may be used. The treatment may be carried out in the presence of at least one reducing agent, e.g. selected from; sodium bisulphite, sodium sulphite and sodium dithionite. The proteolytic enzyme may be a fungal protease, e.g. obtained by culturing Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus flavus, and the treatment may then be effected at pH 4À5 to 6. Alternatively, the proteolytic enzyme may be a bacterial protease, preferably obtained from a strain of Bacillus subtilis, and the treatment may then be effected at pH 5 to 7. As a further alternative, the proteolytic enzyme may be a pancreas tryptase, and the treatment may then be effected at a pH above 6À5. According to Example 3, Persian lamb furs are dressed and finished in a conventional liquor, and then treated with an aqueous liquor containing pancreas tryptase and a fungal protease, a dye and a fat-liquoring agent, and the treated furs are finally washed. The proteolytic enzyme may be added to furs in an aqueous fat-liquor, immediately after the furs have become fat-liquored. The dressed furs are preferably treated according to the invention after they have been finished, e.g. matched, bleached or bated with metal salts.