JPH06220772A - Scouring of fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out scouring of cotton fiber under mild condition without using large amount of energy by treating an unprocessed cotton fiber free from scouring, bleaching, etc., or its processed product with an enzymatic liquid, thereby isolating and removing pectic substance. CONSTITUTION:Unprocessed cotton fiber or its processed product is scoured by immersing in an enzymatic liquid containing one or more enzymes (protopectinase) produced by microorganisms such as Trichosporon penicillatum at 40 deg.C to remove the pectic substance. Pectic substance can easily be removed by this process under extremely mild conditions without neccessitating large amount of energy an facilitating the waste water treatment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for scouring unprocessed cotton fibers, fibers containing cotton fibers and processed products thereof (threads, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and non-woven fabrics). The present invention relates to a method for treating raw cotton fibers, cotton fiber-containing fibers, and processed products thereof with an enzyme solution containing one or more kinds of enzymes, and scouring them.

Cotton fibers are composed of a secondary film and a primary film that covers the film through a winding layer. The primary membrane is composed of a cuticle layer and a mesh layer containing pectin, cotton waste and protein as main components, and the secondary membrane is composed of cellulose. Of these, pectin is the main component of the primary membrane (Yasuo Ohno, Textile & Industry, Vol.
P. 5, 1971). Raw cotton fibers and cotton fiber-containing fibers and their processed products require removal of the primary film of the cotton fibers before being subjected to a processing step such as a dyeing process, and this treatment is generally called scouring.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, scouring of unprocessed cotton fibers, cotton fiber-containing fibers and processed products thereof involves the use of sodium hydroxide and scouring aids (generally nonionic surfactants). It is carried out by treating the mixture with a high temperature (90 ° C. or higher). However, this scouring method requires a lot of energy, and since wastewater contains strong alkaline and high-concentration chemicals, wastewater treatment requires a large amount of money, which causes problems in terms of environmental protection. There is. Therefore, a new refining method that solves or improves this problem is desired.

An enzyme refining method in which plant fibers containing cellulose fibers as a main component are treated with an aqueous solution containing a cellulose-decomposing enzyme and a pectin-decomposing enzyme (JP-A-51-14997)
No. 6) and non-wood fibers are treated with an alkaliphilic bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus that produces a protopectin-degrading enzyme.
No. 39636) is known. However, in the inventions of these documents, the target of treatment is bast fibers mainly of hemp, and the method of enzymatically refining cotton fibers having a completely different structure from these fibers has not been developed.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventors of the present invention have
As a result of intensive studies to improve the above problems,
Characterized by immersing unprocessed cotton fiber, cotton fiber-containing fiber and its processed product in an enzyme solution containing at least one enzyme capable of releasing a pectin substance from cotton fiber (protopectinase) The invention of a fiber refining method was completed. The objects to be treated with the enzyme solution include unprocessed cotton fibers in the form of cotton, fibers containing cotton fibers, and yarns, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, nonwoven fabrics obtained by processing the same.

As a microorganism for producing an enzyme (protopectinase) capable of releasing a pectin substance from cotton fiber used in the present invention, a protopectinase-producing bacterium already discovered by the inventors of the present invention (Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-46157).
No. 5, JP-A-57-83286, JP-B-61-5096
No. 1, JP-A-63-213501 and Japanese Patent Application No. 4-4.
No. 4809) and many other protopectinase-producing bacteria can be used.

The inventors of the present invention have extensively studied the protopectinase produced by microorganisms, and as a result, the protopectinase has a neutral sugar chain that binds the A-type acting on the pectin chain, the pectin chain and the cell tissue. There is a B-type that acts on A., an A-type has an enzyme having polygalacturonase or polygalacturonic acid lyase activity, and a B-type has an enzyme that decomposes arabinan (Sakai et al. Agric. Biol. Chem. 54, 870
~ 889, 1991). Any of these enzymes can be used in the present invention. Specific examples of the microorganism producing protopectinase used in the present invention include the following.

1. The following microorganisms that are yeasts: Tricosporon penicillatum as a microorganism belonging to the genus Tricosporone; Endomyces as a microorganism belonging to the genus Endomyces.
Microorganisms belonging to Endomyces geotrichum, Endomyces lindneri; Endomycopsis
Endomycopsis cap
sularis), Endomycopsis Bernalis (endomyco
psis vernalis); Saccharomyces
Belongs to Saccharomyces uvarum, Saccharomyces bailii, Saccharomyces delbrueckii, Saccharomyces fermentat
i); Schizosaccharomyces
Belong to Schizosaccharomyces octosporus; belong to the genus Pichia, Pichia orientalis, Pichia polymorphua
ia polymorpha), Pichia farinosa
osa); as belonging to the genus Hansenula (Hansenula),
Hansenula saturnus (Hansenula saturnus) Hansenula mimuta (Debaryomyces hansenii) as belonging to the genus Debaryomyces (Debaryomyces hansenii), Debaryomyces castellii (Debaryomyces castellii)
As belonging to the genus Hanseniaspora (Hanseniaspora), Hanseniaspora barbiensis (Hanseniaspor)
a valbyensis), Hansenia Spora Ubalm (Hansen
iaspora uvarum); as belonging to the genus Torulopsis (Torulopsis)
psis sphaerica), Torulopsis
pinus); belonging to the genus Candida (Candida krusei), Candida glaebosa (Candida macedoniensis) (Candida macedoniensis); and the genus Kluyveromyces (Kluyveromyces) As for Kluyveromyces fragilis (Kluyveromyces
fragilis), Kluyveromyces lactis (Kluyvero)
myces lactis), Kluyveromyces marxianus (Kluyveromyces marxianus), Kluyveromyces drosophilarum (Kluyveromyces drosophilarum);
ATCC 42397, Candida Krusei IF
O 0013, Candida glaebosa IFO 1
353, Candida macedoniensis AKU 45
87, Debaryomyces Hansenny IFO 07
94, Debaryomyces Castelli IFO 1
359, Endomyces Dio Chiricum IFO
9541, Endomyces Lindneri AKU 4
206, Hansenia Spora Barbiensis IFO
0115, Hansenia Spora Ubalm IFO
1413, Hansenula Saturnus IFO 011
7, Hansenula Minuta IFO 0975, Kluyveromyces fragilis IFO 0288, Kluyveromyces lactis IFO 1090, Kluyveromyces marxianus IFO 027
7. Kluyveromyces Drosophilarum IFO
1012, Pfia Orientalis IFO 1
279, Phiphia polymorpha AKU 425
0, Pfia farinosa AKU 4251, Saccharomyces ubarum IFO 0565, Saccharomyces bailey IFO 1047, Saccharomyces delvruecki IFO 0285, Saccharomyces fermentati IFO 042
2. Schizosaccharomyces octosporus IFO
0353, Torlopsis spherica IFO 0
648, Torlopsis pinus IFO 0741,
Endomycopsis capsularia IFO 067
2, and Endomycopsis Bernaris AKU
4210;

2. The following microorganisms of the genus Bacillus: Bacillus
Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus firm ), Bacillus licheniformis (Ba
cillus licheniformis), Bacillus pumilus (Bacill
us pumilus), Bacillus macerans
ans), and fungi and mutants similar to these strains, for example, the following strain: Bacillus subtilis IFO 3
108, 3134, 3336, 3513, 12112,
12113, 12210, 13719, 13721, 1
4117 and 14140 Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IFO 14
141, Bacillus cereus IFO 3002 and 3132, Bacillus circulans IFO 1
3632, Bacillus coagulans IFO 12
583, Bacillus Farms IFO 3330,
Bacillus licheniformis IFO 14206, Bacillus pumilus IFO 12087 and Bacillus macerans IFO 3490; and

3. The following microorganisms of filamentous fungi: Galaomyces reessiiL, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus sojae, Rhizop
us oryzae), Trametes sangu
inea), Trametes orientalis (Trametes orien)
talis), Trametes albida, Trametes cubensis, Trametes cinnabarina, Trametes gibbosa, Trametes
Trametes kusanoana, Trametes serialis, and fungi similar to these strains and mutant strains, for example, the following strains: Galactomyces reesi L IAM 129, Trametes sansina IFO 6490, 6491, Trametes. Orientalis IFO 6483, 6484, Trametes Albida IFO 6434, 6510, Trametes Cuvensis IFO 9285, Trametes Gibosa IFO 4946, Trametes Kusanoana IFO 6264, Trametes Celialis IFO 9286, Aspergillus
IFO 4277, Aspergillus Soe IFO
4200, and Resorpus oryzae IFO 47
34.

Among the above-mentioned protopectinase-producing bacteria, Kluyveromyces marxianus (IFO 0277) and Kluyveromyces fragilis (IFO) are preferable.
0288), Trichosporon penicillator SNO-3 (ATCC
42397), Galactomyces reesi L (IAM 129), Bacillus subtilis (IFO 12113), Bacillus subtilis (IFO 3134) and Trametes sanzina (IFO 64).
90).

The enzyme solution used in the present invention is obtained by culturing the above-mentioned microorganism by a conventional method. The culture conditions are not necessarily the same depending on the microorganism used,
It is appropriately determined so that the production amount of the enzyme is maximized. The medium used for the culture is not particularly limited, and any medium supplemented with various nutrient sources commonly used for ordinary culture can be used. Starch, peptone, casein hydrolyzate, yeast extract, glucose, and in some cases, inorganic salts such as phosphate, magnesium salt, potassium salt and the like can be appropriately added to a commonly used medium. In addition, nutritional sources such as wheat bran and soybean flour may be added.

The conditions for culturing the microorganism in these media are appropriately determined so that the production amount of the target enzyme is maximized, but it is usually cultivated at 20 to 37 ° C. for 10 to 50 hours. The culture may be shaking, stationary, aeration and stirring, or solid culture. The culture broth obtained as described above can be subjected to scouring by immersing raw cotton fibers and cotton fiber-containing fibers and their processed products as they are, but the culture broth is centrifuged, filtered, dialyzed, etc. It is preferable to use an enzyme solution from which all or part of the solid content such as cells is removed. Further, an enzyme solution obtained by further diluting the enzyme solution obtained by further purifying the enzyme solution by an ordinary method such as column chromatography may be used. In addition, a substance that accelerates the decomposition action of pectin, such as an inorganic salt or a surfactant, may be added to the enzyme solution.

The treatment conditions (enzyme concentration, temperature, treatment time, etc.) with the enzyme solution are appropriately determined depending on the type of the target to be treated, the desired characteristics of the target after the treatment, the type of the enzyme used, and the like. In addition, although the processed product of the fiber may be subjected to sizing, in such a case, it may be treated with a desizing agent in advance or may be treated by putting the desizing agent in an enzyme solution.

[0015]

EXAMPLES The present invention will now be described by way of examples, which should not be construed as limiting the invention.

Example 1 Various microorganisms were cultured under the conditions shown in Table 1 and centrifuged (10,000 rpm, 20 minutes, 5 ° C.) to obtain an enzyme solution,
An enzyme solution having an enzyme activity of 10 units was prepared by adding a 20 mM acetate buffer solution (pH 5.0) containing 0.2% of the nonionic surfactant Liponox NC1. 1 g (about 40 meters) of 20-1S cotton thread was immersed in 30 ml of this enzyme solution and treated at 40 ° C. In addition, the one treated with the enzyme solution without the enzyme was used as a control.
However, the enzyme activity is not limited to Sakai et al. Agric. Biol. Chem.
It was measured by the method described on page 7, 1982. Table 2 shows the results of measuring the amount of pectin released from the cotton fiber by the above treatment at each treatment time and the tensile strength of the cotton yarn after the treatment for 18 hours, using the Tensilon tensile tester according to JIS-L-10.
The measurement was carried out according to the method of No. 95 (holding interval 20 cm, pulling speed 50 cm / min, average of 10 measurements).
From the above results, it is clear that the pectin substance is released and the scouring treatment is performed in each case, although the pectin release rate varies depending on the enzyme used.

[0017]

[Table 1]

[0018]

[Table 2]

Example 2 Cotton fiber of a cotton yarn obtained by treating at 40 ° C. for 18 hours in Example 1: Kluyveromyces marxianus IFO 2
77, Trichosporon Penicillatorum SNO-3
ATCC 42397, Bacillus subtilis IFO
12113, Bacillus subtilis IFO 313
4 and Trametes sanugina IFO 6490 respectively treated with enzyme solutions and controls; and 100 mM sodium hydroxide solution and 20 mM acetate buffer respectively for the same cotton threads as in Example 1 at 40 ° C.
An electron micrograph of the cotton fiber treated for 8 hours is shown in Figure 1.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The cotton fibers treated with protopectinase (Figs. 1 to 5) had the primary membrane removed and the secondary membrane exposed, as in the case of treatment with 100 mM sodium hydroxide solution. The primary membrane was removed by protopectinase and scouring. It indicates that processing is being performed.

Example 3 In the same manner as in Example 1, Kluyveromyces marxianus IFO 0277, Trichosporon penicillum SNO-3 ATCC 42397, Bacillus subtilis IFO 12113, Bacillus subtilis IFO 3134 and Trametes sangena.
To the enzyme solution obtained by culturing and centrifuging IFO 6490, 20 mM acetate buffer (pH 5.0) containing 0.2% of nonionic surfactant Ribonox NC1 was added to give an enzyme activity of 120, 000 units of enzyme solution was prepared. The fabrics shown in Table 3 below were dipped in 100 ml of this enzyme solution and treated at 50 ° C. for 2 hours. The amount of pectin released by this treatment is shown in Table 3. From this result, it is shown that pectin is released by each of the above-mentioned protopectinases and scouring is performed.

[0021]

[Table 3]

[0022]

According to the present invention, the pectin substance is released from the cotton fiber, the cotton fiber-containing fiber and the cotton fiber of the processed product of these fibers by using the protopectinase produced by the microorganism, and the conventional chemical scouring is performed. Cotton fibers can be scoured under milder conditions than the method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electron micrograph of a cotton fiber treated with an enzyme solution derived from Kluyveromyces marxianus IFO 277 in Example 1.

FIG. 2 is an electron micrograph of cotton fibers treated with an enzyme solution derived from Trichosporon penicillum SNO-3 ATCC 42397 in Example 1.

FIG. 3 shows Bacillus subtilis IF in Example 1.
An electron micrograph of cotton fibers treated with an enzyme solution derived from O 12113.

FIG. 4 shows Bacillus subtilis IF in Example 1.
An electron micrograph of cotton fibers treated with an O 3134-derived enzyme solution.

FIG. 5 Trametes Sangena IF in Example 1
An electron micrograph of cotton fibers treated with an enzyme solution derived from O 6490.

FIG. 6 is an electron micrograph of a cotton fiber (control) treated with a solution without enzyme in Example 1.

FIG. 7: The same cotton yarn as in Example 1 was used at 40 ° C. for 18 hours 10
Electron micrograph of cotton fiber treated with 0 mM sodium hydroxide solution.

FIG. 8: Same cotton yarn as in Example 1 at 40 ° C. for 18 hours, 2
Electron micrograph of cotton fiber obtained by treatment with 0 mM acetate buffer.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication C12R 1:07) (C12N 9/26 C12R 1:72) (C12N 9/26 C12R 1:85) (C12N 9/26 C12R 1:66) (C12N 9/26 C12R 1:01) (C12N 9/26 C12R 1: 645) D06M 101: 06

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An unprocessed cotton fiber, a cotton fiber-containing fiber and a processed product thereof are dipped in an enzyme solution containing at least one enzyme (protopectinase) capable of releasing a pectin substance from the cotton fiber and treated. A fiber refining method characterized by the following. 2. An enzyme capable of releasing a pectin substance from cotton fiber is Trichosporon, Endomyces, Endomycopsis, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Pichia, Hansenula, Debaryomyces, Hansenia spora, Tolulopsis. The method according to claim 1, which is an enzyme that releases a pectin substance from cotton fibers produced by microorganisms of the genera Candida, Kluyveromyces, Bacillus, Aspergillus, Rhizopus and Trametes. 3. An enzyme capable of releasing a pectin substance from cotton fiber is Kluyveromyces marxianus (IFO 027).
7), Kluyveromyces fragilis (IFO0288), Trichosporon penicillum SNO-3 (ATCC 43397),
Galactomyces reesi L (IAM 129), Bacillus subtilis (IFO 12113), Bacillus subtilis (IFO 31
34) and the enzyme capable of releasing a pectin substance from cotton fibers produced by Trametes sangena (IFO 6490). 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the enzyme solution is a culture solution of a microorganism that produces an enzyme capable of releasing a pectin substance from cotton fiber, or a filtered solution of the culture solution. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processed products of fibers are yarns, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and non-woven fabrics.