Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M16/00—Biochemical treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, e.g. enzymatic
  • D06M16/003—Biochemical treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, e.g. enzymatic with enzymes or microorganisms

Definitions

• the quality and the processing properties of filaments in the extrusion line, fibres, yarns and textile fabrics can be improved by modifying their surface.
• the traditional processes used for their modification require chemical agents with negative environmental effects. These negative effects can be prevented by using new processing techniques based on biotechnology.
• Enzymatic processes can be used to modify the surface of fabrics constituted by synthetic fibres. Hydrolysis of polyacrylonitrile fibres containing vinyl acetate as a comonomer and polyamide fibres results in the formation of hydrophilic groups. The increase in these groups at the surface of the fibres provides hydrophilic characteristics, therefore improving the comfort properties. This treatment also allows these fibres to be dyed with specific reactive dyes.
• Cutinase 3.1.1.74 is an esterase which degrades cutine, a structural polymeric component of plants composed of fatty acids (Carvalho et al., Biotech. Bioeng., 1999, 66, 17-34). This is an enzyme which is not very specific and which hydrolyses soluble and non-soluble p-nitrophenyl esters and triglycerides.
• Cutinase is an esterase which shares the catalytic triad of serine-histidine-aspartic acid with other esterases and amidases, meaning that the degradation of amides besides ester groups is theoretically possible. Recent research demonstrates that cutinase has activity in more hydrophobic media due to the external amino acids in the 3D structure (Vidinha et al. (2003) “Effect of immobilization support, water activity and enzyme ionization state on cutinase activity and enantioselectivity in organic media”, Biotechn. Bioeng., accepted).
• This invention describes the use of cutinase to modify the surface of synthetic polyacrylonitrile fibres containing vinyl acetate as a comonomer and polyamide fibres.
• Superficial hydrolysis of the ester and amide groups of the polyacrylonitrile fibres containing vinyl acetate as a comonomer and polyamide fibres, respectively, causes the formation of hydroxyl groups in the polyacrylonitrile fibres containing vinyl acetate as a comonomer and carboxylic and amino groups in the polyamide fibres.
• the increase in these groups at the surface of the fibres gives the fabric hydrophilic characteristics, therefore improving the comfort properties.
• a first embodiment of the invention consists of a method for the treatment of polyacrylonitrile fibre containing vinyl acetate as a comonomer, which comprises the contact of the fibre with an enzyme solution in order to modify the chemical surface of the fibre, increasing the number of hydrophilic hydroxyl groups.
• a second embodiment of the invention consists of a method for the treatment of polyamide fibre, which comprises the contact of the fibre with an enzyme solution in order to modify the chemical surface of the fibre, increasing the number of hydrophilic amino groups.
• the treatment of the polyacrylonitrile fibre containing vinyl acetate as a comonomer or the polyamide fibre is preferably carried out using an enzyme with esterase action.
• the enzyme preferably contains the catalytic triad of serine-histidine-aspartic acid.
• the abovementioned enzyme esterase is preferably a hydrolase that degrades cutine.
• the amount of enzyme used is normally between 1 and 400 g of protein per kg of fibre.
• a treatment bath with a retrievable and reusable enzyme is used.
• the method consists of the chemical modification of the surface of polyacrylonitrile fibres containing vinyl acetate as a comonomer (constituted by about 93% acrylonitrile and 7% vinyl acetate) and polyamide fibres through the action of a cutinase solution obtained from the heterologous expression of Fusarium solani pisi cutinase, by the Escherichia coli DHB4 transformed strain.
• the treatment was carried out in a ROTAWASH machine that simulates dyeings and other textile treatments.
• Each container had between 1 and 2 U ( ⁇ mol/min as pNPP—paranitrophenolpalmitate) of cutinase activity.
• Samples of 0.7 g of polyacrylonitrile fabric containing vinyl acetate as a comonomer were washed with water containing 1 g/L of Lutensol and dried at 50° C.
• the samples were then placed in a container with 1 U of cutinase, in a bath ratio of 1:35 (p/v).
• the treatment was carried out at pH 7.5 and at 30° C., for a period of 700 hours.
• the samples were removed from the solution, washed with water containing 2 g/L of Na 2 CO 3 and dried at room temperature.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Microbiology (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
• Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (3)

• 2003
  • 2003-10-29 PT PT103035A patent/PT103035A/pt active IP Right Grant
• 2004
  • 2004-10-28 EP EP04775191A patent/EP1694903A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-10-28 US US10/577,012 patent/US20070275453A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-10-28 WO PCT/PT2004/000025 patent/WO2005040487A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2004-10-28 CA CA002543818A patent/CA2543818A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (3)

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