Optimization of enzymatic & ultrasonic bio-scouring of linen fabrics by aid of Box-Behnken Experimental Design

Biotechnology and eco-friendly technologies (ultrasound, ultraviolet, ozone, etc.) called as green chemistry play an important role in the field of environmental protection. In this study, the desizing and bio-scouring of greige woven linen fabrics with commercial enzymes in the one bath was performed by the aid of ultrasound energy. The five factors with three levels Box-Behnken response surface experimental design was chosen to study and optimize the influence of process variables, such as amylase concentration (0-1 g/L), lactase concentration (0-1 g/L) pectinase concentration (0-1 g/L), sonication time (20-60 min) and treatment temperature (30-70 degrees C), on the whiteness, lightness, weight loss and hydrophility properties of linen samples. The regression model provided an excellent explanation of the relationship among the independent variables and the response. The achieved results indicated that the efficiency of desizing and bio-scouring could be remarkably improved by the aid of ultrasound energy. Also enzymatic & ultrasonic pretreatment of linen fabrics provides thermal energy, time and chemical savings. The results obtained confirm that enzymatic & ultrasonic bio-scouring of linen fabric can be performed in three different ways depending on the required properties. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.