Prediction and process optimization of pectinolytic reaction on organic cotton fabrics for bioscouring with alkaline pectinase

An improved enzymatic cotton scouring process has been developed on the basis of a fast enzyme reaction to efficiently remove the pectin and wax compounds from the organic cotton fabrics. An attempt has been made to study the pectinolytic activity of degrading rate of pectin on the organic cotton fabric using alkaline pectinase enzyme with various process parameters such as enzyme concentration, temperature and reaction time. These process variables are selected based on the box-behnken design of experiment and the output of experiment results for weight loss, wax content and pectin degradation on the fabric. All the results are optimized with minimum error. The test results are also analyzed using design-expert software 8.0 to predict the optimum process parameters for achieving the required pectin degrading rate and then compared with actual trial results. The performance of alkaline pectinase enzyme during bioscouring process has also been assessed by Ruthenium Red dye test and FTIR results confirm the degradation of pectin on the bioscouring of organic cotton fabrics.