Improving Colorant Absorption from Pistachio Hulls on Wool Fiber Using Protease Enzyme

Nowadays, textile processing based on biotechnology has gained its importance in the view of stringent environmental and industrial safety conditions. The use of protease enzymes in protein fibers to improve some physical and mechanical properties is particularly interesting. In this research, wool yarns were first treated with different concentrations of protease enzymes in aqueous solution including 1%, 2%, 4% and 6% o.w.f. for 60 minutes. The dyeing process was then applied on the treated yarns with pistachio hulls as a fruit waste. Some of physical, mechanical and colorimetric properties of the treated wool yarns were discussed. Tensile strength of the treated yarns was decreased due to the enzyme treatment and it continued to decrease with an increase in the enzyme concentration in solution. Lightness was decreased for the samples treated with enzymes. The wash and light fastness properties of samples were measured according to ISO 105-CO5 and Daylight ISO 105-BO1. The washing fastness properties of the treated samples were not changed. In the case of light fastness properties, it was increased a little for 4% and 6% enzyme treated samples