The effect of glucose oxidase enzyme on wool fibres

Glucose oxidase is a type of enzyme that converts glucose into hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid by enzymatic reaction. Glucose oxidase is widely used in industry; however, in the textile industry, glucose oxidase has only received academic interest. Previously, wool was bleached by some reducing agents; however, currently in industry, hydrogen peroxide dominates the bleaching of wool fibres. In this study, the effect of glucose oxidase enzyme treatment on wool merino fibres and dyeability properties was investigated. Wool fibres were treated with glucose oxidase enzyme, after which the whiteness index (Stensby) and yellowness index (ASTM D 1925 and ASTM E 313) were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to identify the morphological structure of wool fibres and their atomic content. The chemical damage caused by enzyme was investigated using a fluorescence and a light microscope, and the alkali solubility (ASTM D 1283) was determined. After enzymatic treatment, the wool fibres were dyed at a 2.0% concentration with reactive dyes. Dyeability (K/S) and CIELab values were assessed with a Minolta CM 3600 D spectrophotometer (D65, 10°). The washing fastness of wool fibres was investigated according to TS EN ISO 105-C06 (A1S).