Biovision in Textile Wet Processing Industry- Technological Challenges
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Volume 7, Issue 1, Spring 2011 Biovision in Textile Wet Processing Industry- Technological Challenges C. Vigneswaranb, N. Anbumania and M. Ananthasubramanianc aDepartment of Textile Technology, bDepartment of Fashion Technology and cDepartment of Biotechnology PSG College of Technology Coimbatore – 641 004, India ABSTRACT Environmental consciousness is one of the major concerns for textile wet processing industry as the industry contributes much to industrial pollution problems facing the country. Such pollutants as such as lime, sodium sulfide, salt, solvents, synthetic pigments come mainly from desizing, scouring, bleaching and dyeing processes in textile wet processing. In order to overcome the hazards caused by the chemical effluents, use of enzymes as a viable alternative has been resorted to in preparatory dyeing operations such as desizing, scouring, and bleaching treatments. This review focuses on the use of microbial enzymes as an alternate technology to the conventional methods, and highlights the importance of these enzymes in minimizing the pollution load. Environmental pollution has been a major irritant to industrial development. Also in this paper we have discussed the advantages and limitations of bioprocessing techniques in the various textile wet processing such as desizing, scouring, bleaching, biopolishing, bio-singeing and bio-decoloration in the dyeing effluents for cellulosic and non-cellulosic materials. Keywords: enzymes, dyeing, wet processing, environmental pollution 1. INTRODUCTION also necessary to get optimum results. In the conventional textile wet Chemical and chemical-based industries are processing, the grey fabric has to undergo a the prime targets of the environmentalists series of chemical treatments before it turns for their crusade against pollution, and into a finished fabric. This includes desizing, textile industry has also not been left out of scouring, mercerization, bleaching and the reckoning. The generation of pollution is washing. For all these steps, the chemicals significantly high in the preparatory and used are quite toxic. During fabric dyeing operations compared to the post manufacture, the non-cellulosic and foreign dyeing operations. In fact, one third of the constituents are removed partially or pollution caused by the textile industries completely in the various pre and post results from the wastes generated during operations; the extent of removal of these desizing operations. The wastes from the constituents decides the characteristics of dyeing houses are let out into the drains the final textile fabric [1]. Besides chemical which in turn empty into the main sewerage treatment, certain enzymatic treatments are causing hazard to those who use this water. Article Designation: Scholarly 1 JTATM Volume 7, Issue 1, Spring 2011 Many dyeing houses have been forced to Various applications which entail enzyme close down because of their noncompliance and colors broadly included fading of denim with the standards laid down. In a short span and non-denim, bioscouring, bio-polishing, of time, Indian textile industry has faced silk degumming, carbonizing of wool, serious challenges such as German ban on peroxide removal, washing of reactive dyes, pentachlorophenate, certain azo dyes, etc. formaldehyde, etc. on one hand, and court order for compliance with environmental 2.1 BIOTECHNOLOGY IN TEXTILE regulations. The attention of dyeing units is PROCESSING focused towards revamping the processing methods, recovery systems, and effluent The major areas of applications of treatment techniques to make textile biotechnology in textile industry are: processing eco-friendly. Intensive efforts are Improvement of plant varieties used being directed towards using a viable in production of textile fibers. alternative technology for pre and post Improvement of fibers derived from processes using enzymes. This could be one animals and health care of animals. of the ways of solving the industrial Novel fibers from biopolymers and pollution problems resulting from textile genetically modified waste water effluents and sustainable planet. microorganisms. Replacement of harsh and energy 2. BIOPROCESSING demanding chemical treatments by environment friendly routes to Bioprocessing can simply be defined textile auxiliaries such as dyestuffs. as the application of living organisms and Novel uses for enzymes in textile their components to industrial products and finishing. processes. It is not an industry in itself, but Development of low energy enzyme an important technology that will have a based detergents. large impact on many industrial sectors in New diagnostic tools for detection the future. Bioprocessing is the application for adulteration and quality control of biological organisms, systems or of textiles. processes to manufacturing industries. Waste management. Bioprocessing firms will rely mainly on inexpensive substrates for biosynthesis, 2.2 ENZYMES IN BIOPROCESSING processes that will function at low temperatures, and will consume little energy Today, enzymes have become an [2]. In Textile Processing, the enzymatic integral part of the textile processing. removal of starch sizes from woven fabrics Though enzyme in desizing application was has been in use for most of this century and established decades ago, only in recent years the fermentation vat is probably the oldest the application has widened with new known dyeing process. Bioprocessing a new products introduced. With the increase in impetus in the last few years has been the awareness and regulation about environment very rapid developments in genetic concerns, enzymes are the obvious choice manipulation techniques which introduce the because enzymes are biodegradable and they possibility of „tailoring‟ organisms in order work under mild conditions saving the to optimize the production of established or precious energy [4]. Enzymes being novel metabolites of commercial importance biocatalysts and very specific are used in and of transferring genetic material from one small amounts and have a direct organism to another. Bioprocessing also consequence of lesser packing material used, offers the potential for new industrial the transportation impact is lower. In an processes that require less energy and are overall consideration enzymes are the based on renewable raw materials [3]. wonder products. Article Designation: Scholarly 2 JTATM Volume 6, Issue 4, Spring 2011 2.2.1 SALIENT FEATURES OF to one chemical reaction. An ordinary ENZYME APPLICATION IN TEXTILE catalyst may be used for several different PROCESS ARE chemical reactions, but an enzyme only works for one specific reaction [5]. Enzymes Extremely specific nature of must have the correct shape to do their job. reactions involved, with practically Enzymes change their shape if the no side effects. temperature or pH changes, so they have to Low energy requirements, mild have the right conditions. Conventional conditions of use, safe to handle, chemical processes are generally severe and non- corrosive in their applications. fiber damage may occur. However, enzymes On account of lesser quantities of are characterized by their ability to operate chemicals used in process as well as under mild conditions. As a result processes ease of biodegradability of may take place without additional harm to enzymes results in reduced loads on the fiber. Enzymes are also readily ETP plants. biodegradable and therefore potentially Enzymes under unfavorable harmless and environmentally friendly. conditions of pH or temperatures Enzymes are proteins with highly chemically remain in same form but specialized catalytic functions, produced by their physical configuration may get all living organisms. altered i.e. they get “denatured” and lose their activity. For this reason 3.2 MECHANISM OF ENZYME live steam must never be injected in ACTION - LOCK & KEY THEORY a bath containing enzymes and any addition of chemicals to the In the absence of enzymes, chemical enzymes bath must be done in pre- reactions occur only when molecules collide diluted form. while in proper alignment with each other. Compatibility with ionic surfactants Because molecules are bumping into each is limited and must be checked other randomly, chemical reactions are before use. Nonionic wetting essentially due to chance events. This agents with appropriate cloud points sometimes results in reactions that occur must be selected for high working very slowly, or reactions that do not occur at efficiency as well as for all. Enzymes act like tiny molecular uniformity of end results. machines to ensure that molecules come into High sensitivity to pH, heavy metal contact with each other and react. Like a key contaminations and also to effective fitting into a lock, chemical molecules fit temperature range. into pocket-like structures located on an Intense cautions are required in use. enzyme. These pockets hold the molecules in a position that will allow them to react 3. ENZYMES with each other, ensuring that they are close enough together and aligned properly for a Enzymes are biological catalysts. A reaction to occur. In this way, enzymes catalyst is any substance which makes a speed up reactions. The enzymes are not chemical reaction goes faster, without itself changed themselves by the reaction. When being changed. A catalyst can be used over the reaction is complete, enzymes release and over again in a chemical reaction: it the product(s) and are ready to bring does not get used up. Enzymes are very together more