JPH0351376A - Enzymatic modification of cellulosic fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a soft fibrous product of favorable touch without impairing fiber strength by mercerizing cellulosic fiber using a concentrated alkaline solution at low temperatures followed by treatment with a cellulase formulation- contg. aqueous solution at low bath ratio. CONSTITUTION:Cellulosic fiber is put to low-temperature mercerization using a concentrated alkaline solution (e.g. with 15-35 Baume) at <=30 deg.C and treated at a bath ratio of (1:1)-(1:3) using a cellulase formulation-contg. aqueous solution adjusted to a pH5-5.5, thus obtaining at a low cost the objective flexible product of high added value with soft touch without impairing fiber strength.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a method for modifying cellulose fibers using cellulase, which is a cellulose-degrading enzyme.

Conventional technology Cellulose fibers are treated with an aqueous solution containing cellulase,
It has been known that cellulase can modify the texture of cellulose, but because the action of cellulase is limited to the non-crystalline region of cellulose, its function could not be exerted quickly. Therefore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-23591 proposes a method of pre-treating cellulose fibers using an aqueous solution of an inorganic swelling agent when treating cellulose fibers with an aqueous solution containing cellulase.

This method is said to be able to improve the texture of fibers without a significant decrease in strength;
Since the processing liquid was used at a bath ratio of 0, and the processing time was long, 5.6 to 9 hours, there were problems with practicality in terms of both processing cost and productivity. Furthermore, although the texture of the fibers was considerably improved, improvements in the feel, gloss, etc. could not be expected much.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention is characterized in that it provides an economical, highly productive, and practical method for modifying cellulose fibers using cellulase. The object of the present invention is to provide a method that can soften the texture of cotton, polynosic, etc., and can also impart a silk-like feel and luster depending on the type of fiber.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention solves the above problems by subjecting cellulose fibers to low-temperature mercerization treatment using a concentrated alkaline solution at low temperatures, and then performing treatment with the cellulase preparation-containing aqueous solution at a low bath ratio. did.

That is, in the present invention, cellulose fibers are treated with a concentrated alkaline agent at a low temperature of 3°C or lower (preferably 0°C or lower) to swell the cellulose fibers and at the same time cause damage to the interior of the fibers. Many cranks are formed, through which the cellulose decomposing enzyme easily penetrates into the fibers, and the cellulase treatment effect can be efficiently obtained.

In this method, cellulase treatment is carried out at a ratio of 1:1 to 1:3.
This makes it possible to carry out the process efficiently at a low bath ratio, making it extremely economical and highly productive.

The materials targeted by the present invention are cellulose fibers, that is, vegetable fibers such as cotton, polynosic, rayon, hemp, etc., and any materials containing such fibers can be treated. For example, cellulose fibers in cover yarns and core systems made of synthetic fibers are also treated.6 In addition, the concentrated alkaline agents used in the present invention include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and lithium hydroxide. Although it can be used, the use of sodium hydroxide is particularly preferred.

The amount of alkaline agent is 15-35°Be, especially 15-20
It is preferable to use .degree.Be, and it is preferable to use a wetting agent together in order to bring the alkaline agent into contact with the material in a short time. Any anionic, nonionic, or amphoteric wetting agent may be used as long as it is stable in an alkali-containing aqueous solution. A particularly preferred compound is sodium 2-ethylhexyl sulfate.

The alkaline solution may contain either a single alkaline agent or a plurality of alkaline agents, but is generally preferably a mixture of sodium hydroxide alone and a wetting agent.

The pretreatment temperature with the alkaline solution may be appropriately selected from the range of about 3°C to -10°C depending on the required degree of transparency.
The mercerization apparatus is a known one, and any apparatus having a cooling mechanism can be used. In addition, the residence time of the fibers in the treatment liquid may be the same as that for normal mercerization, and is generally 10 to 60 minutes.
Seconds are enough.

The pretreated cellulose fibers are washed with hot water, acid neutralized, and then treated with cellulase in a wet state.

The apparatus for carrying out the cellulase treatment may be any apparatus as long as it can obtain a low bath ratio, and it is preferable to use a Zicker type dyeing machine.

The cellulase preparations used in the present invention are commercially reprinted and originate from the genus Turkoderma or Aspergillus, and the product name is Cellulosin AC-1.
0 (manufactured by Ueda Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), Sumiteam C (manufactured by Shin Nippon Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), Enthylon CM (manufactured by Rakuto Kasei Co., Ltd.), Celluclast (manufactured by Novo Corporation), Bactosol DCLQ (manufactured by Sandoz Co., Ltd.), and the like.

The cellulase preparation is preferably used at a bath ratio of 1:1 to 1:3, and 0.5 to Log/j! It is preferable to adjust the pH of an aqueous solution to 5 to 5.5 with acetic acid, sodium acetate, etc. before use.

Further, the treatment temperature with the cellulase preparation may be any enzyme activity temperature, and is usually 50 to 60°C.

The optimum treatment time varies depending on the type, structure, basis weight, etc. of the fiber to be treated, but usually about 30 to 120 minutes is sufficient.

After draining the cellulose fibers treated with the aqueous solution containing the cellulase preparation, they are washed with hot water and treated with 1 to 2 ml of caustic soda for post-treatment.
Preference is given to carrying out the treatment with an aqueous solution (40-50 DEG C.) containing 2-4 g/l of sodium thiosulfate. After that, it is washed with hot water, dehydrated, and dried.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained by examples.

Example 1 Cotton 100× fabric (plain weave broad 4 (l yarn, density 120×
60 pieces/inch) at -5°C with 16°Be caustic soda for 30 seconds, pick-up 124χ (anti-mine N)
After washing with hot water, neutralizing with 10x sulfuric acid aqueous solution, washing with hot water and squeezing, winding up in a Schifker dyeing machine, preparing a treatment bath with the following composition, Sumiteam C2g/
1 Acetic acid 0.2 cc/ 1 Sodium acetate 0.2 g/ 1 The fabric was moved and treated for 1 hour under conditions of a bath ratio of 1:2, pH of 5.0, and liquid temperature of 50°C. After draining, wash with hot water and add 2 g/l of caustic soda and 3 g/j of sodium thiosulfate! The sample was post-treated with an aqueous solution containing , washed with hot water, dehydrated, and dried.

Table 1 shows data regarding the weight loss rate, tensile strength retention, texture, productivity, and processing cost of the cotton broad va product obtained by the above treatment.

Example 2 Cotton 100χ fabric (plain weave Kakki 20 single yarn density 108
5B zero/inch) was treated with caustic soda at 16° Be at 0° C. with a residence time of 12 seconds and a pick-up of 126 χ (weight of fabric), and then operated as in Example 1.

Comparative Example 1 Using a fabric under the same conditions as used in Example 1, it was treated with caustic soda at 25° Be at normal room temperature for a residence time of 12 seconds.
It was treated with Pickup 125X (weight to fabric) and then operated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Comparative Example 2 The alkali-treated fabric of Comparative Example 1 was dyed using a jet dyeing machine under conditions of a bath ratio of 1:30, pH of 4.2, and a bath temperature of 45° C. while circulating an aqueous solution of Cellulosin T of 10 g/A.
It was treated for 5.6 hours. The fabric treated in this way was washed with water, dehydrated, and then mixed with 2g/It of caustic soda and 5g/It of sodium thiosulfate.
The sample was immersed in an aqueous solution of 100 g/l at 50°C for 30 minutes, washed with water, and then dried.

Comparative Example 3 Using fabric under the same conditions as used in Example 1, at 20°C
The sample was immersed in a 65χ sulfuric acid solution for 5 seconds, washed with water, neutralized with an aqueous solution of log/l of soda carbonate, further washed with water, squeezed, and subjected to the same cellulase treatment as in Comparative Example 2.

Comparative Example 4 A fabric under the same conditions as in Example 1 was subjected to the same cellulase treatment as in Example 1 using a Schifker dyeing machine without alkali treatment.

Comparative Example 5 A fabric under the same conditions as Example 2 was treated in the same manner as Comparative Example 3.

Similar to Example 1, data regarding the products obtained in Example 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 are shown in Table 1.

Productivity: Number of meters processed/processing time As is clear from the results in Table 1, in Examples 1 and 2 according to the present invention, it was possible to obtain products with silky texture at a very high productivity and at low cost. I can do it. The tensile strength retention rate also exceeds 60%, and a product with sufficient practicality can be obtained.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, cellulose fibers can be modified with high productivity and at low cost. In addition, with the present invention, it is possible to obtain a product that is flexible and has a good texture without significantly impairing its strength.Furthermore, depending on the type of fiber, it is possible to obtain a product that has a silk-like supple texture and transparency, and is highly additive. It is possible to create products with high value.

Therefore, in the present invention, cotton or the like is used as a fashionable inner surface,
It can be used in a very wide range of applications such as underwear, interior materials, bedding materials, etc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a method of treating cellulose fibers with an aqueous solution containing a cellulase preparation, the cellulose fibers are subjected to a low-temperature mercerization treatment using a concentrated alkaline solution at 3°C or lower, and then the treatment with the aqueous solution containing a cellulase preparation is carried out at a low bath ratio. A method for enzymatic modification of cellulose fibers. (2) Cellulase preparation-containing aqueous solution treatment at 1:1 to 1:
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it is carried out at a bath ratio of 3.