Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Bioscouring refers to the enzymatic removal of pectins and waxes from the surface of a cotton fiber, which endows it withimproved bleachability and dyeability. This process preserves the fiber?s structure and strength, and avoids the high energy consumption and severe pollution problems that are associated with conventional alkaline treatments. In the present study Pectinase enzyme was extracted from marine Bacillus subtilis isolated from marine sediment sample collected from Chinchani beach, India and was optimized under different cultural conditions. The partially purified enzyme was used in the scouring of the cotton fabric. It was observed that water absorbing capacity of the enzymatically scoured fabric was comparable with the alkaline scoured fabric. In addition when both the enzymatically scoured cotton as well as alkaline scoured cotton was dyed, colour strength values determined were more or less similar indicating efficient removal of pectin from graige cotton.

Biography

Manasi Joshi is pursuing Ph.D. in Biotechnology at Department of Fibres and Textile Processing Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai. She has published one paper titled as ?Dyeing of Fabrics with a Natural Orange Pigment Extracted from Bacteria Isolated from Garden Soil? in Journal of Textile Association, Nov- Dec 2011, pp 235-237.