This study evaluates the bleaching efficiency of enzymatically scoured linen fabrics using a combined laccase-hydrogen peroxide bleaching process with and without ultrasonic energy, with the goal of obtaining fabrics with high whiteness levels, well preserved tensile strength and higher dye uptake. The effect of the laccase enzyme and the combined laccase-hydrogen peroxide bleaching process with and without ultrasound has been investigated with regard to whiteness value, tensile strength, dyeing efficiency and dyeing kinetics using both reactive and cationic dyes. The bleached linen fabrics were characterized using X-ray diffraction and by measuring tensile strength and lightness. The dyeing efficiency and kinetics were characterized by measuring dye uptake and colour fastness. The results indicated that ultrasound was an effective technique in the combined laccase-hydrogen peroxide bleaching process of linen fabrics. The whiteness values expressed as lightness of linen fabrics is enhanced by using ultrasonic energy. The measured colour strength values were found to be slightly better for combined laccase-hydrogen peroxide/ultrasound-assisted bleached fabrics than for combined laccase-hydrogen peroxide for both reactive and cationic dyes. The fastness properties of the fabrics dyed with reactive dye were better than those obtained when using cationic dye. The time/dye uptake isotherms were also enhanced when using combined laccase-hydrogen peroxide/ultrasound-assisted bleached fabric, which confirms the efficiency of ultrasound in the combined oxidative bleaching process. The dyeing rate constant, half-time of dyeing and dyeing efficiency have been calculated and discussed.
IMPROVEMENT of physical properties in an addition to imparting antimicrobial properties to cotton fabric and modified cotton fabric by using herbal in the presence of softeners is the target of the present work, first of all modification of cotton fabric was done during cationization process by the means of cationized agent, namely, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (Quat-188); also, cotton fabric was modified during carboxymethylation process of it. Then treatments of cotton and modified cotton fabrics were carried out by different concentration of both Neem and Tulsi Extract as essential oil in the presence of Silicon Micro Emulsion (SiME) or Nonionic softeners for improving the performance of the treated fabric. Physical properties evaluations of the treated fabric were done by monitoring tensile strength, elongation, roughness, water absorbency (wettability). Finally, the treated fabrics were evaluated as antimicrobial and characterized by the mean of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).
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