Enzymatic scouring to improve cotton fabric wettability

The ability of pectinase, cellulase, protease, and lipase enzymes to improve the surface wetting properties of raw and pre-treated cotton fabrics is studied. When applied alone to raw cotton fabrics, pectinase, lipase, and protease treatments provide very little improvement in water wetting and retention properties. A combination of pectinase and cellulase significantly improves water wetting and retention properties similar to those of commercially scoured cotton fabrics. A water pretreatment at 100 degrees C enhances the effectiveness of subsequent pectinase and cellulase reactions. Pectinase following the 100 degrees C water pretreatment produces improved wettability with the least weightless and dimensional change. Cellulase treatments on scoured fabrics further enhance water wettability and whiteness, but with significant reductions in fabric weight, thickness, and strength.