Oxidoreductases for modification of linen fibers

Glucose oxidase has been successfully applied for bleaching of cellulosic materials such as cotton, while laccases, lignin and manganese peroxidases have been found useful for delignification processes of pulp fibers. Little research, however, has been performed in the area of modification of lignin-containing textile fibers, such as linen, using oxidoreductases. Glucose oxidase, laccase and combinations of both enzymes were applied to unbleached linen. The surface properties of untreated and enzymatically treated fibers were investigated by inverse gas chromatography (IGC), and the dispersive component of the free energy γSd as well as the surface acidity (Ka) and basicity constants (Kb) determined. A decrease of both Ka and Kb constants after the enzymatic treatment was observed indicating a change in surface functional groups. An attempt was made to correlate lignin content, surface properties and whiteness of the treated linen fibers. The combination of laccase and glucose oxidase for bleaching of linen fabric showed higher effectiveness than either one of the enzymes applied alone.