Cellulase Treatment of Cotton Fabrics

We have investigated the rate of catalytic hydrolysis of cellulose fabrics by a cellulase enzyme in the presence of dyes on a cotton substrate. We found that both direct and reactive dyes on the substrate apparently inhibited the enzyme catalytic reaction, whereas a vat dye did not. The enzyme was more active for mercerized than for nonmercerized cotton. The enzyme treatment significantly reduced both tear strength and dye uptake of the fabrics. Enzyme-treated and successively dyed fabrics showed different color fading profiles compared to untreated fabrics after laundering.