Biotechnological Use of Textile

7/30/2019 Biotechnological Use of Textile

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SHRI VAISHNAV INSTITUTEOF

TECHNOLGY & SCIENCE

SELF-STUDY ASSIGNMENTON

BIOTECHNOLGICAL APPLICATIONS INTEXTILES

Submitted to Submitted by

Prof. TANVEER MALIK NEHA GAMRE 0802EI081029


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USE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN TEXTILE

INTRODUCTON:

Biotechnology is the application of living organisms and their components to

industrial products and processes. In 1981, the European federation ofBiotechnology defined biotechnology as integrated use of Biochemistry,Microbiology, and chemical engineering in order to achieve the technologicalapplication of the capacities of microbes and cultured tissue cells. Defining the scopeof biotechnology is not easy because it overlaps with so many industries such as thechemical industry or food industry being the majors, but biotechnology has foundmany applications in textile industry also, especially textile processing and effluentmanagement. Consciousness and expectations for better quality fabric andawareness about environmental issues are two important drivers for textile industryto adopt biotechnology in its variouss area.

Textile production involved the exclusive use of natural fibers: cotton, hemp, flax, etc.

The invention of synthetic fibers in the 20th century broadened the application rangeof textile materials enormously. Great improvements have been made in technicaltextiles since the 1980s which now account for approximately 40 percent of the entiretextile production. Therefore, their huge innovation potential makes them the drivingforce in the growing textile industry. Invention of Modern Fabrics specificinterdisciplinary partnerships between the most diverse scientific fields enables theindustry to combine several functionalities in one material. The new fabrics may bebreathable, temperature-regulating, lightweight, shock-proof, water and dirt repellentand a lot more.

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN TEXTILE PROCESSING

The major areas of application of biotechnology in textile industry are given below:Improvement of plant varieties used in the production of textile fibres and in fibreproperties

Improvement of fibres derived from animals and health care of the animals

Novel fibres from biopolymers and genetically modified microorganisms

Replacement of harsh and energy demanding chemical treatments by enzymes inprocessing

Environment friendly routes to textile auxiliaries such as dyestuffs

Novel uses for enzymes in textile finishing

Development of low energy enzyme based detergents

New diagnostic tools for detection of adulteration and Quality Control of textiles

Waste management


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improvements in Natural fibres:

Biotechnology can play a crucial role in production of natural fibres with highlyimproved and modified properties besides providing opportunities for development ofabsolutely new polymeric material. The natural fibres under study are cotton, wooland silk.

Cotton

Cotton continues to dominate the market of natural fibres. It has the greatesttechnical and economic potential for transformation by technological means. Geneticengineering research on the cotton plant is currently directed by a two-prongedapproach solving the major problems associated with the cultivation of cotton crop,namely the improved resistance to insects, diseases and herbicides, leading toimproved quality and higher yield. The long term approach of developing cottonfibre with modified properties, such as improved strength, length, appearances,maturity and color.

Transgenic cotton

Each year, thousands of research hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars arespent to prevent cotton from caterpillars that love to eat cotton. Cotton growers fightto produce a saleable product using pheromones (insects mating hormones) andmonitoring. Use of excessive pesticides is posing serious threats to the green imageof cotton. After years of research, a completely new kind of tool is available for cottongrowers to ward off the pink bollworm, one of the major cotton pests. About ten yearsago, Monsanto scientists obtained a toxin gene from the soil bacterium called BT(which is the nickname for Bacillus huringiensis) and inserted it into cotton plants tocreate a caterpillar-resistant variety. The gene is DNA that carries the instructions forproducing a toxic protein. The toxin kills caterpillars by paralyzing their guts whenthey eat it. Plants with the Bt toxin gene produce their own toxin and thus can killcaterpillars throughout theseason without being sprayed with insecticide. Because

the toxin is lethal to caterpillars but harmless to other organisms, it is safe for thepublic and the environment.Monsanto registered their Bt gene technology fortransgenic cotton under the trademark Bollgard and authorized selected seedcompanies to develop cotton variety carrying the patented gene.More stable, longasting and more active Bts are now being developed for the suppression of loopersand other worms in cotton. Insect resistance is also being developed using a wound-inducible promotergene capable of delivering a large but highly localized dose oftoxin within 30-40s of an insect biting.

Coloured cotton

Developments of fibres containing desirable shades in deep and fast colours would

change the face of the entire processing industry. Coloured cottons are also beingproduced not only by conventional genetic selection but also by direct DNAengineering. Although several naturally coloured cotton varieties have been obtainedby traditional breeding methods, no blue variety exists. As blue is in great demand inthetextile industry, particularly for jeans production, synthetic fabric dyes are used.However, the ingredients of these synthetic dyes are often hazardous and theirwastes are polluting. Additionally, they take time and energy to work into the cloth.Natural blue cotton does not have these disadvantages and, therefore hasgreatmarket potential. The genetic engineers plan to insert into production of blue dye,until a cheapersynthetic method is discovered. By 2005, Monsanto hopes to havethis blue-coloured cotton commercially available.

Hybrid cotton

Another major breakthrough has been the ability to produce cotton containing naturalpolyester, such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), inside their hollow core, therebycreating a natural polyester/cotton fibre. About1% polyester content has beenachieved and it has led to 8-9% increase in the heat retention of fabrics woven fromthese fibres. Other biopolymers, including proteins, may also be introduced intocotton core in a similar manner.


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These customized fibres will be tailored to the need of the textile industry. Newproperties may includegreater fibre strength, enhanced dyeability, improveddimensional stability, reduced tendency for shrinking and wrinkling and alteredabsorbency. Greater strength will allow higher spinning speeds and improvedstrength after wrinkle-free treatments. Improved reactivity will allow moreefficient use of dyes. Thusreducing the amount of colour in effluents. To

reduce the waste generated during scouring and bleaching processes, it wouldbe interesting to have fibres with less of pectins, waxy materials andcontaining enzymesthat can biodegrade environmental contaminants. These fibres would beplaced in filters through whichcontaminated water is passed.

NOVEL FIBRES:

The use of biotechnology has the potential of control and specificity in polymersynthesis which is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in chemical systems. Newmaterials produced using advanced biologically based approaches represent the

textiles of the future.

Cross-sections of novel fibers obtained by optical microscopy.

Protein Polymers:

Biological systems are able to synthesize protein chains in which molecular weight,stereochemistry, amino acid composition and sequence are genetically determined atthe DNA level. A current area of investigation is to understand those features of

protein polymers that confer high tensile strength, high modulus and otheradvantageous properties. Once those features are understood, the tools ofbiotechnology will make possible entirely new paradigms for the synthesis andproduction of engineered protein polymers. If they can be made economically viable,these new approaches will help to reduce the dependence on petroleum andfurthermore will enable the production of materials that are biodegradable. Use oftransgenic plants for arge-scale production of these and other synthetic proteins isbeing explored.

Efforts in biosynthesis have been directed towards the preparation of precisely definedpolymers of threekinds

(1) Natural proteins such as silks, elastins, collagens and marine bioadhesives,(2) Modified versions of these biopolymers, such as simplified repetitive sequence ofthe native protein, and

(3) synthetic proteins designed de novo that have no close natural analogues.Although such syntheses pose significant technical problems, these difficulties have


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all been successfully overcome in recent years. Using this technology, a whole newclass of synthetic proteins with advanced properties, known as bioengineeredmaterials, is being created.

Spider silk:

Spider dragline silk is a versatile engineering material that performs severaldemanding functions. The mechanical properties of dragline silk exceed those ofmany synthetic fibres. Dragline silk is at least five times as strong as steel, twice aselastic as nylon, waterproof and stretchable. Moreover, it exhibits the unusualbehavior that the strain required to cause failure actually increases with increasingdeformation.

Other New Fibres Sources:

There are many more biopolymers, of particular interest in sanitary and woundhealing applications, which include bacterial cellulose and the polysaccharides suchas chitin, alginate, dextran and hyaluronic acid.Some of these are discussed below:

Chitins and Chitosans:

Chitins and chitosans both can form strong fibres. Chitin is found in the shells ofcrustaceans, such as crab, lobster, shrimps etc. Resembling cellulose, the chitinconsists of long linear polymeric molecules of beta- (1-4) linked glycans. The carbonatom at position 2, however, is aminated and acetylated. Fabrics woven fromthem are antimicrobial and serve as wound dressing products and as anti-fungalstockings. Chitosan also has promising applications in the field of fabric finishing,including dyeing and shrink proofing of wool. It is also useful in filtering andrecovering heavy and precious metals and dyestuffs from the waste streams.Wound dressing based on calcium alginate fibres are marketed by Courtaulds underthe trade name Sorbsan. Present supplies of this polysaccharide rely on itsextraction from certain species of bacteria. Dextran, which is manufactured by thefermentation of sucrose by Leuconostoc mesenteroides or related species of

bacteria, is also being developed as a fibrous nonwoven for specialty end uses suchas wound dressings. Additional biopolymers, not previously available on a largescale, are now coming into the market, thanks to biotechnology.

Schematic diagrams of the model describing the process of lead adsorption on chitin bead

(a) Formation of complexation, (b) adsorption of addition lead, (c) micro precipitations

Bacterial cellulose:

Cellulose produced for industrial purposes is usually obtained from plants sources orit can be produced by bacterial action. Acetobacter xylinium is one of the most

important bacteria for cellulose production as sufficient amounts can be producedwhich makes it industrially viable. Cellulose produced by Acetobacter, which has theability to synthesize cellulose from a wide variety of substrates, is chemically pureand free of lignin and hemicellulose. Cellulose is produced as an extra cellularpolysaccharide in the form of ribbon like polymerization, high tensile strength andtear resistance and high hydrophilicity that distinguishes it from other forms ofcellulose. This bacterial cellulose is being used by Sony Corporation of Japan in


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acoustic diaphragms for audio speakers. They are also being used in the productionof activated carbon fibre sheets or absorption of toxic gas and as thickeners for nichecosmetic applications. In medical field, because of the hydrophilic and mechanicalproperties of bacterial cellulose, it is used temporarily as skin substitute and in woundhealing bandages.

Corn fibre:

An entirely new type of synthetic fibre derived from a plant is Lactron. Thisenvironment friendly corn fibre was jointly developed by Kanebo Spinning andKanebo Gohsen of Japan. Lactron, the polylactic acid fibre is produced from thelactic acid obtained through the fermentation of corn starch. Strength stretchabilityand other properties of Lactron are comparable to those of petrochemical fibres suchas nylon and polyester. As mthe material is compatible with human body, it is beingused for sanitary and household applications. In addition to clothing the company isalso promoting its non-clothing applications, e.g. construction,agricultural,papermaking, auto seat covers and household use. The energy required forproduction of corn fibre is low and the fibre is biodegradable. Moreover, no

hazardous gases are created when it is incinerated and the required calories forcombustion are only one-third or half of those required by polyethyleneorpolypropylene. It safely decomposes into carbon dioxide, hydrogen and oxygenwhen disposed of in soil.Lactron is being marketed in various forms such as wovencloth, thread and non-woven cloth.

Polyester fibres:

It has been known since 1926 that certain polyesters are synthesized and intra-

cellulose deposited in granules by many micro-organism. Some of these materialshave been formed into fibres.Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is an energy storagematerial produced by a variety of bacteria in response to environmental stress. It isbeing commercially produced from Alcaligenes eutrophus by Zeneca Bioproductsand sold under the trade name Biopol. As PHB is biodegradable, there isconsiderable interest in using it for packaging purposes to reduce the environmentalimpact of human garbage. Thus it is already finding commercial application inspecialty packaging uses. Because of its immunological compatibility with humantissue, PHB also has utility in antibiotics, drugs delivery, medical suture and bonereplacement applications.

BIOFABRICS:

The development of biocidal fabrics was based on the idea of activating textiles withreactive chemicals to impart desirable properties. The latest research however isaimed at producing fabrics containing genetically engineered bacteria and cell strainsto manufacture the chemicals within the textiles thereby making the chemical storeswithin the fabrics the self-replenishing materials. A collaborative project is onbetween the textile science research team at University of Massachusetts,Dartmouth and the bio-engineers at Harvard medical to carry out research leading tothe production of a class of fabrics with special properties called biofabrics.Biofabrics will contain micro-fabricated bio-environments and biologically activated

fibres. These fabrics will have genetically engineered bacteria and cells incorporatedinto them that will enable them to generate and replenish chemical coatings andchemically active components.Niche applications for bio-active fabrics exist in themedical and defense industries, e.g. drug producing bandages or protective clothingwith highly sensitive cellular sensors, but biofabrics may form the basis of a wholenew line of commercial products as well e.g. fabrics that literally eat odours with


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genetically engineered bacteria, self cleaning fabrics, and fabrics that continuallyregenerate water and dust repellents. For such an approach to be successful,technologies will have to be developed to micro-fabricate devices able to sustaincellular or bacterial life for extended periods, exhibit tolerance to extremes oftemperature, humidity and exposure to washing agents, as well as tolerance tophysical stress on the fabrics such as tension, crumpling and pressure2.

Nature of white biotechnologyThe various industrial applications of biotechnology have a number of things in common, bothin terms of improved output and reduced environmental footprint. They can deliver some or all ofthe following benefits:

Reduce water use and traditional chemicals

Reduce use of energy, and thus lower levels of CO2 emissions. Conversion of manyexisting chemical processes will make a significant contribution towards meeting thetargets set by the Kyoto treaty.

Increase the use of renewable resources, whether as chemical feed stocks or fuels.Growing rather than extracting will reduce the use of fossil fuels and be carbon-neutral.

Biotechnological processes, because they are precisely targeted, can be used to make

new materials and higher quality materials more cost effectively, with less waste. Cell cultures are unique in their capacity to make new pharmaceuticals and vaccines

which could not otherwise be made

Bio-based industries can also give a major boost to European agriculture by for examplesourcing high-value raw materials from farmers, providing new alternatives for agriculturaland use and using agricultural waste to build value: a clear contribution towards asustainable rural economy.

White biotechnology is highly selective. For example, Vitamin B2 can be made using a onestep bioprocess rather than by a chemical synthesis that makes mixtures which then have to beseparated using precious water and energy resources. In doing so waste by-products areproduced which then need to be treated. This is why introducing bioprocesses into production canhelp companies produce cheaper, cleaner and often superior products.

Waste Management

Biotechnology can be used in new production processes that are themselves less polluting thanthe traditional processes and microbes or their enzymes are already being used to degrade toxicwastes. Waste treatment is probably the biggest industrial application of biotechnology. Specificproblems pertaining to the textile industry include colour removal from dye house effluent, toxic

heavy metal compounds and pentachlorophenol used overseas as a rotproofing treatment ofcotton fabrics but washed out during subsequent processing in the developed countries.

Detergents

An enzyme allows detergents to effectively clean clothes and remove stains. They can removecertain stains, such as those made by grass and sweat, more effectively than enzymefreedetergents. Without enzymes, a lot of energy would be required to create the high temperaturesand vigorous shaking needed to clean clothes effectively. Enzymes used in laundry detergents

must be inexpensive, stable, and safe to use. Currently, only protease and amylase enzymes areincorporated into detergents. Lipase enzymes break down too easily in washing machines to bevery useful in detergents. However, their stability is being studied and further developed throughmethods such as genetic screening and modification.


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ENZYMES IN TEXTILE FINISHING:

Textile finishing sector requires different chemicals, which are harmful to the environment. Sometimes

they may affect the textile material if not used properly. So instead of using such chemicals we can

use the enzymes. The finishing of denim garments has been revolutionized by application of enzymes.

Enzymes are very specific in action when they are used under the required conditions. The processes

in which enzymes can be used are desizing, scouring, bleaching, biowashing, degumming etc.

Fig: Enzymes in Textile processing

Amylase, pectinase, and glucose oxidase are enzymes used for desizing, scouring,and bleaching respectively in enzymatic preparation processes. Desized samplesshow completely size removal using amylase enzyme. Samples scoured withpectinase are immediately and uniformly wet. Amount of pectin and other substancesleft on scoured samples from both conventional and enzymatic processes weremeasured along with sample strength and whiteness index. Samples bleached withglucose oxidase obtain whiteness ndex 15-20 degree improvement with low strengthloss. Conventional preparation of cotton requires high amounts of alkaline chemicalsand consequently, huge quantities of rinse water are generated. An alternative to thisprocess is to use a combination of suitable enzyme systems. Amyloglucosidases,Pectinases, and glucose oxidases have been selected that are compatible

concerning their active pH and temperature range. A process has been developedthat allows the combination of two or all three preparation steps with minimalamounts of treatment baths and rinse water. Whiteness, absorbency, dyeability andtensile properties of the treated fabrics have been evaluated.

The use of biocatalyst in the textile industry is already state of the art in the cottonsector. Research and development in this sector is primarily concentrating on:

Optimizing and making routine the use of technical enzymes in processes that arealready established in the textile industry today. Preparing enzyme-compatible dyestuff formulations, textile auxiliary agents andchemical mixtures.Producing new or improved textile product properties byenzymatic treatment. Providing biotechnological dyes and textile auxiliary agents, which are suitable forindustrial use, and can possibly be synthesized in-situ (i.e. on-line for the applicationprocess).


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Extremophile Micro-Organisms:

Numerous micro-organisms have learnt to live in very different and difficultenvironmental conditions, e.g.in high temperatures, in acid and alkaline conditionsand in the presence of salt concentrations. These extremophile micro-organisms livein the most inhospitable and unspoilt environments on earth. Where other micro-organisms do not exist, they are to be found in the deepest oceans under pressuresof more than 100 bar, in hot volcanic sources at over 100 C in cold regions at

temperatures around freezing point, in salt lakes (up to 30% salt concentration) andalso in surroundings with extreme pH values (pH 9).The cell components(enzymes, membranes) of extremophile are optimally adapted to extremeenvironmental conditions, and have characteristics (stability, specificity and activity),which make them interesting for biotechnological application.

At the Hamburg-Harburg (D) University of Technology, a comprehensive screeningprogrammed for isolating exremophile micro-organisms (like starch, proteins, andhemicellulose for example) has been implemented which is able to produce enzymesfor breaking down biopolymers, alkanes, polyaromatic carbohydrates (PAK) plus fatsand oils. Within the framework of these studies, a range of biotechnologicallyrelevant enzymes like amylases, xylanases, proteases, lipases and DNA

polymerases for example have been enriched and characterized.Conversion of Natural Polymers By Extremozymes:

Starch is one of the most important biopolymers on this earth. The macromoleculebuilt up from glucose units, plays an outstanding role in the food industry under thecollective concept modified starch this is found in many foods. Amylases andbranching enzymes for example are used for modifying starch. With the aid ofthermostable starch-modifying enzymes, starch finishing can be carried out morepurposefully and efficiently, since for example the space-time yield at hightemperatures is significantly better due to improved starch solubility. Thermo-alkali-stable enzymes (active at pH >8 and 600C) are used in washing and harness rinsingagents in order to remove tenacious starch accumulations with simultaneousreduction n detergent quantity.

Cyclising Enzymes:

So-called cylodextrins can be produced from starch with the aid of cyclising enzymescyclodextringlycosyl- transferase, CGTase) from the recently isolatedthermoalkaliphile bacterium Anaerobranca gottschalkii. Hydrophobic activesubstances or volatile aromas can be encapsulated in these cyclodextrins.Cyclodextrins were isolated by Villiers as early as 1891. In those days, cyclodextrinswere regarded as curiosities of no technical value.The properties of cyclodextrinshave been altered by chemical change (derivatives). The target of much researchwork is to fix a reactive cyclodextrin derivative on cellulosic or protein fibres byforming a new chemical bond on the fibre. The molecules have a hollow space,which is suitable for absorbing diverse substances like perfume for example. Manyapplication possibilities and effects arise out of this complexing like for example:

Increased water solubility Change of rheological characteristics Stabilization against UV radiation, thermal disintegration, oxidation and hydrolysis Reduction of unpleasant smells Absorption of microbe-eliminating products


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Cellulose from Extremophile Micro-Organisms:

Cellulose is also a biopolymer built up of glucose units. It forms the framework ofhigher plants and is an important resource in the textile industry. The use ofcellulases in detergents leads to colour revival (colour detergent) and the improvedremoval of vegetable soiling. Cellulases are also successfully used in biostoning. Incontrast to conventional cellulases, which are obtained from mesophilic fungi as arule,cellulose-hydrolyzing enzymes from extremophile micro-organisms have theadvantage of being capable of use even at high temperatures and pH values.

Xylanolytic enzymes:

Xylanolytic enzymes form another group. Xylan is heterogeneous molecule (basiccomponent: xylose sugar), which makes up the largest proportion of the polymericvegetable cell wall component hemicellulose. Xylanophile micro-organisms haveenormous biotechnological potential. Thermobile xylanases are already beingproduced on an industrial scale today, and are used as fodder and food additives. Inpast years, interest in xylanases was concentrated particularly on enzymatic paperbleaching. Current studies have shown that the enzymatic treatment of paper is anecologically and economically sound alternative to the hitherto employed chlorine-based bleaching process. Enzymes which can for example destroy the colouredattendant substances of cotton are of interest to the textiles industry. The quantity of

caustic soda and salt required in peroxide bleaching could be reduced by this type ofenzymatic bleaching.

Reuse of the bleaching liquor after hydrogen peroxide bleaching is already possibletoday by using the enzyme catalase after bleaching. This enzyme destroys excesshydrogen peroxide, making use of the bleaching liquor for other finishing stagespossible. Windel Textil GmbH & Co. (D) already uses the so-called Bleach-Cleanupprocess, in which bleaching agent residues are removed from textiles, resulting in areduction of energy, time and water-intensive washing operations at hightemperatures.Research projects at the German Wool Research Institute (DWI) inAachen (D) are devoted to the use of enzymes in wool processing, including theremoval of vegetable residues from the wool, increasing the degree of whiteness,

improving handle, improving dyeability by increasing intensity of colour and for felt-free finishing. Already interesting in practice is the felt-free finishing of wool. Anenzyme not previously employed in the textile industry modifies the scale-like surfaceof wool fibres preventing felting. The enzyme Lanazym has hitherto been used onlyin discontinuous batch processing.3

DECOLOURISATION OF DYES BY USING BIOTECHNOLOGY:

The synthetic dyes are designed in such a way that they become resistant tomicrobial degradation under the aerobic conditions. Also the water solubility and thehigh molecular weight inhibit the permeation through biological cell membranes.Anaerobic processes convert the organic contaminants principally into methane and

carbon dioxide, usually occupy less space, treat wastes containing up to 30 000 mg/lof COD,have lower running costs and produce less sludge4. Azo dyes aresusceptible to anaerobic biodegradation but reduction of azo compounds can result inodour problems. Biological systems, such as biofilters and bioscrubbers, are nowavailable for the removal of odour and other volatile compounds. The dyes can beremoved by biosorption on apple pomace and wheat straw5. The experimentalresults showed that 1 gm of apple pomace and 1 gm of wheat straw, with a particlesize of 600m, were suitable adsorbents for the removal of dyes from effluents. Applepomace had a greater capacity to adsorb the reactive dyes taken for the studycompared to wheat straw.

Decolourization of the Dye House Effluent Using Enzymes:

The use of lignin degrading white-rot fungi has attracted increasing scientificattention as these organisms are able to degrade a wide range of recalcitrant organiccompounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorophenol, and variousazo, heterocyclic and polymeric dyes. The major enzymes associated with the lignindegradation are laccase, lignin peroxidase, and manganese peroxidase. The


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laccases are the multicopper enzymes, which catalyze the oxidation of phenolic andnon-phenoliccompounds.

However, the substrate of the laccases can be extended by using mediators such as2, 2-azoinobis-(3-ethylthiazoline-6-sulfonate), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. The followingfungi have been used for laccase production and for the decolourization of syntheticdyes. Trametes Modesta, Trametes Versicolour, Trametes Hirsuta, and SclerotiumRolfsii 6 from the results obtained it was clear that Trametes Modesta laccase

showed the highest potential to transform the textile dyes into colourless products.The rate of the laccase catalyzed decolourization of the dyes increases with theincrease in temperature up to certain degree above which the dye decolourizationdecreases or does not take place at all. The optimum pH for laccase catalyzeddecolourization depends on the type of the dye used. Dyes with different structureswere decolourized at different rates. From these results it can be concluded that thestructure of the dye as well as the enzymes play major role in the decolourization ofdyes and it is evident that the laccase of Trametes Modesta, may be used fordecolourization of textile dyestuffs, effluent treatments, and bioremediation or as ableaching agent.

Another study carried out by E. Abadulla et al, has shown that the enzymes

Pleurotus ostreatus, Schizophyllum Commune, Sclerodium Rolfsii, Trametes Villosa,

and Myceliophtora Thermiphilia efficiently decolourized a variety of structurally

different dyes. This study also shows that the rate of reaction depends on the

structure of the dye and the enzyme7.

Activated sludge systems can also be used to treat the dyehouse effluents. But themain difficulty with activated sludge systems is the lack of true contact time betweenthe bacteria of the system and the suspended and dissolved waste present.Immobilized microbe bioreactors (IMBRs) address the need of increasedmicrobial/waste contact, without concomitant production of excessive biosolids,through the use of a solid but porous matrix to which a tailored microbial consortium

of organisms has been attached. This allowed greater number of organisms to beavailable for waste degradation without the need of a suspended population andgreater increased contact between the organisms and the waste in question8.

CONCLUSION:

The advent of biotechnological applications in textile processing widens the alreadyexisting wide horizons to produce aesthetically colourful magnanimous andecologically friendly textiles, ringing in a new era of synergetic application of lifesciences. As of today the huge textile industry is open to welcome the immensepossibility of the various biotechnological applications limited by the limitations ofbeing eco friendly and not harming either the food web or the life cycle of any other

living creature. Such awarenessis gradually metamorphosing a tool that could beintelligently used to meet the demand of our fashion trends. Enzymes, bacteria andinsects could be biologically modified into a fashion promoter if engineered with greatcaution. A major breakthrough in the textile industry is eagerly awaited through thesebiotechnological applications.

REFERENCES:

Biotechnology, Edited by H. J. Rehm and G. Reed Biotechnology application in textilesindustry, Deepti Gupta, Indian Journal of Fibres & Textile Research Vol.26, March-June2001.Biotechnology: process and products, Andrea Bohringer, Jurg Rupp, International Textile Bulletin,June 2002.

The Biotechnology Approach to Colour Removal from Textile Effluent, by Nicola Willmott et al.J of Soc. Of

Dyers and Col., 1998, 114, 38-41. Removal of dyes from a synthetic textile dye effluent by Biosorption, by T. Robinson, et al,Water Research, 36, 2002, 2824-2830.

Decolourization of textile dyes by laccases, by G. S. Nyanhongo, et al, Water Research, 36,2002, 1449-1456.

Enzymatic decolourization of Textile Dyeing Effluents, by E. Abadulla et al, Textile Res. J. 70


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(5), 2000, 409-414

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Biotechnological Use of Textile