Enzymatic treatment of lyocell - clarification of depilling mechanisms

Abstract

We have characterized cellulose from lhe original structure of a lyocell fabric, from pills mechanically removed from lhe surface with a razor blade and from cellulase depilling process We find that cellulases first attack the cellulose from the microfibrils on the surface of the fabric because they are more exterrna!!y exposed lhan the cellulose of lhe original fabric structure and have the same charaeteristics in tems of molecullar weight, polydispersitty, and crystallinity index in lhe base fabric. Cellulose from me microfibrils removed from lhe base fabric by lhe cellulase and recovered frorn lhe liquor shows significantly increased polydispersity, therefore indicating Ihat lhe microfibrils have been widdy attacked by lhe enzymes, Celulases prove to be thorough surface finishing agents, since they change only the fiber surface, not lhe crystallinity.