Eco-friendly Enzymatic Treatment

Sarex Chemicals
India tcexp@sarex.com

Ecofin delivers improved fabric quality in the form of garments that do not pill, maintain color, endure wash and wear very well, and retain a smoother, softer look and feel over time. Ecofin targets the removal of the small fiber ends that protrude from the yarn surface.

HIGH-QUALITY FABRIC YARN MOBILITY EXTRA SOFT COMFORT FOR THE CONSUMER SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR BETTER QUALITY

Neutral cellulase Biopol N for combined dyeing and Ecofin with Peroxy ALK Neutral cellulose Biopol N for Ecofin treatment during or after dyeing Acid cellulase Biofeel PST for Ecofin treatment before dyeing

Ecofin treatment can be carried out in raw fabric and in garments.

In fabrics it is normally carried out on a jet dyeing machine where the fabric gets sufficient mechanical action In garments it is normally done on frontloader washing machines or belly washers

Ecofin treatment can be separated into three processing categories:

Sarex introduced the concept of combined dyeing and Ecofin treatment in one process, also called the Combi concept where first peroxide ellimination is carried out with PEROXY ALK followed by Ecofin treatment with cellulase enzyme BIOPOL N The Combi concept offers effective pill prevention with the shortest possible process time, which saves more water, energy, and costs than any other Ecofin treatment method. Ecofin treatment can only be done with neutral cellulases.

Equipment - Jet dyeing machine or garment dyeing machine. Biopol-N - 0.5-2% depending on requirement pH - 5-7 Temperature - 50-65 deg.C Treatment time - 45-60 mins
After the biopolishing treatment, raise the temperature to 70-75 deg.C or adjust pH to 10 to terminate action of enzyme followed by hot wash.

Before dyeing Acid Ecofin with BIOFEEL PST Ecofin is performed with BIOFEEL PST before or after dyeing at a pH of 5-6, a temperature of 5060 C, and a processing time of 3060 minutes. With acid cellulases, you have to carry out inactivation of the enzyme.

This happens at the end of Ecofin treatment and is either done at 80 C for 10 minutes or by adding 2 g/L soda ash and running for 10 minutes. When Ecofin is carried out after both bleaching and dyeing, the Ecofin bath comes from a very high-alkaline bath (pH > 11.5), and residues of alkali are often found in the deeper parts of the cellulose. This can make it difficult to maintain the pH for acid Ecofin.