POWDER ENZYME [STONE FREE]

Enzymes have been used in textile processing and finishing since a very long time to get rid of starch-based sizing, but it’s in the past two decades that a serious attention has been given to enzymes for a wide range in textile applications. Jeans which is manufactured from denim fabric is one of the world’s most popular clothing items. The famous “stonewash look” has been traditionally achieved by removing the indigo dye using a local process in which a pumice stone is added to the washing drum for the abrasion of the garment. This stone-washed finish on denim fabric virtually damages the machinery items and also cause a lot of water pollution. The concept of biotechnology in this process can be utilized for the removal of indigo dye from the yarn or fabric surface. The new eco-friendly process which is known as bio-stoning, uses enzymes to wash/bio-stone the denim material. This produces a distressed appearance, without harming any machinery items or the environment. The bio-stoning method has benefitted in cost saving and has also improved the quality of denim.

Denim jeans which are dyed with natural or synthetic indigo, are one of the most popular garments among all the age groups and approximately one billion pairs of jeans are being produced in one year. Traditionally, denim is woven with cotton in twill weave (warp face), in which the warp is blue, and the weft is white. Dyeing of denims is usually performed with pure indigo, or indigo dye mixed with a sulphur dye to decrease the costs which is caused by the expensive indigo dye. Indigo dye is quite popular because it washes down to bright blue shades without staining any of the white weft yarns.

Most of the denim jeans or other denim materials are subjected to a wash treatment to get a slightly worn look. In the traditional stonewashing technique, which is done by pumice stone, the blue denim is faded out by an abrasive action of the stones on the garment surface. This process removes some of the indigo dye. Stonewashing whereas added a whole new dimension to the denim garments in the late 1970s: the process facilitated the artificial ageing of denim fabrics which imparted a fashionably aged look. As the name ‘stonewashing’ suggests, the blue jeans were washed with pumice stones to give a faded look. However, the usage of pumice stones has many limitations, like damage of the machine parts, blockage of the drainage system and difficulty in removal of the residues. Moreover, too much abrasion can damage the fabric, particularly the hems, seams, and waistbands.

The finishing process of denim fabric and garments has been revolutionized by the application of enzymes as an alternative to pumice stonewashing process. Currently the cellulolytic enzymes are applied in textile processes where mechanical action is always present like in jets or rotating drum washers. Cellulase treatment of cotton/denim fabrics is an eco-friendly way of improving their property. It is already recognized that cellulases with strong EG activity is preferred for achieving the worn-out look of denims and this effect is best obtained in machines that provide fast beating action. It is an obvious advantage in letting out pumice stone and the possibility of significantly increasing the capacity of the laundry, that convince people to use biostoning. These advantages are obtained at a lower or similar cost per unit compared to the traditional stonewashing methods.

Cellulase enzymes were introduced in the 80s to assist denim washing to get a faded and abraded look different from what is traditionally provided by pumice stones. Cellulase enzyme fastens the abrasion by a process known as ‘bio stone washing’. The use of these enzymes allows the denim garment washing procedure to be carried out under mild conditions without the use of pumice stones and other harsh chemical agents. As a result of this process, different visual effects may also be fused on fabrics. A small amount of enzyme can replace several kgs of pumice stones. It is now feasible to fade a denim fabric to a greater degree without any possibility of damaging the garment. Productivity can also be increased because the laundry machines contain lesser stones and more garments. There is also no sediment in the wastewater so there will be reduced block drains.

Enzymes are proteins in which amino acids are linked to each other through peptide bonds in a particular sequence. Enzymes are universally present in all living systems either in animals or plants.

Enzyme used for Denim cloth and garment washing prevalent in the market is of SWGR cognis/ Hankel compouny.

Enzyme for Denim washing is gaining immense eminence is modern times which is water soluble. The specialty of this Enzyme is that while washing denim pant with it Denim colour does not come on the pocket lining i.e. there is no back staining on the pocket lining of Denim cloth.