By Baico Biotech 丨 Textile Enzyme 丨 BIO-SCOURING ENZYME 丨 BBT-HK-Kathleen

Cotton knitted fabrics must undergo scouring before dyeing and finishing to remove natural impurities such as pectin, wax, and lignin attached to the fiber surface; otherwise, the fabric's absorbency and subsequent dyeing performance will be severely affected. Conventional scouring uses scouring agents, wetting agents, and caustic soda at high temperatures. Although effective, it suffers from high energy consumption, significant fiber damage, and serious wastewater pollution, directly impacting finished fabric quality and factory profitability.

Pectinases used in the textile industry fall into two main categories: acid pectinases (optimum pH 3–5) – but the acidic environment can hydrolyze cotton fibers, limiting their application; and alkaline pectinases (optimum pH 7–9, temperature 40–60°C), which better match the alkaline conditions of cotton Pre-treatment, react quickly, and produce no harmful by- products,making them the current mainstream choice for textile scouring.

BBT's Bio-scouring enzyme RF838-K contains alkaline pectinase. Relying on the specific catalytic hydrolysis of pectin by the enzyme, it efficiently degrades the pectin adhesion layer on the fiber surface, releasing the entrapped hydrophobic waxy impurities. Compared with conventional scouring, it efficiently breaks down pectin into soluble small molecules, and the treated bath liquor becomes clear and slightly yellowish, requiring no wastewater discharge before proceeding directly to boiling and bleaching – because the impurities have been decomposed and will not redeposit onto the fibers. This eliminates the intermediate rinsing step, saving both water and energy and reducing the cost of wastewater discharge for the mill.

Pectinase acts only on pectin, without damaging the cellulosic fiber body, so fabric strength loss is far less than in alkali scouring; the treatment temperature of 50–60°C is far below that of conventional high-temperature boiling, significantly reducing energy consumption; the enzyme preparation is biodegradable,lowering wastewater COD and treatment costs, and the treated fabric has a soft hand feel.

After RF838-K removes hydrophobic impurities such as pectin, the hydroxyl groups of the secondary- wall cellulose are exposed, and the inter-fiber capillaries are cleared, forming continuous wicking channels. Water molecules rise rapidly through these channels by capillary action, thus improving the fabric's capillary effect and absorbency. This fundamentally enhances the uniformity of subsequent dye penetration, addressing the common problem of poor levelness in traditional processes.

Overall, RF838-K Bio-scouring enzyme offers a new Pre-treatment solution for knitted fabric dyeing that balances quality, production costs, and environmental compliance.

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