Preparation of cellulosic materials

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and compositions for desizing, scouring and bleaching of cellulosic materials, which are carried out by contacting the cellulosic materials simultaneously or sequentially in a single-bath process with an enzyme system and a bleaching system comprising hydrogen peroxide or at least one peroxy compound which generates hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water, or combinations thereof, and at least one bleach activator.

1 . A method for treating cellulosic material, comprising contacting the cellulosic material with (i) an enzyme system for desizing and/or bioscouring the cellulosic material and (ii) a bleaching system comprising hydrogen peroxide or at least one compound which generates hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water, or combinations thereof, and at least one bleach activator, wherein the enzyme system and the bleaching system are added simultaneously or sequentially to a single solution containing the cellulosic material.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting is performed without the addition of alkali.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the enzyme system and the bleaching system are added simultaneously to the solution containing the cellulosic material.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the enzyme system and the bleaching system are added sequentially to the solution containing the cellulosic material, comprising (i) adding the enzyme system and incubating, and subsequently (ii) adding the bleaching system and incubating.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cellulosic material is contacted with the enzyme system and the bleaching system to produce a fabric with wettability of 20 seconds or less and whiteness of at least 50 Ganz units.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cellulosic material is (i) contacted with the enzyme system to produce a fabric with wettability of 20 seconds or less, after which (ii) the bleaching system is added to the solution containing the cellulosic material.  
     
     
         7 . The method of claims  4 , further comprising between said (i) and said (ii), adjusting a property of the solution selected from the group consisting of pH, ionic strength, temperature, concentration of surfactant, concentration of divalent cationic chelator, and combinations of any of the foregoing.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the enzyme system comprises at least one enzyme for desizing the cellulosic material and at least one enzyme for bioscouring the cellulosic material  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the enzyme system is a bioscouring enzyme system.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the enzyme system is a desizing enzyme system.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the desizing enzyme system comprises at least one desizing enzyme selected from the group consisting of an alpha-amylase and a beta-amylase, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the bioscouring enzyme system comprises at least one bioscouring enzyme selected from the group consisting of pectinase, protease, lipase, and combinations of any of the foregoing.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the bioscouring enzyme system comprises at least one bioscouring enzyme selected from the group consisting of pectate lyase, pectin lyase, polygalacturonase, exo-polygalacturonase, exo-polygalacturonate lyase and exo-poly-alpha-galacturonosidase.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the bioscouring enzyme system comprises a pectate lyase.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the bioscouring enzyme system comprises a protease selected from the group consisting of aminopeptidases, serine endopeptidases, cysteine endopeptidases, aspartyl endopeptidases, and metalloendopeptidases.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the bioscouring enzyme system comprises a lipase selected from the group consisting of triacylglycerol lipases and phospholipases.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the bioscouring enzyme system comprises a pectate lyase that exhibits maximal pectate lyase enzymatic activity at a temperature above about 70° C.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the bioscouring enzyme system comprises a pectate lyase that exhibits maximal pectate lyase enzymatic activity at a pH above about 8.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the bleach activator is selected from the following class of substances: N-acylcaprolactams, N,N-diacylated and N,N,N′,N′-tetraacylated amines, O-acyloxime esters, N-alkyl-N-sulfonylcarboxamides, N-acylated cyclic hydrazides, O,N,N-trisubstituted hydroxylamines, N,N′-diacylsulfamides, triacylcyanurates, carboxylic anhydrides, acyloxybenzenesulfonic acids and their alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts, 1,3-diacyl-4,5-diacyloxyimidazolines, diacylated 2,5-diketopiperazines, acylation products of propylenediurea and 2,2-dimethylpropylenediurea, alpha.-acyloxypolyacylmalonamides, diacyldioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazines, 2-alkyl- or 2-aryl-(4H)-3,1-benzoxazin-4-ones, cationic nitrites and polyacylated sugars or sugar derivatives with C.sub.1-10-acyl radicals.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the bleaching system comprises a bleach stabilizer selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), methyl-glycinediacetic acid (MGDA), .beta.-alaninediacetic acid (ADA), ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinate (EDDS), ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonate, diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonate (DTMPA) or hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cellulosic materials comprise a textile.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said textile is cotton.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said single-bath solution further comprises one or more buffers, surfactants, chelating agents, and/or lubricants, or salts of any of the foregoing.  
     
     
         24 . A method for treating cellulosic material, comprising contacting the cellulosic material with (i) an enzyme system for desizing and/or bioscouring the cellulosic material and (ii) a bleaching system comprising hydrogen peroxide or at least one compound which generates hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water, or combinations thereof, and at least one bleach activator, wherein the enzyme system and the bleaching system are added simultaneously or sequentially to a single solution containing the cellulosic material, and wherein the contacting is carried out at a pH above 8.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the contacting is carried out at a pH of 9 or above.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the contacting is carried out at a pH from 9 to 11.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the contacting is carried out at a pH from 10 to 11.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the enzyme system and the bleaching system are added simultaneously to the solution containing the cellulosic material.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the enzyme system and the bleaching system are added sequentially to the solution containing the cellulosic material, comprising (i) adding the enzyme system and incubating, and subsequently (ii) adding the bleaching system and incubating.  
     
     
         28 . The method of claims  27 , further comprising between said (i) and said (ii), adjusting a property of the solution selected from the group consisting of pH, ionic strength, temperature, concentration of surfactant, concentration of divalent cationic chelator, and combinations of any of the foregoing.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the enzyme system comprises at least one enzyme for desizing the cellulosic material and at least one enzyme for bioscouring the cellulosic material  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the enzyme system is a bioscouring enzyme system.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the enzyme system is a desizing enzyme system.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the bioscouring enzyme system comprises a pectate lyase.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the bioscouring enzyme system comprises a pectate lyase that exhibits maximal pectate lyase enzymatic activity at a pH above about 8.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one bleach activator is selected from the following class of substances:: N-acylcaprolactams, N,N-diacylated and N,N,N′,N′-tetraacylated amines, O-acyloxime esters, N-alkyl-N-sulfonylcarboxamides, N-acylated cyclic hydrazides, O,N,N-trisubstituted hydroxylamines, N,N′-diacylsulfamides, triacylcyanurates, carboxylic anhydrides, acyloxybenzenesulfonic acids and their alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts, 1,3-diacyl-4,5-diacyloxyimidazolines, diacylated 2,5-diketopiperazines, acylation products of propylenediurea and 2,2-dimethylpropylenediurea, alpha.-acyloxypolyacylmalonamides, diacyldioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazines, 2-alkyl- or 2-aryl-(4H)-3,1-benzoxazin-4-ones, cationic nitrites and polyacylated sugars or sugar derivatives with C.sub.1-10-acyl radicals.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the bleaching system comprises a bleach stabilizer selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), methyl-glycinediacetic acid (MGDA), .beta.-alaninediacetic acid (ADA), ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinate (EDDS), ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonate, diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonate (DTMPA) or hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cellulosic materials comprises a textile.  
     
     
         37 . A method for treating cellulosic material, comprising contacting the cellulosic material with (i) an enzyme system for desizing and/or bioscouring the cellulosic material and (ii) a bleaching system comprising hydrogen peroxide or at least one compound which generates hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water, or combinations thereof, and at least one bleach activator, wherein the enzyme system and the bleaching system are added simultaneously or sequentially to a single solution containing the cellulosic material, and wherein the contacting is carried out without the addition of alkaline.