Textile treatment

Abstract

There is disclosed a method for treating textiles comprising applying to the textile an enzyme having a specific activity towards the textile, under conditions such that there is substantially no mechanical agitation.

1 . A method for treating textiles comprising applying to the textile an enzyme having a specific activity towards the textile, under conditions such that there is substantially no mechanical agitation.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which an enzyme-containing composition is applied to the textile by soaking.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which an enzyme-containing composition is applied to the textile by padding.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2  or  claim 3 , in which the composition is left in contact with the textile for an extended period of time under ambient conditions.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , in which the composition is left in contact with the textile for at least five hours.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4 , in which the composition is left in contact with the textile for between 10 and 20 hours.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  6 , in which the textile is washed to remove unreacted enzyme.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 , in which the textile is cellulosic and the enzyme is a cellulase.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , in which the textile comprises a natural cellulosic fibre such as cotton or flax.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , in which the textile comprises a man-made cellulosic fibre such as rayon.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to any one of  claims 8  to  10 , in which the enzyme is Biotouch L, cellulase F or cellulase H or a mixture of any two or all three thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  11 , in which the enzyme is applied at an add-on of 0.1 to 10 mg total protein per g of textile.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  12 , in which the textile comprises more than one fibre type and the enzyme has a specific activity towards at least one of said types.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , in which more than one enzyme is used, having specific activity towards more than one of said types.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  14 , in which the textile comprises a fabric.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , in which the fabric comprises a woven fabric.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , in which the fabric comprises a knitted fabric.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  14 , in which the textile comprises a yarn.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 19 , in which the yarn is treated on a package by soaking.