Process for the production of a dyed fabric using enzyme aggregates

Abstract

Provided is a process for the production of a dyed fabric using enzyme aggregates. In particular, provided is a process that comprises a step of providing a woven fabric that comprises a base layer and an additional layer which is located on at least one side of the fabric, wherein the yarns of the additional layer comprise fibers that are at least partially dyed, and a step of contacting the woven fabric with enzyme aggregates such as cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs), to remove at least part of the dye from at least the yarns of said additional layer. The disclosure also provides a fabric obtained with the process and garments including the fabric.

1 . A process for finishing a woven fabric, said process comprising:
 providing a woven fabric comprising warp yarns and weft yarns woven together to form a base layer of said woven fabric, and wherein a plurality of yarns including a plurality of said warp yarns and/or a plurality of said weft yarns form an additional layer of said woven fabric in the form of over portions of yarns, said additional layer being located on at least one side of the woven fabric, wherein said plurality of yarns of said additional layer comprise fibers that are at least partially dyed; and   contacting said woven fabric with enzyme aggregates, to at least partially remove dye from at least said plurality of yarns of said additional layer.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of yarns of said additional layer comprise cotton fibers that are at least in part indigo dyed. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of yarns of said additional layer comprise cotton fibers and said enzyme aggregates comprise at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of cellulase, laccase, glucose oxidase, pectinase, xylanase, peroxidase, protease, catalase and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme aggregates are cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs). 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme aggregates have a size within the range of 1 μm to 100 μm. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said contacting is carried out at a pH ranging from 3.5 to 9.5. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme aggregates have an enzymatic activity ranging from 0.5 U/ml to 100 U/ml. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said contacting includes contacting said woven fabric with a composition including said enzyme aggregates, said composition including a concentration of said enzymes aggregates in the range of 1 mg/g to 100 mg/g. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme aggregates are coupled to magnetic nano-particles. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme aggregates are coupled to one or more additives selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, polyols and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme aggregates are coupled to at least one magnetic nano-particle and to at least one additive selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, polyols and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said weft yarns include first weft yarns and second weft yarns, said warp yarns and said first weft yarns form said base layer and said over portions of said yarns include said second weft yarns along a side of said woven fabric and which float over a number of said warp yarns ranging from five to fifteen. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said weft yarns of have a linear density ranging from 118,2 tex (5/1 Ne) to 5,91 tex (100/1 Ne). 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising manufacturing an article from said woven fabric prior to said contacting. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 14 , wherein said article is a garment having an inner side and an outer side, and wherein said additional layer is located on the outer side of said garment. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising weaving un-dyed yarns to provide said woven fabric, then dyeing said woven fabric to produce a dyed woven fabric and wherein said contacting comprises contacting said dyed woven fabric. 
     
     
         17 . A woven fabric produced according to the process of  claim 1 , comprising warp yarns and weft yarns woven together to form a base layer of said woven fabric, and wherein a plurality of yarns including a plurality of said warp yarns and/or a plurality of said weft yarns form an additional layer of said woven fabric in the form of over portions of yarns, said additional layer being located on at least one side of the woven fabric, wherein said plurality of yarns of said additional layer comprise fibers that are at least partially dyed; and from which dye is at least partially removed by enzyme aggregates. 
     
     
         18 . The woven fabric according to  claim 17 , wherein said woven fabric is a denim fabric. 
     
     
         19 . A garment comprising a woven fabric according to  claim 18 , wherein said additional layer forms an outer side of said garment when said garment is worn. 
     
     
         20 . A process for finishing a woven fabric or a garment, said process comprising:
 providing a woven fabric comprising warp yarns and weft yarns, and having a front side and a back side, wherein at least one of said warp yarns and said weft yarns comprise a mixture of natural fibers and synthetic fibers, wherein at least said natural fibers are dyed; and   contacting said woven fabric with cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs).   
     
     
         21 . A woven fabric formed according to the process of  claim 20 , comprising warp yarns and weft yarns, and having a front side and a back side, wherein at least one of said warp yarns and said weft yarns comprise a mixture of natural fibers and synthetic fibers, wherein at least said natural fibers are dyed; and from which dye is at least partially removed by enzyme aggregates. 
     
     
         22 . A clothing article comprising the woven fabric according to  claim 21 . 
     
     
         23 . A process for finishing a woven fabric, said process comprising:
 providing a woven fabric with yarns comprising warp yarns and weft yarns woven together, at least some of said yarns being dyed yarns; and   contacting said woven fabric with enzyme aggregates to at least partially remove dye from at least part of said yarns of said fabric.   
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said dyed yarns comprise fibers that include indigo dye. 
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein at least some of said dyed yarns comprise cotton fibers and said enzyme aggregates comprise at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of cellulase, laccase, glucose oxidase, pectinase, xylanase, peroxidase, protease, catalase and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said enzyme aggregates are cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs). 
     
     
         27 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said enzyme aggregates have a size within a range of 1 μm to 100 μm. 
     
     
         28 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said contacting said woven fabric with enzyme aggregates is carried out at a pH ranging from 4.0 to 8.0. 
     
     
         29 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said contacting is carried out at a temperature ranging from 35° C. to 55° C. 
     
     
         30 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said enzyme aggregates have an enzymatic activity ranging from 0.5 U/ml to 100 U/ml. 
     
     
         31 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said contacting comprises contacting said woven fabric with a composition including said enzyme aggregates, said composition including a concentration of said enzymes aggregates in a range of 1 mg/g to 100 mg/g. 
     
     
         32 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said contacting is carried out for 10 to 90 min. 
     
     
         33 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said enzyme aggregates are coupled to magnetic nano-particles. 
     
     
         34 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said enzyme aggregates are coupled to one or more additives selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, polyols and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein said enzyme aggregates are coupled to at least one magnetic nano-particle and to at least one additive selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, polyols and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The process according to  claim 27 , wherein said enzyme aggregates have a size within a range of 1 μm to 30 μm. 
     
     
         37 . The process according to  claim 36 , wherein said enzyme aggregates have an enzymatic activity ranging from 5 U/ml to 20 U/ml.