**5. Scouring<sup>5</sup>**

Scouring of cotton textiles is an essential treatment in textile wet processing in order to obtain a sufficiently hydrophilic fabric. During scouring, waxes and other hydrophobic materials are removed from the cotton fibers. In nature these non-cellulosic materials create a physical hydrophobic barrier to protect the fiber from the environment throughout its development. In aqueous textile processing the waxes and pectins impede wetting and wicking, subsequently obstructing aqueous treatments. Conventionally, scouring is done in a hot aqueous solution of NaOH to remove hydrophobic components from the primary wall (e.g. pectin, protein and organic acids) and the cuticle (waxes and fats). However, alkaline scouring is a nonspecific process. The use of high concentrations of NaOH also requires neutralization of wastewater. Even though alkaline scouring is effective and the costs of NaOH are low, the scouring process is rather inefficient because it consumes large quantities of water and energy. It is clear that this process needs to be improved considerably to meet today's energy and environmental demands. In the last couple of years, a lot of research has been directed to replace this process with an enzymatic one.

As far as scouring and bleaching is concerned, in earlier times this was supposed to be a two bath process, but currently majority of process houses do a one bath scouring and bleaching process.

In the present time the above mentioned one stage scouring and bleaching process seems to be very ideal with respect to the age old processes that were used earlier. Although robust, this process has some drawbacks that give us scope of further developments:

 **Temperature of Pre- treatment:** As can be seen above, the main backbone of the process is the one step scouring and bleaching that imparts the desired properties to the cotton

Conventional desizing of textile: Cold solutions of dilute sulphuric or hydrochloric acids are used to hydrolyze the starch; however, this has the disadvantage of affecting the cellulose fiber in Cotton fabrics. Alternative eco-friendly desizing agents are available in the market in the form of enzymes. Complete removal of starch-containing size without fiber damage is best obtained by using enzymatic desizing agents. Rossari offers wide range of desizing

**Rexsize LHT New Liquid** 2.0-5.0 g/L Common salt 1.0-5.0 g/L Kleenox PSF Liquid 2.0-5.0 g/L Proton WDE Liquid 1.0-3.0 g/L

Pad at 80-85°C, Batch at RT for 6-12 hours, Pick up: 80-100 %

pH: 6.5-8.0,Pad at 80-85°C Steam at 90-110°C for 1-2 mins, Pick up: 80-100 %

Scouring of cotton textiles is an essential treatment in textile wet processing in order to obtain a sufficiently hydrophilic fabric. During scouring, waxes and other hydrophobic materials are removed from the cotton fibers. In nature these non-cellulosic materials create a physical hydrophobic barrier to protect the fiber from the environment throughout its development. In aqueous textile processing the waxes and pectins impede wetting and wicking, subsequently obstructing aqueous treatments. Conventionally, scouring is done in a hot aqueous solution of NaOH to remove hydrophobic components from the primary wall (e.g. pectin, protein and organic acids) and the cuticle (waxes and fats). However, alkaline scouring is a nonspecific process. The use of high concentrations of NaOH also requires neutralization of wastewater. Even though alkaline scouring is effective and the costs of NaOH are low, the scouring process is rather inefficient because it consumes large quantities of water and energy. It is clear that this process needs to be improved considerably to meet today's energy and environmental demands. In the last couple of years, a lot of research has been directed to replace this process with an

As far as scouring and bleaching is concerned, in earlier times this was supposed to be a two bath process, but currently majority of process houses do a one bath scouring and bleaching

In the present time the above mentioned one stage scouring and bleaching process seems to be very ideal with respect to the age old processes that were used earlier. Although robust,

 **Temperature of Pre- treatment:** As can be seen above, the main backbone of the process is the one step scouring and bleaching that imparts the desired properties to the cotton

this process has some drawbacks that give us scope of further developments:

**Rexsize LHT New Liquid** 3.0-5.0 g/L Common salt 1.0-5.0 g/L Kleenox PSF Liquid 2.0-5.0 g/L Proton WDE Liquid 1.0-3.0 g/L

**4. Desizing** 

enzymes. **PAD BATCH** 

pH: 6.5-8.0

**5. Scouring<sup>5</sup>**

enzymatic one.

process.

**CONTINUOUS - PAD STEAM** 

substrate. The temperature of treatment for this chemical is close to boil. If this temperature can be reduced, there will be considerable amount of time and energy saving

