EFFECT OF ENZYMATIC BLEACHING ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF HEMP FABRIC

Being an eco-friendly fiber, the use of hemp as a commercial textile fiber will be very beneficial. Therefore, the study was undertaken on the bleaching process of hemp fabric. The study observed the effect of chemical reagents as well as combinations of enzymes with chemicals on hemp fabric. The chemicals used were Hydrogen peroxide, Sodium hypochlorite, and Sodium hydroxide and six different combinations of chemical reagents and laccase enzyme (6 combinations i.e. Laccase + Hydrogen peroxide, Laccase + Sodium hypochlorite, Laccase + Sodium hydroxide, Hydrogen peroxide + Laccase, Sodium hypochlorite + Laccase, and Sodium hydroxide + Laccase) were used. The procured hemp fabric was tested for eleven physical parameters before and after processing. The hemp fabric bleached using chemical reagents only showed slight yellowing; hence these fabric samples were not used for further testing. The samples of chemical and enzyme combinations were used for further testing. Bleaching effect of all the samples was noted using spectrophotometer readings. The results showed that the readings of physical properties for fabric count, yarn crimp, yarn twist, thickness, weight per square meter, dimensional stability/shrinkage, crease/wrinkle resistance, tensile strength and tearing strength has increased after the treatment. There was very little change observed in the results of yarn count. The abrasion and pilling was reduced after the treatment. Among the bleached samples the highest whiteness was achieved with only laccase enzyme treated sample