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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #228263

Title: Intensification of Enzymatic Bio-Processing of Cotton by Low Intensity Uniform Ultrasound Field

Author
item Yachmenev, Valeriy
item Condon, Brian
item Lambert, Allan
item Smith, Jade

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/6/2007
Publication Date: 1/8/2008
Citation: Yachmenev, V., Condon, B.D., Lambert, A.H., Smith, J.N. 2008. Intensification of Enzymatic Bio-Processing of Cotton by Low Intensity Uniform Ultrasound Field. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Use of enzymatic processing in textile applications is becoming increasingly popular, primarily because of rapid introduction of a new variety of highly efficient enzymes. In general, enzymatic bio-processing generates less toxic and readily biodegradable wastewater effluents. However, enzymatic bio-processing has several critical shortcomings that impede its wide acceptance by industries: expensive processing costs and slow reaction rates. Our research found that on a laboratory scale, introduction of ultrasonic energy in the reaction chamber during enzymatic bio-preparation/bio-finishing of cotton resulted in a significant improvement in enzyme efficiency. The combination of enzymatic bio-preparation/bio-finishing with sonication could significantly advance this new “green chemistry” process making it more suitable for widespread industrial implementation and greatly reducing the amount/toxicity of wastewater, energy consumption, and processing costs.