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Innovating fire safety with recombinant hydrophobic proteins for textile fire retardancy
Katie A Gilmour1, Thora H Arnadottir2, Paul James1
1Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University at Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Microbial Biotechnology
|September 25, 2023
Summary
A novel biofilm protein, Bacillus subtilis A (BslA), offers a sustainable alternative to toxic chemical fire retardants for textiles. Applied to fabrics, BslA significantly reduced fire damage, meeting British standards for flame retardancy.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Textile Chemistry
- Sustainable Materials
Background:
- Textile fire retardancy is crucial for safety, but current chemical coatings are often toxic and unsustainable.
- Naturally derived protein-based fire retardants present a promising eco-friendly alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of a biofilm protein from Bacillus subtilis (BslA) as a sustainable fire retardant for various textile materials.
- To evaluate the efficacy of BslA in enhancing the flame resistance of natural and synthetic fabrics.
Main Methods:
- Recombinant expression of BslA with a double cellulose binding domain in Escherichia coli.
- Application of purified BslA protein to cotton and nylon fabric samples.
- Assessment of flame retardancy using standardized fire resistance testing.
Main Results:
- BslA treatment reduced fire damage on treated fabrics by up to 51%.
- The BslA-treated textiles demonstrated the ability to pass fire retardancy tests according to British standards.
- The protein coating proved effective on both natural and synthetic fabric types.
Conclusions:
- Bacillus subtilis A (BslA) is a viable and sustainable protein-based alternative to conventional toxic fire retardants for textiles.
- This approach offers an environmentally friendly solution for improving textile safety and performance.
- Further research can explore broader applications and optimization of BslA for industrial textile treatment.
