An enzyme-hydrogen peroxide one-step preparation of cotton knitted fabric under low-temperature and near-neutral...

Enzymatic treatments in textile processing have garnered considerable attention in research and practical production due to their numerous advantages, including reduced energy consumption, decreased water usage, minimized chemical usage, and lower pollution levels, thereby offering environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional chemical processes. Focusing on improving the wettability and whiteness of greige cotton knitted fabrics, this study developed an innovative enzyme‑hydrogen peroxide one-bath preparation to replace traditional high-pollution alkali‑hydrogen peroxide treatments. By employing a polygalacturonase enzyme tolerant to hydrogen peroxide and utilizing tetraacetylethylenediamine as an activator, a novel preparation of cotton knitted fabric was successfully achieved under low-temperature and near-neutral conditions. This approach facilitated the efficient removal of non-cellulosic impurities such as pectin and natural pigments. The optimized enzymatic treatment demonstrated efficacy in pectin and wax removal, leading to improved hydrophilicity, strength, degree of polymerization, and whiteness index, achieving results comparable to traditional methods. The wastewater generated by this process exhibited reduced volume and lower Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), potentially enabling its further utilization with the supplementation of appropriate chemical concentrations. The treated fabric exhibited an improved hand feel compared to samples treated by the traditional method. This low-temperature, near-neutral enzyme‑hydrogen peroxide one-step preparation aligns with the overarching goal of environmental sustainability and is poised to address the longstanding challenges of high pollution and energy consumption in the textile preparation sector.