Background and Objective:
Jute fiber is highly sensitive to the action of light.
Significant features of the photochemical changes lose its tensile strength and develop a yellow
color. It has been proved that the phenolic structure of lignin is responsible for the yellowing
of jute fiber. In order to remove lignin, jute yarns were treated with laccase enzyme
in different treatment times and ultrasonic powers. Lower whiteness index and higher yellowness
index values were obtained by the laccase-ultrasound system in contrast to conventional
laccase treatment.
Methods:
The laccase enzyme which entered the fibers by applying ultrasound, decreased
the tensile strength while the loss in tensile strength was lower at high ultrasound intensities.
FT-IR spectrum showed that the band at 1634 cm-1 assigned to lignin completely disappeared
after laccase treatment in the presence of ultrasound. The absence of this peak in the
laccase-ultrasound treated jute yarn suggests complete removal of lignin. Change in the
morphology of fibers was observed by SEM before and after enzymatic delignification. The
laccase-ultrasound treated yarns showed a rougher surface and more porosity. On the other
hand, it was more effective in fibrillation of the jute fibers than the conventional method. Finally,
bio-treated jute yarns were dyed with basic and reactive dyes.
Results:
The results indicated that at low intensities of ultrasound and relatively long reaction
times, lignin can be more effectively removed and dye strength (K/S) increased to a higher
extent. Laccase-ultrasound treatment increased the color strength by 33.65% and 23.40% for
reactive and basic dyes respectively.
Conclusion:
In the case of light fastness, the conventional laccase treated yarns provided
better protection than laccase-ultrasound treated yarns.
Photostabilization of Leuco Dyes: Counter-ion Effect on the Light Fastness of Color Formers
