Scouring. Cotton may contain between 4 and 12% by weight of impurities in the form of waxes, proteins, pectin’s, ash, and miscellaneous substances such as pigments, hemicelluloses and reducing sugars. These impurities are removed from the fabric by scouring, since their hydrophobic nature negatively affects the enhancement of the fabric’s wettability and absorbency. In this work, pectinase, protease and cellulose were used in various combinations for different treatment times, either in the baths containing one enzyme or different enzyme combinations, in order to evaluate the effects of these enzymes on 100% cotton fabric’s wettability and absorbency. Scouring is an important process that contributes to improved quality in dyed fabric, from which foreign substances found on gray fabric coming from both primary and secondary sources (cotton wax, thickener, wax and knitting oil) are removed so that smooth progress is ensured in the process of dyeing. The scouring process removes much of the non-cellulosic compounds naturally found in cotton. In addition to the natural non-cellulosic impurities, scouring can remove residual manufacturing introduced materials such as spinning, coning or slashing lubricants. The scouring process employs sodium hydroxide or related causticizing agents such as sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide or mixtures thereof. Generally an alkali stable surfactant is added to the process to enhance solubilization of hydrophobic compounds and/or prevent their redeposition back on the fabric. The treatment is generally at a high temperature, 80"C - 100"C, employing strongly alkaline solutions of the scouring agent, e.g., pH 13-14. Due to the non-specific nature of chemical processes not only are the impurities but the cellulose itself is attacked, leading to damages in strength or other desirable fabric properties. The softness of the cellulosic fabric is a function of residual natural cotton waxes. The non-specific nature of the high temperature strongly alkaline scouring process cannot discriminate between the desirable natural cotton lubricants and the manufacturing introduced lubricants. Alkaline enzyme scouring of cotton textiles

The invention relates to a process for treatment of cellulosic material, as for example, knitted or woven cotton fabric, comprising the steps of preparing an aqueous enzyme solution comprising pectinase, treating the cellulosic material with an effective amount of the aqueous enzyme solution under alkaline scouring conditions; e.g., pH of 9 or above and a temperature of 50° C. or above, in a low calcium or calcium-free environment, yielding a modification of the cellulosic material such that exhibits an enhanced respond to a subsequent chemical treatment.

Traditionally, cotton scouring has required the use of harsh alkaline chemicals (caustic), extreme temperatures and large volumes of water. Expenses include

not only the cost of the caustic and energy, but also the cost of treating waste water to remove residual caustic and by-products.

Today, textile producers have a new, effective alternative to chemical scouring with the advent of the Cottonase™ enzyme. This novel enzyme not only cleans better than chemical scouring, but also greatly reduces the need for extensive waste water treatment and energy consumption. The Cottonase™ enzyme is a versatile, economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical scouring in cotton preparation.

How to Scour Your Fabric:

Simply wash your fabric, this includes PFD fabric, in the washing machine in hot water with Soda Ash.  Do not add any fabric softeners to the wash. If you must dry your fabric do so without any fabric softener sheets

Using an large enamel or stainless steel pot, fill the pot at least half full and place one ounce of soda ash into the pot per pound of cotton or linen fabric/fiber. 

Place fabric into water, swish it around using a stainless steel spoon. Bring water to a boil!!! Adjust heat to a low boil/hard simmer and allow to boil for two hours.  stir

the fabric every 15 minutes or so t make sure that the fabric is being adequately scoured

After two hours remove from heat source, allow fabric to cool down until the fabric is at room temperature.

Remove the fabric from the water and rinse.