Effect of Surfactant Pretreatment on Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Wool Fiber

Abstract

The effect of surfactant pretreatment on enzymatic hydrolysis of a wool substrate was studied. It was found that surfactant pretreatment with anionic surfactants accelerated the enzymatic hydrolysis of a wool substrate by protease. Below the critical micelle concentration, the dissolution rate of the wool fabric increased with the amount of surfactant adsorbed. In particular, alkaline fatty acid surfactants strongly accelerated the enzymatic hydrolysis of wool. They caused extensive damage to the wool surface with the elution of scales and a change in the internal fiber structure. This damage aids enzyme action on the inside of the wool, thus resulting in an increased dissolution rate.