羊毛とシアン化カリウムの反応について

抄録

The reaction of Merino wool fibers with aqueous KCN was studied. The cystine (CYS) and lanthionine (LAN) contents in the hydrolysates of wool samples were determined by the gas chromatographic method. The CYS content decreased and the LAN content increased with the treating time. The sum of CYS and LAN contents, that is, the total crosslink content, decreased to a minimum and returned to the original value as the reaction progressed.
The amounts of intermolecular crosslinks in the KCN-treated wool samples, which were expressed in terms of the (SS) values, were evaluated by the degree of swelling of the samples determined in formic acid according to the method of Caldwell and Milligan. Contrary to the results obtained by the chemical analysis, the (SS) value decreased monotonously as the reaction progressed. The degrees of swelling of the KCN-treated wool samples were determined after the samples were reduced completely and S-cyanoethylated with acrylonitrile. From the (SS) values obtained before and after the reduction and the CYS and LAN contents determined by the chemical analysis, the contributions of CYS and LAN residues of the KCN-treated wool samples to the intermolecular and the intramolecular crosslink contents could be separated. It was found that the intermolecular CYS crosslinks were converted to intramolecular as well as intermolecular LAN crosslinks by the treatment with KCN.
In order to see the effect of organic solvents on the reaction of wool with KCN, Merino wool fibers were treated with KCN in 3:1 (v/v) mixtures of water and organic solvents. LAN was formed more when wool fibers were treated in the presence of organic solvents such as n-propanol than when wool fibers were treated in water. The wool fabrics treated with KCN in the presence of organic solvents were much stiffer than those treated in the absence of organic solvents and had pin holes through which light passed. It was observed by scanning electron micrography that the yarns in the treated fabric in the presence of n-propanol, were more dense and the constituting fibers were more oriented. There appeared many lengthwise wrinkles on the surface of the treated fibers.