Enzyme treatment of Promix fiber with proteases on the market was studied in order to improve the water absorptivity of the fiber. The effect of the treatment was evaluated with the weight loss of the fiber. In our preceding paper, optimal conditions for the treatment were proposed. This paper reports some analytical results in this treatment under the conditions. The weight loss at a time t, W (t), during the treatment process was empirically described using a following simple equation.
W (t) =T [1-exp (-kt) ],
where, T and k indicate the ultimate weight loss and the rate constant of the process, respectively.
Parameters of this equation, T and k were determined by using a computer curve-fitting method with experimental data. Experimental data were well fitted to the equation and the ultimate weight loss of the fiber was found about 4% in any case of the treatments. The proteases used and the treatment conditions did not determine the amount of the degradation of the fiber, but determined the rate constant of the process. The fact suggests that the degradation of protein components in molecular chains was limited by the surrounding microstucture of Promix fiber. Water, dyestuff and Iodine absorptions were related linearly with the weight loss of the Ptomix fiber yielded in the enzyme treatments. The evaluation of the dyestuff or Iodine absorptivity of the fiber was much easier than that of the water absorptivity. Therefore, by using those indicators, the effects of protease treatments on the Promix fiber could be easily evaluated. And the computer curve-fitting method was proved quite useful for phenomenological analysis of the protease treatment of the Promix fiber.
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