ENZYME SOFTENING OF SISAL FIBER: A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH FOR THE FUTURE

Ms. Ankita Shroff; Prof. Anjali Karolia; Dr. Jayendra Shah

Volume : V, Issue : XII, December - 2015

ENZYME SOFTENING OF SISAL FIBER: A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH FOR THE FUTURE

Ms. Ankita Shroff, Prof. Anjali Karolia, Dr. Jayendra Shah

Abstract :

Sisal occupies 6th place among the plants, representing 2% of the world’s production of plant fibers. The fiber has limited application in textiles due to its high stiffness and less cohesive properties. The aim of the study was to remove noncellulosic gummy materials from sisal fiber thus softening it and prepare nonwovens through needle punch method. Grey sisal fibers were treated with hemicellulase, pectinase and cellulase enzyme individually by varying its concentration and time. This optimised treatment was further treated with different combination of enzymes, and was standardised. The effect of the enzymes on the fibers was measured in weight loss, strength loss and whiteness index of the fiber. Subjective analyses by touch and feel method, and SEM analyses were also done. The best softened fibers were then processed for preparation of nonwovens through needle punch method at NIRJAFT, Kolkata.