Ultrasound-boosted enzymatic cotton scouring process with cutinase and pectate lyase

Abstract

The synergistic effect between power ultrasound and enzymes in an enzymatic scouring process has been studied. The scouring enzymes were Fusarium solani pisi cutinase (EC 3.1.1.74) and pectate lyase (EC 4.2.2.2). In different stages of the scouring process, power ultrasound with a pre-optimized power of 0.57 W cm^?2 and a frequency of 30 kHz was applied. It was found that ultrasound shortens the enzymatic scouring process time dramatically; less than 5 min was required to achieve the desired scouring expressed in terms of hydrophilicity of the cotton fiber. The results obtained have been explained in terms of mass transfer intensification by ultrasound (so-called ‘sono-mechanics’) and its effect on the enzyme kinetics (so-called ‘sono-chemistry’). This latter effect has been found by applying ultrasound in a homogeneous enzymatic reaction in which mass transfer did not play any role. The kinetics of product formation in a homogeneous system was carried out using poly-d-galacturonic acid as a model substrate.