Industrial textile bioprocessing

Amylase has been used in the textile industry since the 1950s to remove protective size based on starch from woven textiles and was the only enzyme used in textile processing until the 1980s. Due to the potential advantages of using enzymes in textile processing, much research has been undertaken since the 1980s to develop enzymatic 

To improve the softness and appearance with a reduction in fuzziness or pilling of fabric, softeners are usually used. However, softeners are washed out and can give a greasy feel to the fabric. Bioblasting or biopolishing has been developed in which cellulase enzymes hydrolyze the microfibrils protruding from the fabric surface used in cotton and regenerated cellulosics, such as lyocell. Proteases have been developed that can be used remove the pills from wool. 

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Since the 1990s, much research has been undertaken to develop enzymatic processing methods as an alternative to replace conventional textile processing methods. As described in Section 4.3, some of these processes have become routine industrial processes. Technical or cost constraints may prevent some of the bioprocessing techniques that have been developed from being viable industrially. 

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