Clearly, the rate of weight loss increased as treatment temperature
gradually increased from 30 to 45 C, and then reached a maximum
value at 45 C. The efficiency of cellulase increased before the
temperature reached 45 C, and then decreased with further increase
to 60 C. The TS of the sample reached a minimum value at
45 C. The minimum valuewas 19.68 MPa, which completely meets
the requirements of practical application in the field of textile.
The effect of treatment time on the flax fabric is described as
Fig. 3. A maximum value of weight loss was attained at 3 h, and a
plateau was reached. The TS of the sample decreased with the
treatment time, and then reached the limit for performance at 3 h.
Further increase of treatment time could not give rise to significant
change of weight loss and TS.
The pH of the bath was regulated to 4-6 by using acetic acidesodium
acetate buffer solution. Fig. 4 shows that the rate of
weight loss increased as the pH increased from 3 to 4.5. It reached a
maximum value at 4.5, and then decreased with further increase to
pH 6. The results reveal that the enzyme activity was closely related
to the pH, and that excessively low or high pH values could lead to
its reduction. The TS of the sample reached a minimum value at 4.5
(approximately 20 MPa, and it could be applied in the field of textile
industry (see Fig. 5).
Through the above studies, when enzyme concentration was
15 g/L, liquor ratio 15:1, 45 C, 3 h, pH 4.5, the effect of cellulase
treatment was optimal