Search

Fully biodegradable textile sizes with satisfactory performance properties were developed from soy protein with controlled hydrolysis and dis-entanglement to tackle the intractable environmental issues associated with the non-biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in textile effluents. PVA derived from petroleum is the primary sizing agent due to its excellent sizing performance on polyester-containing yarns, especially in increasingly prevailing high-speed weaving. However, due to the poor biodegradability, PVA causes serious environmental pollution, and thus, should be substituted with more environmentally friendly polymers. Soy protein treated with high amount of triethanolamine was found with acceptable sizing properties. However, triethanolamine is also non-biodegradable and originated from petroleum, therefore, is not an ideal additive. In this research, soy sizes were developed from soy protein treated with glycerol, the biodegradable triol that could also be obtained from soy. The soy sizes had good film properties, adhesion to polyester and abrasion resistance close to PVA, rendering them qualified for sizing applications. Regarding desizing, consumption of water and energy for removal of soy size could be remarkably decreased, comparing to removal of PVA. Moreover, with satisfactory degradability, the wastewater containing soy sizes was readily dischargeable after treated in activated sludge for two days. In summary, the fully biodegradable soy sizes had potential to substitute PVA for sustainable textile processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-green textile sizes with satisfactory weaving performance and biodegradability were developed from soy protein and glycerol, two major byproducts from soy-based biodiesel production. Polyvinyl alcohol has long dominated textile sizing chemical market due to its excellent sizing performance, despite its non-biodegradability. Efforts have been devoted to replace polyvinyl alcohol for a more sustainable textile industry. Recently, substitute size developed from soy protein after using high amount of petro-based triethanolamine showed acceptable sizing properties. However, triethanolamine was not an eco-friendly additive, due to its petroleum origin and non-biodegradability. In this research, glycerol was used to plasticize soy protein to develop all-green soy size. Glycerol interrupted hydrogen bonds in the soy globulin, allowing them to extend in the films. Resultantly, the soy size films possessed high stretchability and work of rupture. Lab-scale experiments and industrial weaving proved that the all-green soy size had similar or better weaving performance and remarkably better degradability, comparing to polyvinyl alcohol and triethanolamine plasticized soy protein size. For the first time, a possible logarithmic relationship was found between work of rupture of the size film and relative weaving efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]