Title of Invention

BIOCHEMICAL SCOURING PROCESS FOR GREY COTTON GOODS

Abstract

Scouring is an important pretreatment operation in the processing of cotton and cotton blended materials. This is done to remove the non-cellulosic constituents of cotton fibre which make the fibre non-absorbent posing serious technical problems in the subsequent wet processing operations. The conventional process involves boiling the fabric in 1% NaOH solution at 15 lbs pressure/sq inch for four hours followed by bleaching and dyeing. Anaerobic treatment of the fabric in a stabilised microbial consortium for 10 hours at room temperature followed by boiling in water containing 0.5% NaOH for 15 minutes has been found to be on par with the conventional kiering process. The method has been found to be economical and ecofriendly and can be replacement to the conventional kiering process which is energy intensive.

Full Text

FORM 2 THEPATENTSACT, 1970 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (SECTION 10) "Biochemical Scouring Process for Grey Cotton Goods" The Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Adenwala Road, Matunga, Mumbai-400 019, India, hereafter referred to as CIRCOT, A Research Institute started in 1924 and presently under the administrative control of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Union Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed. ORIGINAL 498/MUM/04 GRANTED 15-7-2005 Scouring is an important pre- treatment operation in the processing of cotton and cotton blended materials .The main objective of the above operation is to remove the non-cellulosic constituents of cotton fibre which make the fibre non-absorbent posing serious technical problems in the subsequent wet processing operations. In fact, the scouring operation determines the ultimate quality of the finished product. The conventional scouring operation consists of treating the cotton goods with 1-2% of NaOH solution at high pressure and temperature for 4-5 hours. The above operation is not only energy intensive but also leads to environmental pollution. It is estimated that scouring operation consumes about 1% of the total water used, contributes 54% to the total BOD and is responsible for 10-25% of the total pollution load of the entire textile processing operations alone. It is pertinent to observe here that in view of the ever widening gap between the demand and supply position of energy, serious effects are on in almost every field of activity either to cut down the un-necessary expenditure on energy or to adopt a low energy process. The following publications describe the attempts over the years to make scouring operation less energy intensive and a more effective one. (Harmaker, S.R.- Colourage Annual 1998, p.18., Sanakari, V.D., Text-Dyers & Printers, May 11,1983., Burkitt, F.H. Am. Dyest Rep., March 1978 p.51., Text. Dyers & Printers. May 1983., Meyer Jim, Textile Horizon, April 1983., Garrett ,C, J. Soc. Chem.& Col. 71 ,1955P.830., Etters, J.N. and Annis ,P.A. Am. Dyest Rep.,87, No.5,1998,p.l8., EttersJ.N.-Colourage Annual 1998. p.87., Hardin , I.R. and Kim J.-Book of Papers AATCC International Conference and Exhibition 1998, p. 319) Conventional Process: In the conventional process the cotton goods are boiled with 1-2% sodium hydroxide solution at round 121 °C under 14 pounds/inch2 pressure for 4-6 hours. The boiled goods is washed tree of alkali with water and taken up for further processing. In conventional process, the effluent from the boiling stage is alkaline leading to contamination of the soil and also the ground water. Drawbacks in the conventional process. 1. Conventional process involves high temperature and pressure and hence it is energy intensive. 2. Residual alkali in the effluent is high and hence effluent cannot be let out without treatment. Process for Patenting: The invention is a biochemical scouring process which eliminates boiling of cotton goods with high concentration of alkali but at the same time produces results as those obtained in the conventional process. The invention is a biochemical process which employs a mixture of microorganisms such as aerobic bacteria-Bacillus, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Beijerinckia, Erwinia; anaerobic bacteria- Clostridium, Methanomicrobium, Methanothrix, Desulfotomaculum; aerobic fungi- Aspergillus, Penicillium; anaerobic Blue green and green algae, Rumen fungi and protozoa; aerobic actinomycetes-Streptomyces, Nocardia; anaerobic Phototrophic bacteria and yeast- Pichia. The grey cotton fabric is immersed in water containing the above mixture of microflora and the container is closed airtight and allowed to remain at ambient temperature ranging between 25°C to 35°C for a period ranging from 6 h to 10 h depending upon the weight per square meter (w/m2) of grey fabric. At the end of the time period the fabric is removed and washed with water followed by boiling with sodium hydroxide solution containing 0.5% sodium hydroxide on the weight of the fabric for 15 minutes. The fabric is subsequently washed with water and dried. Advantages of the New Process: 1. The process is carried out at ambient temperature and hence is a low energy process. 2. The residual alkali in the effluent is practically insignificant. The fabric subjected to the above process and the same fabric subjected to the conventional process employing 2% sodium hydroxide on the weight of the fabric dissolved in water and boiled at 121°C for 4 h were given a bleaching treatment with 3g/lit hydrogen peroxide concentration, 1.5 g/lit sodium silicate, 1.0 g/lit sodium hydroxide at boiling temperature of water maintaining a pH in the range 10.0 to 11.0 pH with a material to liquid ratio of 1:20 for 1 h. The bleached samples were dyed with hot brand reactive dye "Drimarene Orange HEZRI" from Clariant. The properties of the fabrics are given in the following Table. No. Treatment Weight Absorbancy Whiteness Fluidity K/S loss (Time) Index (%) 1 Conventionally 13.0 Instant 70.8 2.2 kiered 2 Kiered and 13.6 Instant 86.0 6.8 bleached 3 Kiered - Instant - - 10.5 bleached and dyed 4 Anaerobically 12.1 1-5 sec 66.8 2.3 treated 5 Treated and 12.1 1-5 sec 82.6 2.9 bleached 6 Treated, bleach - Instant - - 11.4 -ed and dyed The results show that the biochemical process results in lower weight loss and significantly higher retention of fluidity. The water absorbancy of the fabric is an important functional parameter. The absorbancy property of the bleached and dyed fabric obtained through the biochemical process is similar to that obtained in the conventional process. The colour strength obtained through the biochemical process is higher than that of the conventional process. Claims: 1. The biochemical scouring process for grey cotton goods is achieved through treatment of fabric with a mixture of microflora such as aerobic bacteria-Bacillus, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, heijerinclda, Erwinia; anaerobic bacteria- Clostridium, Methanomicrobium, Methanothrix, Desulfotomaculum; aerobic fungj-Aspergillus, Penicilliu;, anaerobic Blue green and green algae, rumen fungi and protozoa; aerobic actinomycetes- Streptomyces, Nocardia; anaerobic Phototrophic and yeast-Pichia at ambient temperature in the range of 25°C to 35°C under anaerobic condition; wherein the grey cotton fabric is immersed in water containing the microflora mixture comprising aerobic bacteria Bacillus, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Beijerinckia, Erwinia, anaerobic bacteria Clostridium, Methanomicrobium, Methanothrix, Desulfotomaculum, aerobic fungi Aspergillus, Penicillium anaerobic fungi Blue green and green algae, Rumen fungi and protozoa, aerobic actinomycetes Streptomyces, Nocardia, anaerobic actinomycetes, Phototrophic bacteria and yeast Pichia for period ranging from 6 h to 10 h under closed anaerobic condition; the fabric taken out at the end of 6 h to 10 h from the liquor and washed with cold water in the temperature range of 25°C to 35°C; the washed fabric is boiled with aqueous solution of dilute sodium hydroxide at a temperature ranging from 80°C to 95°C containing 0.5% of sodium hydroxide by weight on the weight of the grey cotton fabric for 15 minutes followed by washing with water at a temperature ranging from 50°C to 60°C for 15 minutes followed by rinsing with water at a temperature ranging, between 25°C to 35°C for 15 minutes and drying. Date : 30/4/2004 (Dr. S. Sreenivasan) Mumbai Director

Documents:

498-mum-2004-cancelled pages(15-7-2005).pdf

498-mum-2004-claims(granted)-(15-7-2005).doc

498-mum-2004-claims(granted)-(15-7-2005).pdf

498-mum-2004-correspondence(15-7-2005).pdf

498-mum-2004-correspondence(ipo)-(25-8-2008).pdf

498-mum-2004-form 1(30-4-2004).pdf

498-mum-2004-form 1(8-2-2005).pdf

498-mum-2004-form 19(30-4-2004).pdf

498-mum-2004-form 2(granted)-(15-7-2005).doc

498-mum-2004-form 2(granted)-(15-7-2005).pdf

498-mum-2004-form 3(15-7-2005).pdf

498-mum-2004-form 3(3-8-2004).pdf

498-mum-2004-form 3(30-4-2004).pdf

498-mum-2004-form 3(8-2-2005).pdf