Bioscouring of jute fabric by cellulase-free alkalo-thermostable xylanase from Bacillus pumilus ASH

Alkalo-thermostable xylanase from Bacillus pumilus ASH has been evaluated for bioscouring of jute fabric. An enzyme dose of 5 IU/g of oven dried jute fabric resulted in release of more reducing sugar and weight loss as compared to control when incubated at 55 °C. An incubation time of 120 min was sufficient to increase the whiteness and brightness of fabric up to 3.93 and 10.19% respectively and also decreased the yellowness by 5.57%. Addition of chelating and wetting agent greatly enhanced the fabric properties. Bioscouring of jute fabric with xylanase enzyme along with EDTA and Tween-20 resulted in an increase of 9.63, 4.28 and 10.71% of reducing sugars, whiteness and brightness respectively as compared to conventional process. Bleaching of bioscoured jute fabric, further improved the various properties like tenacity, brightness, yellowness and whiteness.