COTTONBLEACH · Improved Novel Eco-Friendly Bleaching System for Cotton Using Enzyme and Ultrasound Processes

Cotton textiles --the main natural-fibre textile used worldwide-- undergo a toxic and costly bleaching process that weighs heavily on the quality, cost and environmental impact of textile manufacture. CottonBleach proposes the development of an improved cotton bleaching technology, more respectful with the textiles and the environment, to improve the competitive edge of European textile SMEs. Current bleaching methods use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium hypochlorite (NaClO, aka bleach), resulting in fabric damage, formation of toxic by-products and large amounts of water and energy to remove these chemicals. The proposed CottonBleach technology offers a non-toxic Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) bleaching technology using a combination of sequential enzymatic techniques enhanced through the use of ultrasound technology. This innovative technology will maintain the natural strength of the cotton fibre, providing significantly improved bleaching effectiveness with minimal fibre damage. The scientific objective of CottonBleach is to further investigate the use of ultrasound-enhanced enzymatic bleaching on an industrial scale of development, as manifested by recently published economic analysis which consider the use of enzymes as “cost effective for textile mills to adopt”. This proposal also fulfils the objectives of FP7 collective research in that it will expand the knowledge base of large communities of SMEs and develop innovative technology that has potential applications in the broader bleaching industry.