Sericin removal from silk fibers with eco-friendly alternati̇ve methods

In the textile sector, companies' study are being carried out to make processes with alternative eco-friendly methods to reduce the environmental load, as in every sector nowadays. Sericin removal operations are carried out via conventional method through Marseillan soap, in an alkaline pH environment. In this thesis study, sericin removal operations from silk fibre were carried out under the conditions at the high temperature and enzymatic methods. The results were compared with the conventional process in terms of whiteness, gloss, weight loss, tensile strength and strain failure. The enzymatic method with protease enzyme at 8% concentration, the high-temperature method at 110 ° C and conventional method are similar to each other. In the course of the studies, the surface morphology, structure and the dyeing behaviours of sericin-removed silk fibres with environmentally friendly alternative methods have been analyzed. Acid and reactive dyestuffs are used in different concentrations for dyeing processes. Wash fastness tests and colour yield measurements were performed on samples. No significant differences were observed in the FT-IR spectra of the sericin-removed silk fibres according to the conventional and alternative methods. When the silk fibres removed by conventional and alternative methods according to Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements are examined, The endothermic peaks are very close to the peaks in the raw silk fibres. The silk fibres, which are sericin-removed by enzymatic, conventional and high-temperature methods are painted with acid and reactive dyes. Sericin-removed silk fibres by high temperature and enzymatic methods give similar colour yield and wash fastness values with sericin-removed silk fibres by the conventional method. As a result of the studies, it has been concluded that enzymatic and high-temperature methods, which are more environmentally friendly than the conventional method, can be used in sericin removal processes. The results also show that these processes did not have any adverse effect for the dyeing of the silk fibres.