Study on the coupling treatment of wool fiber with laccase/dopamine

Abstract

Wool, a natural protein fiber, is widely utilized in the textile industry due to its exceptional warmth retention and comfort. Nevertheless, the scale structure of wool fibers often results in felting shrinkage during processing and practical use. To address this, we propose a laccase/dopamine coupling treatment approach for wool fibers. Laccase, an eco-friendly enzyme, effectively removes scales from wool fibers. Concurrently, dopamine, a biomimetic material, is oxidized by laccase to form a polydopamine (PDA) coating on the wool fibers, thereby mitigating damage caused by scale removal. Through orthogonal optimization, key parameters were established: laccase concentration (1800 U/L), dopamine concentration (6 g/L), and treatment time (150 min). This optimized process significantly enhanced performance: breaking strength increased by 8.91 % (from 19.42 cN to 21.15 cN), and felting ball volume expanded by 19.62 % (from 14.73 cm³ to 17.62 cm³). The instrument analysis results demonstrate that laccase efficiently removes wool scales and collaborates with dopamine to establish a PDA coating, thereby augmenting the mechanical properties of the fibers. The effects of modification treatments on the dyeing properties and fastness of wool fibers, along with the long-term durability of the modified wool, were systematically investigated. In addition, aspects concerning the scalability, reproducibility, and commercial viability of the treatment process were discussed in detail. The laccase/dopamine coupling treatment method presents an eco-friendly strategy for wool processing, enhancing shrink resistance and mechanical properties while aligning with the principles of green chemistry and sustainable development, with broad application potential.