Enhanced Bleaching and Softening of Jute by Pretreatment with Polysaccharide Degrading Enzymes

The brightness of peroxide bleached jute material increased by about 3% when pretreated with an enzyme mix containing cellulase and xylanase. Pretreatment for 6 hours at pH 5.0 and 45°C using 0.2 u (unit) cellulase and 2.6 u of xylanase per gram of fibers gave the best results. Additives like nonionic surfactants or chelating agents during pretreatment further enhanced the brightness. Pretreatment reduced the per oxide requirement for bleaching and rendered the jute materials distinctly softer.