New detergent mechanism with use of novel alkaline cellulose

Microscopic studies of naturally soiled cotton undershirts showed that there was sebum in the microscopic spaces in the interior of the cotton fibers. Ordinary detergents did not remove this soil satisfactorily, although they readily removed sebum on the exterior of the fibers. Alkaline cellulase, which was compatible with the alkaline ingredients of detergents and which interacted selectively with celluloses in interfiber space in the interior of fiber, effectively removed sebum soil in the interfiber spaces in the presence of usual detergent ingredients. The removal of soil by the hydrolysis of the amorphous regions of fibers with cellulase is a new detergent mechanism.