Low-temperature acidic amylases fromAspergillusfor desizing of cotton fabrics

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Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus with strong starch degrading amylase activity were isolated and screened for the production of α-amylases. Production of amylases from both the Aspergillus species was maximum on the fourth day (A. niger – 1780 U/mL/min, A. flavus – 1550 U/mL/min) after inoculation in the basal medium, using submerged fermentation. Higher enzyme activities up to 4000 and 2500 U/mL/min were obtained for A. niger and A. flavus, respectively, with wheat starch as the carbon source compared to the levels obtained in the cases of corn, rice and soluble starches. Maximum amylase activity was observed at 40°C, at pH 5 for A. niger and pH 4.5 for A. flavus. The study revealed that mixed amylases obtained from these sources exhibit higher desizing efficiency of grey cotton fabrics (A. niger – 96%, A. flavus – 90%) with significant improvement in the absorbency, extractable impurities and amylases obtained from these sources, which could be a better alternative for the existing range of desizing agents.