Degumming process of flax at industrial pilot scale
Abstract
The enzymatic/ultrasounds degumming of flax fibers becomes an important alternativeto conventional procedures. The present study shows the benefits of the ultrasounds in laccase
degumming process at pilot scale. A pilot experiment using 1 % laccase and less than 30
minutes ultrasounds was performed, and high-quality degummed flax fibers were produced
from flax tows using processes which have not been exploited commercially. We tested the
influence of the ultrasounds/laccase system on the physical-mechanical and chemical
properties of the flax fibers. The properties of the fibers are compared with those of the cotton
fibers. Those properties allow us to obtain fine blend yarns (Tex 25) when the flax percentage
is 50 %.
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