Proteases for degumming: A novel, green and ecofriendly way to quality silk production

The textile industry is the largest industry in terms of value, production and also in effluent generation. With the increasingly important requirement for textile manufacturers to reduce pollution in textile production, the use of enzymes in the chemical processing of fibers and textiles is rapidly gaining wider recognition because of their non-toxic and eco-friendly characteristics. As far as textiles are concerned, researchers’ emphasis on reduction of the use of harsh chemicals and reuse of effluent waste water. Majority of enzyme is used in degumming which is a silk refining process of the drawn silk fibre or yarn. The conventional degumming methods like extraction with water, boiling off in soap, degumming with alkali/acidic solutions have certain disadvantages like, removal of the sericin with low percentages, the surface hardening and damage of the filaments, lack of stringent control over process conditions and more time duration. Substituting proteolytic enzymes in silk degumming process for harsh chemicals such as alkalis, acids or soaps and conditions should improve the quality and preserve the physical properties of silk fibroin, to bring uniform removal of sericin and to reduce the pollution levels. Use of proteolytic enzymes in silk degumming resulted in complete sericin removal and retaining tensile properties, while improving surface smoothness and luster. There is an urgent need for scientific studies for potential application of proteolytic enzymes in silk degumming process as enzymatic method is known to be eco friendly reduces energy cost and enhances the productivity and quality of silk as compared to the chemical methods