Degumming Gonometa postica cocoons using environmentally conscious methods

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Date
2015-02
Authors
Van der Merwe, Ismari
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The trend in the textile industry is at present towards eco-friendly processes and minimising the adverse ecological effects of production. Silk degumming is a high resource-consuming process, as far as water and energy are concerned. It further is ecologically questionable, because of the high environmental impact of effluents. The development of an effective degumming process would mean saving water and energy, recovery of valuable by-products such as sericin peptides, and lower environmental impact of effluents. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate environmentally conscious degumming methods that could discriminate between sericin and fibroin, without harming the fibroin. The methods used and evaluated as environmentally conscious methods were tested against Orvus paste and all the samples were exposed to the method at a constant temperature of 32°C and a period of 10 days. Results indicated that an increased degumming time resulted in a decrease in the silk fibroin average molecular weight. A clear band at 25 kDa appeared with all the methods, indicating that the light chains were separated from the heavy chains during degumming. The degumming weight loss ranged from 27 to 41% over a time period of 10 days. Two of the methods namely the combination Orvus paste and Eucalyptus oil and catholyte were more efficient than Orvus paste. The SEM micrographs showed no fibrillations. This indicated further that the degumming methods were successful; the sericin was removed without damage done to the surfaces of the fibres. The maximum load and displacement means of the fibres differed with the different degumming methods applied. The strongest fibres were obtained from the control method. The weakest fibres came from the Vermicompost method. The results demonstrated that the environmentally conscious methods allow efficient, low cost degumming of sericin.
Afrikaans: Die tendense op die oomblik in die tekstielindustrie is ‘n beweging na ekologies vriendelike prossesse en om die onvriendelike ekologiese effekte van die produksie te minimaliseer. Die ontgomming van sy, behels ‘n hoë verbruik van hulpbronne, veral wat betref die verbruik van water en energie. Dit word verder ekologies bevraagteken as gevolg van die hoë impak van die afvalwater. Die ontwikkeling van ‘n effektiewe ontgommingsproses sal die spaar van water en energie beteken, die herwinning van kosbare byprodukte soos serisien peptiede en die verlaging in die ekologiese impak van die afvalwater. Die doelwit van die studie was om ekologiese verantwoordelike ontgommingsmetodes te ontwikkel en te evalueer, wat tussen serisien en fibroin kan diskrimineer, sonder om die fibroin te beskadig. Die metodes wat gebruik en geëvalueer is as ekologiese verantwoordelike metodes, is teen Orvus paste (kontrole) getoets en al die monsters is blootgestel aan ‘n konstante temperatuur van 32°C vir ‘n periode van 10 dae. Resultate het aangedui dat ‘n toename in die ontgommingstyd, ‘n afname in die sy fibroin se gemiddelde molekulêre gewig tot gevolg gehad het. ‘n Duidelike band verskyn by 25 kDa vir al die metodes, wat aandui dat die ligte kettings geskei het van die swaarder kettings gedurende die ontgommingsproses. Die ontgommingsgewigsverlies lê tussen 27 en 41% oor ‘n tydperk van 10 dae. Twee van die metodes, naamlik die kombinasie Orvus paste en Eucalyptus olie en katolyte was meer effektief as Orvus paste. Die SEM mikrofoto’s het geen fibrillasies aangetoon nie. Dit het verder op die sukses van die ontgommingsmetodes gedui; die serisien was verwyder sonder enige skade aan die veseloppervlaktes. Die maksimum gewig en verplasing gemiddeldes verskil met die toepassing van verskillende ontgommingsmetodes. Die sterkste vesels was verkry met die kontrole metode. Die swakste vesels kom van die Vermikompos metode. Die resultate demonstreer dat die ekologiese verantwoordelik metodes, effektiewe, lae loste ontgomming van serisien tot gevolg gehad het.
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Textile industry, Silk finishing, Dyes and dyeng -- Silk, Factory and trade waste, Textile industry -- Environmental aspects, Yhesis Ph.D. (Consumer science))--University of the Free State, 2015
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