Investigating the Effect of Cellulase Enzyme on the Physical and Environmental Properties of Recycled Cotton Containing Fabrics 


Vol. 26,  No. 12, pp. 5515-5529, Dec.  2025
10.1007/s12221-025-01200-y


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  Abstract

This study investigates the impact of enzymatic treatment on the physical, comfort, and environmental performance of fabrics containing recycled cotton fibers. Single jersey fabrics with varying blends of virgin and recycled cotton were treated with two types of commercial cellulase enzymes (acidic and neutral) and tested for properties such as mass per unit area, thickness, air permeability, pilling resistance, bursting strength, and thermal behavior. In addition, a life cycle analysis (LCA) was conducted to assess the environmental implications of using recycled cotton fabrics. The impact assessment was performed using GaBi software and the CML 2001 impact assessment methodology. The findings revealed that enzymatic treatment caused dimensional changes, including increased fabric weight and thickness, which improved thermal resistance and reduced pilling. However, the treatment did not significantly affect the overall structural strength of the fabrics. The LCA results highlighted that while the use of recycled cotton fibers significantly reduces eutrophication and freshwater ecotoxicity impacts by up to 62% and 95%, respectively, the energy-intensive mechanical recycling process substantially increases global warming potential. Transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, in recycling processes could lower carbon emissions by approximately 33%. The study highlights the potential of enzymatic treatment to enhance the performance of recycled cotton fabrics, supporting more sustainable textile production.

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  Cite this article

[IEEE Style]

Z. B. Ünal, D. T. Birkocak, E. Acar, S. B. Erdem, N. Büyükkamacı, E. Bozacı, "Investigating the Effect of Cellulase Enzyme on the Physical and Environmental Properties of Recycled Cotton Containing Fabrics," Fibers and Polymers, vol. 26, no. 12, pp. 5515-5529, 2025. DOI: 10.1007/s12221-025-01200-y.

[ACM Style]

Zümrüt Bahadır Ünal, Derya Tama Birkocak, Eda Acar, Sema Bahar Erdem, Nurdan Büyükkamacı, and Ebru Bozacı. 2025. Investigating the Effect of Cellulase Enzyme on the Physical and Environmental Properties of Recycled Cotton Containing Fabrics. Fibers and Polymers, 26, 12, (2025), 5515-5529. DOI: 10.1007/s12221-025-01200-y.

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pISSN : 1229 - 9197
eISSN : 1875 - 0052

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