What is meant by bioscouring?

Answer 1

Bio-scouring with pectinases (enzyme) have shown promise in replacing the traditional alkaline scouring treatment. Some auxiliaries suppliers have introduced an enzymatic process to remove hydrophobic and other non-cellulosic components from cotton. The new bio-scouring process operates at mild pH conditions over a broad temperature range and can be applied using equipment such as jet machines.

It is claimed that, due to a better bleachability of enzyme-scoured textiles, bleaching can be carried out with reduced amounts of bleaching chemicals and auxiliaries. Bio-scouring enzymes actually make the substrate more hydrophilic (which could explain better bleachability), but they are not able to destroy wax and seeds, which are therefore removed in the subsequent bleaching process.