Characterisation of enzymatically oxidised lignosulfonates and their application on lignocellulosic fabrics

Background: The 'double function' of laccase, from the ascomycete Myceliophthora, to depolymerise/polymerise lignin was studied in this work. A lignosulfonate (LS) compound was oxidised by enzymatic action and several techniques were applied to measure the polymeric changes obtained. This study was focused on the attachment level of the oxidised LS at the flax surface. Results: Modified solutions were studied in terms of surface charge. Zeta potential values obtained showed an increase of polymerisation after several days of incubation. The change in molecular weight after LS polymerisation was detected using gel permeation chromatography. An increase of 1700 Da was achieved. Fourier transform infrared and UV-visible spectroscopy techniques were applied and the results showed an increase of the degree of polymerisation. The colour strength of flax fabrics incubated with oxidised LS solutions was also measured and an increase of K/S (K, absorption coefficient; S, scattering coefficient) after enzymatic oxidation was observed. Conclusion: The oxidised lignin products obtained show good potential for use in natural surface modification of textile materials containing flavonoids. These findings have important practical implications for lignocellulosic fibre coloration, where new polymers can replace harsh chemicals in the textile industry.