BIOSYNTEX: Biotechnical quality improvement of synthetic textile fibres

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0136

Key words (English)

Fibres; textiles; synthetic yarns; biotechnology; environment; enzym; polyester; polyamide; polyacrylnitrile;
Industrial Manufacture; Materials Technology

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: G5RD-CT-2001-00560

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.3.8 Generic R&D activities

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Technische Universität Graz (A), VTT Biotechnology Research (FIN), Textil Alberto de Sauso (P), Universität Minho (P), Sattler AG (A), Technische Universität Tampere (FIN), Fisipe (P), Inotex (CZ)

Abstract (English)

The modification of synthetic fibres in order to obtain the desired end-product properties requires high amounts of energy and chemicals, which are partially discharged to the environment and are released from the end-products causing serious health risks. BioSynTex will develop new enzyme systems for the targeted modification of polyester (PET), polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polyamide (PA/Ar) fibres. The obtained quality improving functionalities on the fibre surface will be characterised in detail. Eco-efficient finishing processes using the enzymatically modified fibres will be investigated in laboratory sale and larger scale using typical machinery. Savings of up to 30 % dye, 55 % energy and 20 % water during dyeing of textiles (clothing) and 45 % coupling agents during coating of PET (for tarpaulins) and 30 % of binders during the production of awning fabrics (from PAN) can be expected based on the new fibre functionalities.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0136