Use of ultrasonic energy for intensification of the bio-preparation of greige cotton.

Raw unscoured cotton contains approximately 90% cellulose and various noncellulosic impurities such as waxes, pectins, proteins, and fats. To remove these hydrophobic noncellulosics and produce a highly absorbent fiber that can be dyed and finished uniformly, the greige cotton is traditionally processed with relatively harsh and environmentally unfriendly chemicals. New bio-preparation processes that utilize highly specific enzymes instead of conventional organic/inorganic chemicals are becoming increasingly popular in the textile industry.