Abstract
Attempt has been made to analyse structural changes in cotton fibres occurred during biopolishing using cellulases obtained from Trichoderma reesei. Cellulase hydrolysis results in weight loss of the samples, which, in turn, results in the splitting of fibres and removal of surface irregularities of the fibres as revealed by SEM images. Degree of crystallinity is not influenced by the biopolishing process due to random hydrolysis of the cellulase enzymes on cotton fibres. Lateral order of the crystallites, measured between (101) and 
peaks of the x-ray diffraction reduces from 0.662 to 0.667 on account of the hydrolysis though the crystallite thickness measured perpendicular to (002) plane remains unchanged. FTIR results reveal the increased -OH bending, CH2 in-plane bending, and C-H vibrations of the cellulose chains in the biopolished cotton samples using cellulase
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Cellulase Production using Submerged Fermentation
2.2. Measurement of Cellulase Activity
2.3. Determination of Enzyme Activity
2.4. Biopolishing of Cotton Samples
2.5. Weight Loss
2.6. Surface Morphology
2.7. Degree of Crystallinity, Crystallite Size and Lateral Order
2.8. FTIR Spectrum
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Fungal Growth and Enzyme Production
3.2. Weight Loss
3.3. Surface Morphology of Biopolished Samples
3.4. Crystallinity, Crystallite Size and Crystalline Order
3.5. FTIR Analysis
4. Conclusion