Flax retting is a chemical, microbial or enzymic process which releases the bast fibers from the stem matrix so they can be suitable for mechanical processing before spinning into linen yarn. TI Enzymatic scouring to improve cotton fabric wettability. Current concerns include looking for ways to use bioprocessing and biotechnology to make textile processing more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Storming nature's barricades Much of the solution lies in achieving easier access to cellulose, the major structural polymer in trees and plants. This long, linear glucose polymer is the stuff paper and most natural fabrics are made from.
Nature rigorously shields it from harm by enclosing it in a mix of barrier polymers.
Breaking down nature's barricades to get to the structural cellulose fibers traditionally entails mechanical beating or harsh chemical treatment of cellulose source materials. However, hints of change are in the air. Efforts to redefine cotton and flax processing are gathering steam. Among ongoing biotechnology efforts is the search for an enzyme that will free flax fibers from the plant's stalk, a process known in the linen industry as retting. Limiting or eliminating both the ionic salt flow and the need to operate at high temperatures would fundamentally change the cotton industry worldwide.