Studies on the production of cellulase by Trichoderma sp. SO-571 and the enzyme treatment for cellulosic fabrics

A Trichoderma sp. SO-571 producing cellulase was isolated from soil, and a pilot-scale cultivation and separation of cellulase were conducted. The cellulase activity was about 14.5 unit/ml after 112 hr of cultivation in a 30 1 fermenter containing 3.0% cellulose, 4.0% soybean powder, 3.0% wheat bran, 0.5% (NH₄)₂SO₄, 0.2% urea, 1.0% CSL, 0.5% KH ₂PO₄, and 0.2% Tween 80. The cellulase was purified over 4.6 folds in three steps with 47.86% yield. The optimum pH of cellulase was pH 5.0 and optimum temperature was 60°C. To investigate the effect of the cellulase-treated cellulosic fabric, the weight loss was compared. The weight loss of denim treated with cellulase from Trichoderma sp. SO-571 was 2.9% and that with Celluclast 1.5L was 2.2%. In tencel treatement with enzyme, cellulase showed 0.7% higer weight loss than that with Celluclast 1.5L.