The Application of Biosurfactants for Scouring Wool

A saponin and a recently developed surface active oat extract were evaluated in laboratory-scale scouring of raw wool. The levels of contaminants remaining on the wool after bio-scouring using saponin and oat extract, along with the colour, were compared to those of wool which had been laboratory-scoured with a surfactant used in the commercial scouring of raw wool, namely a synthetic nine molar poly(oxyethylene)nonyl phenyl. Neither biosurfactant was as effective overall as the synthetic surfactant, although the saponin showed encouraging results by producing low levels of residual contaminants on the wool, and good colour that met accepted industry standards. The oat extract was considerably less effective than the saponin based on objective measurements of colour and residual contaminant level. The study reported here has demonstrated that biosurfactants have the potential to be used in the scouring of raw wool.