Abstract: Treatment of colored cellulose fiber fabrics for at least fifteen minutes with an aqueous solution of cellulase containing at least about 250 CMC units per liter under pH conditions conducive to high activity for the cellulase clarifies the color.

Abstract: Yarn to be utilized for the manufacture of pre-softened fabric is stiffened without the use of binding agents. Only corn starch and low temperature wax are utilized as stiffeners. Fabric manufactured from such yarn is then subjected to a finishing process, in which enzymes capable of breaking down the corn starch and a wetter/rewetter are added to the fabric itself. These enzymes are activated during a subsequent soaking in water only, followed by agitation, whereby stiffness may be removed from the fabric in approximately 5 minutes. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, softeners are also added to the fabric during the finishing process. The softeners are also released during the subsequent garment washing operation. Preferably, the softeners include at least reactive silicon. This serves the additional purpose of lubricating sewing needles and cutting knives during the garment manufacturing process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detergent composition comprising lipases. By inclusion of a certain, immunologically defined class of lipases in a detergent composition which comprises a mixture of an anionic and a nonionic detergent, an improved overall detergency is obtained. Typical suitable lipases are obtained from certain Pseudomonas and Chromobacter strains.

Abstract: A moisture-permeable waterproof coating is formed by coating a fabric with a water-based coating composition containing a film forming polymer and a water-soluble polymer in a proportion of 5 to 70% based on total solids, drying or heating the fabric to form a film thereon; and then treating the resulting film with an aqueous solution of an enzyme which selectively degrades the water-soluble polymer, thereby enzymatically degrading the water-soluble polymer and extracting the degraded water soluble polymer from the film, whereby the film on the fabric is rendered microporous.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of descaled animal fiber. The scale is effectively removed by oxidation of a surface of the animal fiber with an oxidizing reagent, following by treatment with a proteolytic enzyme in the presence of salt. The resulting animal fiber has excellent shrink-proof properties.

Abstract: A detergent composition contains as an active component a cellulase produced by alkalophilic bacteria of the genus of Cellulosmonas.

Abstract: An enzyme-containing bleaching composition is disclosed containing an inorganic peroxide, an enzyme, and one or more anhydrous salts selected from the group consisting of anhydrous sodium citrate, anhydrous magnesium sulfate, anhydrous calcium chloride and anhydrous zinc sulfate.