Physico-chemical and Dyeing Properties of Raw Wool Extracted By Pressurized CO2/Modifiers

Raw wool fibers were extracted with CO2 with different organic modifiers (acetone, ethanol and methanol) at constant pressure and temperature. The influence of experimental extraction conditions on the properties of extracted wools was studied to determine the suitability of the fibers for textile applications. Suitable wool wax removal from raw wool fibers was qualitatively evaluated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy observation as well as by whiteness, yellowness and brightness measurements. Moreover, the possible bulk fiber modification as a consequence of internal wool lipid extraction belonging to the cell membrane complex was assessed by determining the bursting resistance and dyeing behavior. The results suggest that both CO2/ethanol and CO2/methanol extraction methods provide well-scoured wool fibers with an acceptable dyeing behavior, the bulk modification being negligible.