An Introduction to Bio-based Textile Chemicals

Bio-based materials are a new class of materials primarily derived from renewable biomass or raw materials obtained through biomanufacturing technologies, and are meticulously produced through the integrated application of diverse biological, chemical, and physical methods. Depending on their physical form, bio-based materials can be subdivided into the following categories: bio-based chemicals, polymers, plastics, bio-based chemical fibers, bio-based rubber, and bio-based coatings. Compared to petroleum-based materials, bio-based materials significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and substantially lessen dependence on petroleum resources. At the same time, their production processes are more environmentally friendly and sustainable, perfectly aligning with today's society's urgent pursuit of and expectations for environmental protection.

In the textile and dyeing industry, green development has become an inevitable trend, and the industry's green transition is particularly urgent and necessary. This shift not only requires companies to align with the broader trend toward environmental protection but also compels them to deeply integrate environmental principles into process design and actively adopt eco-friendly chemicals. Among these, bio-based textile chemicals, with their unique environmental advantages, are ideally suited to meet the industry's pressing needs and have thus become a focal point and hot topic within the sector. Bio-based textile chemicals primarily fall into four major categories: bio-based colorants, bio-based surfactants, bio-based finishing agents, and enzymatic auxiliaries for textile printing and dyeing.

Bio-based colorants encompass a range of natural dyes and pigments, with plant-derived natural dyes being particularly abundant, such as gardenia yellow, turmeric, and lycopene. In addition, animal-derived pigments, such as cochineal red and shellac purple, also contribute to the rich color options available for bio-based colorants. At the same time, microbial pigments, such as monacolin, are an indispensable component. Currently, the large-scale production of beta-carotene (e.g., from Aspergillus trichosporus) and astaxanthin (e.g., from Haematococcus pluvialis) has been achieved, marking the entry of these bioactive substances into a new phase of more efficient and stable production.

In cutting-edge research, scholars have ingeniously employed metabolic engineering techniques to construct microbial pigment-producing strains and finely regulate metabolic pathways. By precisely introducing microbial pigment synthase genes into Escherichia coli-a microorganism that originally lacked the ability to produce pigments-they have successfully altered its original metabolic pathways. This innovative approach has enabled E. coli to synthesize vibrant, multicolored pigments, opening up entirely new possibilities for the field of pigment production.

Bio-based surfactants have attracted significant attention due to their structural diversity, wide range of properties, and excellent environmental compatibility. Among the numerous bio-based surfactants, glycolipids, natural glycosides, synthetic alkyl glycosides, protein-based surfactants, and amino acid-based surfactants are common examples, each possessing unique chemical properties and application advantages. However, in practical industrial applications, they still face multiple bottlenecks, such as high costs and difficulties in large-scale production.

Bio-based finishing agents come in a wide variety of types and functions, including bio-based fluorine-free water-repellent finishing agents, chitosan-based antimicrobial finishing agents, and phytic acid-based flame retardants. Among these, as market demand for water-repellent fabrics continues to grow, coupled with increasingly stringent regulatory measures on fluorinated chemicals, bio-based fluorine-free water-repellent finishes have gradually emerged as a focal point of attention within the industry. These finishes not only meet environmental requirements but also effectively satisfy market demand for water-repellent performance, thereby demonstrating immense potential and broad development prospects in the market. Recently, domestic and international companies such as Angao, Transfar, Demi, Rihua, and China Textile Chemical have successively launched related products.

Enzyme auxiliaries used in textile printing and dyeing are a type of eco-friendly, bio-based additive. Their advantage lies in the fact that enzymes are inherently biodegradable, thereby eliminating the need to add large amounts of chemicals. This characteristic significantly reduces the burden on wastewater treatment, making the use of enzyme auxiliaries in textile printing and dyeing more aligned with the principles of green and sustainable development. The application of enzyme auxiliaries in the textile printing and dyeing sector is constantly expanding; not only are they widely used in various printing and dyeing processes, but with continuous technological advancements, new types of enzyme preparations are also emerging one after another. These enzyme preparations not only demonstrate exceptional efficiency, enabling printing and dyeing processes to be completed effectively, but are also highly favored by the industry due to their broad applicability. It is worth noting that while these new enzyme preparations enhance printing and dyeing results, they also significantly reduce environmental pollution, injecting new vitality into the sustainable development of the textile printing and dyeing industry.

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