H2O2 as Efficient Oxidizing Agent for Wool Processing and the Preparation of Wool-Based Materials

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide is a compound that plays an important role in the biochemical processes of living organisms and found in a large spectrum of applications from chemistry and soft material processing to cosmetics and medicine. It is present in natural waters and contributes to their purification through reactive radical species. Starting from these considerations, an attempt was made to explain the morphological changes and the properties of the fibrous material achieved by means of the reactions with the reactive radical species that appear following the disproportionation process of the hydrogen peroxide. The influence of different factors, such as temperature, pH, the presence or absence of catalysts, etc. on the complex mechanisms by which morphological changes occur in the wool fibrous materials is discussed by corroborating old and new results collected by different investigation techniques. The reports on hydrogen peroxide involvement in wool processing are summarized and new materials based either on wool waste or on keratin subproducts are described.