Some Reactions Between Wool and Formaldehyde

Abstract

An investigation was undertaken of the variation in the reaction extent of formaldehyde with wool at the various re action sites as a function of variation in the formaldehyde content and/or the conditions of treatment. It was found that primary amino groups, tyrosyl residues, and tryptophyl residues reacted extensively and contributed in different extents to the total formaldehyde uptake by the wool. Tyrosyl and tryptophyl residues reacted more extensively at low and high pH levels than at intermediate levels. Amino groups showed less variation in reaction extent with pH than did the other two types of residue. It was demonstrated that some of the amino groups reacted with formaldehyde to give products which were stable to rinsing in distilled water at room temperature but which were broken down by aqueous pyridine at 100°C.