The Action of Periodic Acid and its Salts on Wool

Abstract

In the present work, the amino acid content of periodate-oxidized wool is investigated. In general, amino acids in periodate-oxidized wool decrease to different degrees depending on their difference in reactivity. The controlling factor for the change of amino acids in periodate-oxidized wool is the periodate consumption, regardless of the reaction conditions. At a periodate consumption of 2.5 mmole/g wool, a decrease in amino acids ranging from 3% for arginine to 70% for serine and tryptophan is observed. The change in amino acids in wool is also discussed on the basis of organic reactions, and, by analogy, with reaction of periodate with free amino acids and peptides.