40—THE ACTION OF MIXED SOLVENTS ON WOOL

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Abstract
The action of aqueous solutions of alcohols, ketones, amides, pyridine, and trichloroacetic acid on wool has been examined. Among the solutions that have been found to be specially effective in causing swelling and reducing the resistance of the fibres to extension are aqueous propanol (45% w/w), aqueous formamide (89% w/w), aqueous pyridine (54% w/w), and aqueous trichloroacetic acid. Solutions of trichloroacetic acid in aqueous propanol are even more effective than aqueous solutions. With these additions to the list of available swelling agents for keratin, it should be possible to ensure access of almost any type of reagent to the fine structure under conditions of, for example. pH, that also ensure optimuni reactivity. A preliminary examination of the action of aqueous propanol and aqueous pyridine on oxidized fibres, reduced and methylated fibres, and the keratoses suggests that the media may find a useful application in the fractionation of keratin. Particular interest is attached to aqueous propanol, which, by analogy with its solvent action on zein, is believed to be specially reactive with the hydrophobic regions of keratin; its use in fractionation should make it possible to decide whether amino acids with hydrophobic side-chains are concentrated in different parts of the same polypeptide chain or are differently distributed between chains.