Can Desizing Be Avoided in Textiles?

Traditional desizing cannot always be avoided in textiles, but it can be simplified, minimized, or completely eliminated when modern water-soluble sizing technologies are used. Conventional enzyme-based desizing exists mainly to remove insoluble starch and synthetic polymers. New-generation sizing systems-such as water-soluble polysaccharide-based sizing (e.g., Sizaltex)-allow fabrics to be desized using only hot water at 80–90 °C, without enzymes, acids, or harsh chemicals.

What Is Desizing in Textiles?

Desizing is the first wet-processing step in textile finishing where warp sizing agents applied during weaving are removed from the fabric.

Sizing is essential for weaving strength, but must be removed before dyeing, printing, or finishing because residual size:

  • Blocks dye penetration

  • Causes uneven shades

  • Increases chemical consumption

Traditionally, desizing relies on enzymes (amylase) or oxidative/acid treatments to break down starch-based or synthetic sizing films.

To learn more about the Desizing Process, click here.

Why Is Desizing Necessary?

Desizing is necessary because most conventional sizing agents are not naturally water-soluble once dried on yarn.

Without desizing:

  • Dyes cannot access fiber surfaces

  • Printing paste penetration is restricted

  • Finishing chemicals perform inconsistently

  • Fabric defects like patchiness and streaks appear

In short, desizing exists to correct the chemical complexity introduced during sizing.

What Happens If Desizing Is Not Done Correctly?

Incorrect or incomplete desizing leads to downstream quality failures:

  • Patchy or uneven dyeing

  • Poor colorfastness

  • Increased reprocessing

  • Higher effluent load

  • Reduced finishing efficiency

Ironically, many finishing problems originate not in finishing-but in the sizing chemistry used at the loom stage.

Are Enzymes Needed in Desizing? Can We Reduce or Stop Using Them?

Short answer: Enzymes are only needed because of traditional sizing chemistry.

Why enzymes are used:

  • To hydrolyze insoluble starch films

  • To break down complex polymeric sizing layers

  • To reduce fabric damage compared to acids

However, enzymes:

  • Add cost

  • Increase process time

  • Generate COD/BOD in effluent

  • Are sensitive to pH and temperature control

How enzyme use can be reduced or eliminated

By switching to water-soluble sizing agents that:

  • Dissolve directly in hot water

  • Do not require molecular breakdown

  • Leave no resistant film on fibers

This is where Sizaltex-type sizing technology becomes relevant-not as a product pitch, but as a process redesign.

What Is the Role of Sizing Agents in Desizing?

Desizing difficulty is directly proportional to sizing agent complexity.

Type of sizing agent

Desizing requirement

Conventional starch

Enzymatic

PVA / synthetics

Hot alkali + surfactants

Modified starch blends

Enzyme + wash

Water-soluble polysaccharides (Sizaltex type)

Hot water only

In other words:
Desizing problems are created during sizing, not finishing.

What Effluents Are Released During Desizing and How Do They Harm the Environment?

Traditional desizing releases:

  • Hydrolyzed starch fragments

  • Synthetic polymers (PVA residues)

  • Enzyme degradation by-products

  • Surfactants and wetting agents

Environmental impact

  • High COD & BOD

  • Increased load on ETPs

  • Sludge generation

  • Poor biodegradability (especially PVA)

This makes desizing one of the most environmentally expensive “invisible” processes in wet processing.

How Can Desizing Effluents Be Reduced?

Desizing effluent reduction can be achieved by:

  • Lower size add-on

  • Better size uniformity

  • Eliminating synthetic polymers

  • Reducing enzymatic hydrolysis

But the largest reduction comes from eliminating the desizing chemistry itself.

How Can Desizing Be Avoided in Textiles?

Desizing can be functionally avoided by changing sizing philosophy

Instead of asking “How do we remove size?”, progressive mills ask:
“Why are we applying something that needs removal at all?”

Water-Soluble Sizing Approach

Modern water-soluble sizing systems (such as Sizaltex):

  • Form a strong yet fully water-dispersible film

  • Maintain weaving efficiency

  • Do not crosslink irreversibly on yarn

  • Dissolve completely in hot water

Practical Outcome

  • Fabric desizing = simple hot wash

  • No enzymes

  • No acids

  • No alkali

  • No desizing auxiliaries

At a process level, this collapses desizing into a basic washing step.

How Sizaltex Changes the Desizing Equation (Process Perspective)

Characteristics of Sizaltex:

  • Polysaccharide-based

  • Fully water-soluble

  • Stable sizing film during weaving

  • Completely desizes via hot water

From a mill operations standpoint, this means:

  • Desizing step becomes optional

  • Enzyme procurement eliminated

  • Shorter wet-processing cycles

  • Lower effluent treatment cost

  • Better dye reproducibility

This aligns sizing, desizing, and sustainability into one continuous system, instead of three disconnected problems.

How to Reduce Overall Desizing Costs

Cost reduction does not come from cheaper enzymes - it comes from not needing them.

Key cost-reduction levers

  • Eliminate enzyme usage

  • Reduce water consumption

  • Cut heating cycles

  • Lower ETP load

  • Reduce reprocessing and shade corrections

Water-soluble sizing like Sizaltex directly impacts all five levers simultaneously.

What Are Sustainable Practices in Desizing?

True sustainability in desizing means designing it out of the process.

Sustainable desizing principles

  • Use biodegradable sizing agents

  • Avoid synthetic polymers

  • Prefer thermal solubility over chemical breakdown

  • Minimize auxiliary chemicals

  • Reduce effluent complexity

Water-soluble sizing technologies are increasingly aligned with:

  • ZDHC goals

  • GOTS processing requirements

  • Low-impact wet processing

  • Cleaner production benchmarks

Key Insight: Desizing Is a Symptom, Not a Requirement

Desizing exists because traditional sizing chemistry creates insoluble residues.

When sizing chemistry evolves:

  • Desizing simplifies

  • Enzymes become redundant

  • Effluent load collapses

  • Sustainability improves organically

This is not a finishing innovation-it is a weaving-stage decision with finishing-stage consequences.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can desizing be completely eliminated?

Functionally yes, when water-soluble sizing systems like Sizaltex are used.

  1. Is enzyme desizing mandatory for cotton fabrics?

Only if conventional Starch or PVA sizing is used.

  1. What temperature is required to remove water-soluble sizing?

This depends from chemical to chemical. Sizaltex typically desizes with 80–90 °C hot water.

  1. Does enzyme-free desizing affect dye quality?

No, shade consistency often improves due to uniform size removal.

  1. Is this approach suitable for high-speed looms?

Yes, provided the sizing film has adequate abrasion resistance during weaving. Companies like Arvind, PeeVee and Baldev LLP are regular purchasers of Sizaltex.

References

ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines (Desizing Effluent Reduction Strategies), 

https://downloads.roadmaptozero.com/output/ZDHC-Wastewater-Guidelines

ZDHC Wastewater V1.1 (Enzyme-Free Wet Processing), 

https://wastewater.sustainabilityconsortium.org/downloads/zdhc-wastewater-guidelines-verson-1-1/

Textile Wastewater Standards (Sizing Removal Effluent), 

https://wastewater.sustainabilityconsortium.org/downloads/textile-industry-wastewater-discharge-quality-standards/

ZDHC Wastewater PDF (Sustainable Desizing Alternatives), 

https://lederpiel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ZDHC_WastewaterGuidelines_V1.1_JUL19.pdf

Wastewater Technologies for Desizing (ETP Load Minimization), 

https://studylib.net/doc/28191281/wastewater-treatment-technologies-for-the-textile-industr...

GOTS Implementation Manual (Low-Impact Desizing), 

https://global-standard.org/images/Implementation_Manual_7.0_Second_Revision_Draft.pdf

GOTS Official Site (Organic Sizing Removal), 

https://global-standard.org

OEKO-TEX Standards (Chemical-Free Finishing Prep), 

https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/our-standards/

OEKO-TEX STeP (Process Optimization), 

https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/our-standards/oeko-tex-step/

ZDHC-OEKO-TEX Collaboration (Effluent from Sizing/Desizing), 

https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/news/infocenter/zdhc-and-oeko-tex-strengthen-collaboration

PMC: Potato Starch Sizing (Hot-Wash Desizing Only), 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6572457/

PMC: Starch Graft Copolymer (Enzyme Reduction), 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10820382/

PMC: Corn Starch Derivatives (Water-Soluble Films), 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7361798/

PMC: Sustainable Starch Systems (No-Residue Removal), 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11137591/

ACS ES&T: PVA-Free Biodegradable Sizing (Desizing Avoidance), 

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es504988w

PubMed: Slashing with Easy-Desize Alternatives, 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25687520/

ScienceDirect: Pollution Reduction via Sizing Design, 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652613006598

Inflibnet: Desizing Methods (Enzymatic vs Hot Wash PDF), 

https://vidyamitra.inflibnet.ac.in/data-server/eacharya-documents/56b0853a8ae36ca7bfe81449_INFIEP_79/69/ET/79-69-ET-V1-S1__unit

_ ...​

ICIRESM: Wet Processing Impacts (Desizing Effluents), 

https://www.iciresm.com/eproceeding/a-review-of-textile-industry-wet-processing-environmental-impacts-and-effluent-treatment-met

 ...​

Wiley: Textile Effluent Treatment Review (Sizing Residues), 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/tqem.21538

ScienceDirect: Wet Processing Assessment (Desizing Sustainability), 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969722065949

GarmentsMerchandising: Desizing in Fabric Prep (Avoidance Strategies), 

https://garmentsmerchandising.com/difference-between-greige-fabric-and-rfd-fabric/

TextileSchool: Sizing Removal Techniques (Water-Soluble), 

https://www.textileschool.com/206/basic-weaving-operations/

TextileLearner: Warp Desizing Processes, 

https://textilelearner.net/different-parts-of-loom-and-their-functions/

Persistence: Sizing Market (Innovative Desizing-Free Systems), 

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/textile-sizing-chemicals-market.asp

MarketsandMarkets: Chemicals for Wet Processing (Enzyme Reduction), 

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/textile-chemical-market-12380328.html

Mordor Intelligence: Market Analysis (Sustainable Sizing), 

https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/textile-chemicals-market

Heuritech: 2026 Trends (Process Simplification), 

https://heuritech.com/articles/fashion-fabric-innovations/

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Disclaimer

The information provided in this blog is intended solely for educational and informational purposes within the textile industry. While the content references technical concepts, sizing and desizing practices, and general chemical information, it does not constitute professional, commercial, or operational advice for any specific textile process or production environment.

Process conditions, chemical selections, and operational parameters may vary significantly across mills, machinery types, fabric constructions, and environmental constraints. Readers should always consult qualified technical professionals, internal laboratory data, and product-specific Technical Data Sheets before making any decisions related to textile processing.

Any references to Alpenol, Sizaltex, or other products are included only for contextual, educational, and illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as endorsements, recommendations, or guarantees of performance. The authors assume no responsibility for decisions made based on the information contained herein.