Alkaline hydrolysis of PET is well known method for improving the hydrophilicity and the handle of polyester textile materials. Reaction conditions lead to obtaining of water soluble products (sodium terephtalate and ethylene glycol). As a result the textile surface has a good contact with the reaction media during the treatment time.

In our experiments with some lipases and pectinases we found out that the pectinase (Aspergillus niger, EC.3.2.1.15 - Biovet Joint Stock Company, Peshtera, BG) can hydrolyze PET fibers. The enzyme was tested on polyester textile in pH range 5-9 and temperatures from 25 ^oC to 55^oC . Treated polyester textile material has higher hydrophilicity as well as the weight losses after the enzymatic treatments. That changes were explained with the hydrolysis of PET fibers. Highest values of these characteristics were found at temperature 55^o and pH 6 . Obviously at that conditions the hydrolysis could stop at a very early stage because of water insoluble (PET oligomers or terephtalic acid) reaction products.

The aim of the work is to study the possibility of applying ultrasound treatment during the enzymatic hydrolysis of PET fibers for accelerating the removal of reaction products from the textile surface.

Experimental results about the weight loss and hydrophilicity showed that the ultrasound treatment can considerably increase the effect of enzymatic treatment with the pectinase EC.3.2.1.15 on PET fibers containing textiles.

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