The reaction of oxidizing agents with wool. 1. The division of cystine into two fractions of widely differing reactivities

Abstract

A study was made of the reaction of the disulfide bond in wool with different oxidizing agents. Chlorine, hypochlorous acid and peracetic acid are capable of oxidizing all the cystine in wool, whereas acid permanganate and alkaline hypochlorite are only capable of oxidizing 25% of the cystine present. The cystine in wool may therefore be divided into 2 fractions, one of which is oxidized by the latter 2 reagents, and the other not. The difference in reactivity of the 2 cystine fractions cannot be ascribed to morphological causes since the cystine of physically modified wools and powdered horn shows the same division. The 2 fractions are not related to the Phillips (1946) cystine fractions. Possible explanations for the differences in reactivity are discussed.