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Trace Metals in Fleece Wool and Correlations with Yellowness

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Abstract

The presence of copper and iron in metal-doped wool has been shown previously to be associated with the production of free radicals and yellowing in photo-irradiated wool. In this study, the yellowness and trace metal content of 700 wool samples was measured to determine if photoyellowing, catalysed by metals, is a major determinant of the colour of fleece wool. Iron and copper content did not positively correlate with yellowness and yellower wool tended to have lower levels of these metals. Instead, a strong positive correlation of yellowness with the calcium, manganese and magnesium content was observed in yellow wools. High levels of calcium and magnesium is consistent with biofilm formation by Pseudomonas bacteria that have previously been associated with non-scourable staining of wool.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the work of the staff who manage the eight Sheep CRC IN sites and collect wool samples. We also thank The Australian Wool Testing Authority for colour measurements and Cheryl McHugh and her team at CSIRO Process Science and Engineering in Clayton, Melbourne for carrying out ICP-AES analysis on digested wool specimens. We are grateful to the CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation for providing financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation, University of New England, Homestead Building, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia

    A. L. King & K. R. Millington

  2. CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, PO Box 21, Belmont, VIC, 3216, Australia

    A. L. King & K. R. Millington

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  1. A. L. King
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Correspondence to A. L. King.

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King, A.L., Millington, K.R. Trace Metals in Fleece Wool and Correlations with Yellowness. Biol Trace Elem Res 151, 365–372 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9579-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9579-2

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