Photochemical reactions can be used as useful tools for the development of new environmentally-benign processes and textile processing technologies. A brief introduction on the characteristics of photochemical reactions and processes is given in this review. Then, two examples on the development of new photochemical processes are introduced; one is the improvement of the dyeability of difficult-to-dye polyester fabrics and the other is decreasing environmental load and energy consumption in the bleaching of cotton and pulp. In the case of cotton bleaching, results on the small scale production machine are also presented.

Cyclodextrins (CDs) called cyclic oligosaccharides are able to include functional ingredients in their cavity. Therefore, fixation of CDs to fibers enables the development of smart fabrics that release functional ingredients such as fragrances and moisturizing ingredients and/or remove bad smells. Here, we show some of research results about fixation methods of CDs to fibers using native CD and blocked polyisocyanate or using monochlorotriazino β-cyclodextrin (MCT-β-CD).

The demand for environmentally friendly fiber processing and cleaning formulations prompted us to study the heat resistance, solvent resistance, pH characteristics, and the activation of peroxidases from various sources. Peroxidase has a broad substrate specificity. In a wide pH range, peroxidase was found to react with various hydrogen donor. The rate of reaction with hydrogen donors were found to be influenced by the oxidation potential of the hydrogen donor. Peroxidases from different sources were found to exhibit different stabilities and reaction characteristics. Rice full peroxidase showed excellent resistance towards heat, organic solvent, and hydrogen peroxide. The reaction mechanisms of horseradish peroxidase and rice full peroxidase were studied. Since the peroxidase reaction can be controlled by the reaction conditions, these conditions were proposed to suit the specific application.