The document discusses scouring, which is a process used to purify cotton and cotton-blended textiles by removing impurities like oils, waxes, and dirt. It describes two main types of scouring: alkaline scouring, which uses high concentrations of sodium hydroxide at high temperatures; and bio/enzymatic scouring, which uses enzymes like pectinase and lipase at lower temperatures. Alkaline scouring is faster and removes more impurities but is harsher on fibers, more costly, and produces more wastewater. Bio scouring is gentler on fibers, more environmentally friendly, and reduces costs over the full production process though it has