Identification of Cashmere and Other Animal Hair Fibers in Textiles by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

    January 2014 in “ Sen'i Gakkaishi ”
    Satoshi Ohashi, Yuka Demura, Motoaki Sano, Yoichiro Yoshioka
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    TLDR Researchers developed a method to identify animal fibers in textiles, which works on processed and blended materials.
    In 2014, researchers developed a method using SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to identify animal species in textiles by analyzing keratin proteins. The method proved successful in identifying species such as camel, alpaca, horse, and rabbit in various processed forms, including bleached and dyed products, and in blends with other fibers. Species-specific peaks were observed in the mass analysis within the m/e = 2450-2750 range, and the technique did not require pre-treatment of the fiber samples. The study concluded that this method could be a useful tool for species identification in textiles, regardless of processing treatments or the presence of other fibers.
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