Wool treatment process and products

A process for treating a wool substrate to increase the absorbency properties of the wool substrate, the process comprising:

• (i) a first reaction step of treating the wool substrate with an alcohol and alkali reaction mixture for a reaction time of about 8-30 minutes, wherein the alcohol and alkali reaction mixture comprises about 1-2% alkali mixed with alcohol, and wherein the alcohol and alkali reaction mixture comprises methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, or mixtures thereof, and potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, or mixtures thereof;
• and
• (ii) a second reaction step of treating the resulting wool substrate obtained from the first reaction step with an aqueous oxidizing agent mixture for a reaction time of about 60-120 minutes, wherein the aqueous oxidizing agent mixture comprises about 2% hydrogen peroxide,
• wherein the process is carried out with a fibre to liquor ratio of at least 1:40,
• wherein the process increases the absorbency properties of the wool substrate as compared to an untreated wool substrate, and
• wherein the first reaction step and the second reaction step do not damage the wool substrate to render it unsuitable for mechanical processing for making wool yarns or wool fabrics or wool fabric products.